128 AGAIN, OLD AND NEW ACQUAINTANCE.

designing and artful of intriguuntes, only the more
detestable because she had worn the mask of innocence
and virtue, Williams yielded to the storm against
her. The storm blew over ; the sunshine of his good
relation’s favour again fell upon him. The time of
his apprenticeship expired; he was sent into the
world to look about him, not to labour. Poor Mrs.
Osborne's health began to give way, however, and
then he was recalled ; her husband had not a thought
for anything but her; they took their adopted son
with them, and went from place to place to regain,
if possible, her health. She grew only worse and
worse, and died, blessing her nephew for having given
up his inclinations to please her. In reality, however,
he had not given up his inclinations from any sense
of duty; he had only become indifferent about them.
He had begun to look back to the days of his ac-
quaintance with Jessie, and his jealousy of Tom
Bassett, as of days which it was as well to forget ;
not but that certain uneasy qualms came over his —
heart when he thought of the fair Jessie, and his
plighted faith to her. But sufficient for the day is
the evil thereof, thought he, and left it to care for
itself. The appointed day at length came—the fifth
anniversary of that strange Christmas day at Alton,
and he had curiosity enough to inquire at the Post-
office if there were a letter for him. There was a
letter from Jessie, and it ran thus :—

“ Punctually at the time fixed I now write. A
few words are Enough. I will deal candidly with
you. Life has gone variously with me since we
parted. I have now nothing more valuable to offer
you than love and gratitude. Wealth, however, in
comparison of these treasures of life, is mere dust,