PART II.

CHAPTER I.
OLD ACQUAINTANCE AND NEW.

Mrs, Procror and her favourite friend and gossip,
Mrs, Morley, who now, after an absence of some
years, had returned to reside again in the town, were
sitting together at tea. The little white muslin blind
was taken down from the window, for they wanted
to have a good view of a funeral that was about to
take place. Mrs. Proctor fortunately lived just by
the church, so that she consequently saw all the
marriages and funerals, and mostly invited some of
her friends to see them with her. The funeral-bell
now tolled solemnly ; the sun shone calmly over the
beautiful church-yard, and on the open grave, and on
the slow procession that now advanced towards it.
The ladies at their window made their remarks; “it
was a very handsome funeral ; the very first people
of the town at it, and no wonder, for Mr. Osborne
was respected by everybody.—And there was young
Williams, whom the Osbornes had adopted as their
son—what a handsome young man he was, and how
well he looked in his mourning !”

L