usual imbecile mood, and regarded the jewels and themselves alternately with a pleased though wandering eye, Mrs. de Snobyn drew Abel a little aside.

"And how do you think your dear father is looking? we think, well."

"Indeed! It grieves me indeed that I must differ from you in this matter," said Abel, all the coldness and formality with which he had greeted Mrs. de Snobyn, and which he had cast off in chattering to his sisters, having returned in full force, the instant his step-mother addressed him"but I am sadly shocked at the alteration in my father I think he looks very ill."

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No, no, Abel; no no, do not say that," said Mrs. de Snobyn, impelled at the instant by actual genuine feeling. "He could not be looking so very ill, and I not notice it."

"Yes decay that makes its way with a stealing pace, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, is often unnoticed by those deeply interested in its progress.'

وو

"Still I do hope you are wrong," said

Mrs. de Snobyn, who had now recovered from the sudden shock-" or, at all events, that the alteration is but temporary. Something Mr. de Snobyn has suffered, I confess, from the removal here-the bustle, the noise, the change seemed to harass him."

"As well they might," said Abel, bitterly. You are not fond of proverbs, Mrs. de Snobyn; nevertheless, I shall venture to repeat one, that I would you had been acquainted with ere you made this accursed change: Remove an old tree, and it will wither to death.' I fear me we shall all have to acknowledge the truth of that."

"You are warm, Abel; you are excited; you cannot mean all this."

;

I

"I do mean it all. I may be warm may be excited; I may be rude; but niy heart is almost broken to see my old father as he is. He ought to have twenty years of life in him yet.'

وو

"And has-we will hope."

"Pshaw! folly! look at him."

"I hope and believe you to be mistaken; but supposing your fears to be just, how am I implicated otherwise than as being the greatest sufferer!"

Abel's lip curled.

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When you were pleased to marry my father, ma'am and you were pleased to marry him," and Abel fixed his cold, grey eye on her face, "he was a tallow-chandler in Budge Row, respected in his station, and happy. You have brought him here where he is ridiculous, and feels that he is --where all the habits of his life have been broken at a time he cannot form new ones --and do you wonder that he sinks under the change?"

"Has he complained to you?"

"He complain! my father complain, when he alone is the sufferer?

Do you

indeed yet know him so little? If it be indeed so, I cannot be surprised at your conduct."

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Abel, you are trying my temper

severely and unjustifiably; you must feel that you are. Surely when our fortune warranted the change, I had an undoubted right to remove my family to a residence which I considered more suitable to their prospects.

"I doubt that undoubted right exceedingly, when its exercise involved the health and comfort, and possibly the life, of the father and founder of that family. But I am willing to believe-yes, I must believe that you did not anticipate such a result. But I have much outstayed my time, and my brother will be waiting for me. I must wish you good morning."

"You remain here, surely?"

"No, I thank you," replied he, with a very decided touch of what Helena called his cynical smile.

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What, Abel? what?" said Mr. d Snobyn, when he saw him shaking hands with his sisters" what Abel, going? How is this, Mrs. S-," and the old man raised himself upright in his chair,

" is

not my son to be at home in this fine house ?"

Mrs. de Snobyn looked absolutely scarlet with pride, vexation, and perplexity; for she could not understand Abel's manner at all. But he hastened to speak.

"My dear father, I have already declined Mrs. de Snobyn's offer of a room, because it is requisite I should remain awhile with my brother. brother. We have important business to transact together, and it would be very inconvenient to John- -very -if I were so far from him. But I shall

come to see you every day."

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Don't forget,

My dear father, I will not forget."