OLD ACQUAINTANCE AND NEW. 113

made; with a complexion like marble; and yet
pretty as she is, she is so steady and so kind to her
father, and works so hard—Mrs. Cope says she is
always up till after midnight.— Have you never seen
her?” asked she—neither of the ladies could recollect
having done so—but how did she dress ?

‘¢ Always in black,” returned Miss Jenkins, “ in a
black stuff frock, little black cloak, and a close black
chip bonnet.”

No, the ladies had never seen her, nor had they
much desire to see her. There was something mostly
not quite right about such people. Many thought
that Mrs. Cope, considering that she was now a
widow, and had just begun business, ought to mind
whom she took into her house. She got into a sad
scrape some years ago, when her husband was living,
with having some good-for-nothing players lodging
there. They wished, for her sake, that it might all
turn out right. .

We will now, the friendly reader and myself, look
into that same little parlour, which formerly we
called the patten-maker’s, but which for the last
twelve months served the patten-maker’s widow as
her little show-room ; but which now she had let,
business not being very successful, to the young
miniature-painter and maker of fancy-work, and her
dejected-looking father.

“ And, father dear, don’t be cast down,” said the
young girl, “ I am sure that he would not have the
heart purposely to avoid you. There must be some
accident about the Ictter being returned ; depend
upon it, one so young, and brought up with such
good people, must be good like them. All will be
right in time; only, father dear, do not be cast

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