A CONTRE-TEMPS, 121

you, and then you will never care a jot forme. No,
I shall put you under a glass case, and keep you all
to myself.”

Thus talked he; and Marianne, happier than ever
she had been before in her life, walked by his side,
addressing him as “ William” and “ brother” most
affectionately, and thinking that she could not have
patience to wait till her father’s return. At length,
in the midst of her happiness, one thought of regret
came to her mind, and she said, ‘* It was a great dis-
appointment to my poor father to find my aunt dead.
He hoped with her to find me a home.”

Again Reynolds stopped. ‘* Dead!’’ repeated he.
‘She is not dead. She is alive and well, and will
love you dearly, that she will; and so will poor Aunt
Dorothy. Come, we will go there at once—how I
shall surprise them! Aunt Dorothy shall lay her
hand on your head, and feel your face, and then she
will know how lovely you are.”

“ Aunt Dorothy?” asked Marianne, “of her I
never heard.”

“I daresay you never did,” said he. ‘She is
blind, poor thing, and thus is not as active as her
sister ; but she is as good. You will love her dearly.”

** Now I shall go right through the town,” said
he, ‘* with you leaning on my arm, and only be sorry
that I cannot tell everybody I meet that you are my
sister.” And so he would have done, had he met
anybody whom‘he knew; but it was one of those
days when one chances to meet nobody, when nobody
seems to be out: so he reached his aunts door without
remark or interruption.

‘“‘ Now I shall astonish the old ladies,” said he,
rushing in. ‘ Guess what I have brought you,” said —

M