THEIR FAMILY TROUBLES. 33

now overcome by the generous kindness ot her
brother, covered her face with both her hands and
wept like a child. How the rest of the day was
spent may easily be imagined; the best which the
house could offer was set before her; and her sister,
taking her into her own chamber, questioned her
elosely of her wants and actual condition. But
whatever Phebe’s sufferings had been, she kept
much to herself. To poverty she confessed, and to
all the hardships and anxieties which poverty brings
with it ; but not one word did she utter against her
husband, although her sister never lost the impres-
sion that she had suffered much unkindness from him.

True to her first intentions, she returned by coach
that night to London, taking with her good store of
many things which the bounty and overflowing
affection of her sister heaped upon her.

Phebe’s visit had entirely reinstated her in the
hearts of her relations, and the next year Mr. Osborne
did such an unheard-of thing as go to London him-
self, on business he said, but in reality to see her and
her children: for a second child, a little girl, was
now born to her. On his return, he related that
they were living quietly, and with some appearance
of comfort ; but that there was still a look of depres-
sion and anxiety about her, while Edwards on the
contrary seemed scarcely changed, excepting that he
was grown slightly grey and much stouter than when
he married ; but he was as well dressed as then 3 as
gay in spirits, as plausible; and to the conscientious
and somewhat suspicions mind of Mr. Osborne, as
unsatisfactory as ever, For his own peaee of mind
as regarded them, it was a pity that he had ever been
to visit them. The only thing that gave them real