Theresa smiled. "I must own I do feel afraid of him," said she;" and somehow, I am not so happy as when we were alone."

"Surely," replied Miss Trevelyan, "Frederick is not so very forbidding; his reception of his adopted daughter was most kind, and his expressions with regard to her, are, I assure you, not less so."

"Oh! yes," said Theresa, tears starting into her eyes"but he is so unlike my father; so different from what I had expected - - perhaps in short- I am not enough in awe of him; for how can I feel the sort of deference which is, I suppose, due to a guardian, for one so young andso good-looking? But," continued she, after a moment's pause, "I dare say that in a day or two we shall be very good friends, and at all events, whatever effect Colonel Trevelyan's presence may have upon me, I rejoice at the happiness he has brought to my dear Treevy," and so saying, tenderly embracing her benefactress, she took leave of her for the night.

When the trio met at breakfast next day, much of the awkwardness of the preceding evening appeared to have already vanished. Miss Trevelyan was positively cheerful, and their new inmate so very agreeable, that Theresa, in spite of herself, resumed her usual spirits, becoming insensibly at her ease with her guardian. And if he had before admired her downcast, blushing shyness, still more was his attention rivetted by the fascination of her dark eyes, which seemed by their sparkling intelligence to illuminate every object on which they rested.

But while each succeeding day now appeared but to increase Colonel Trevelyan's admiration for his ward, and her evident satisfaction in his society, his manner towards her became gradually more distant and embarrassed, as if he had caught the infection of that awe which she was now rapidly exchanging for friendly familiarity. Colonel Trevelyan, like his sister, was naturally of a grave, retiring disposition, and the delicate health from which he at present suffered, in consequence of a severe wound received while serving in India, had added a peculiar air of languor to his person and manners. But the keen glance of his

commanding eye, and the determined expression of his close-shut lips, showed there was no lack of energy in his character: while his conversation, although perfectly easy and unpretending, proved him to possess a highly cultivated mind.

About a week after his arrival at Richmond, Colonel Trevelyan, having been entrusted by his late friend Howard with a small packet for a certain Sir Henry Williams, who he found resided at no great distance in the village of Twickenham, he set out in order to deliver up his charge. On reaching the designated house, he introduced himself as Colonel Howard's friend, and met with a most kind reception both from Sir Henry and Lady Williams, with whom he soon found himself on an easy footing of intimacy, for Sir Henry was one of those frank, open-hearted beings with whom it was impossible for the most formal not to relax, even without such an additional recommendation as being a friend's friend.

During the visit, Trevelyan was more than once on the point of naming Theresa, but as Sir Henry never even alluded to her, and to his surprise appeared as if ignorant even of her existence, he did not like to bring her forward until she could herself propitiate him in her favour by her peculiarly attractive appearance, for Trevelyan had learned from his sister how strongly Lord Launceston had expressed himself with regard to the poor deserted orphan, even taking Miss Trevelyan to task for befriending her, and that therefore thought it not impossible others might view her in the same obnoxious light.

When Trevelyan rose to depart, Sir Henry, shaking him heartily by the hand, said: "Where are you to be found, my dear sir, that I may do myself the pleasure of calling upon you ?"

"With my sister, at Richmond," said he, "where 1 hope to see you; and I am sure," he added, turning to Lady Williams, "Miss Trevelyan will be delighted to make your ladyship's acquaintance."

Both Lady Williams and her husband looked embarrassed-they made no direct reply — but rather hastening than opposing Trevelyan's departure, Sir Henry

panied him out of the room, saying, "Oh! yes, yes, I shall certainly come and pay my respects to you very soon, and I am sure I shall have every reason to be grateful to our poor friend Howard for having procured me the pleasure of your acquaintance

A few days after this the promised visit was paid, and Sir Henry, on giving his name, was immediately ushered into the drawing-room by old John, too happy of an opportunity of showing off his long uncalled-for accomplishments as groom of the chambers. Theresa was alone in the apartment at the time, practising a new song, and although John had in due form named both her and her visiter on ushering him in, yet, her back being turned towards the door, she heard and saw nothing until Sir Henry had been a minute or two in the room and actually stood before her. She instantly started from her seat, a beautiful blush illumined her face, and making him a graceful courtesy she vanished out of the room.

The old soldier who, notwithstanding a head whitened with years and service, had still a quick eye for beauty, was so struck with this lovely apparition, that, even after Trevelyan had joined him, he was still haunted by it; and, as soon as the first salutations were over, he began with "I fear I have put your young lady to flight, for I suppose the person whom I found in the room was- and he stopped short, as if at a loss how to designate her.

"Miss Howard," said Trevelyan, and he felt the colour, though he hardly knew why, mount in his face on naming her.

"Oh! that's what you call her," rejoined Sir Henry. "I have heard of her before; 'faith, she is a beautiful girl, and sings like a nightingale, for as she did nor hear me come in, I ventured to stand a minute or two listening to her." Then after a moment's pause during which he seemed to be pursuing the train of his own thoughts, Sir Henry added, Lady Williams and I shall be too happy, at all times, to see you at our house; but, as to Miss Trevelyan, you must be aware,”—and he again stopped, evidently not very well knowing how to proceed.

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Oh, no apologies, my dear Sir Henry," said Trevelyan,

smiling, for he thought there might have been some little foolish punctilios between the ladies, as to which was to call first: "I am quite aware, I assure you, of my sister's retiring habits and manners, the circumstances of her early life have naturally led her to shun rather than seek society."

"Oh, yes, I know all that, and it is very proper very proper," said Sir Henry, interrupting him. "No one can, I am sure, but commend Miss Trevelyan's conduct in that respect."

"Why, indeed, I do not," said Trevelyan, again smiling at Sir Henry's quick manner of settling the business; "on the contrary, I cannot help lamenting both on Miss Howard's account and my sister's, that she should have taken so unfortunate

Ay, ay, that she should have taken the girl to live with her; there I quite agree with you; and, surely, my dear sir, between friends, was it not rather strange and illjudged in Miss Trevelyan to bring her forward?"

"Indeed, Sir Henry," said Trevelyan, not a little astonished at this remark, "I must again beg leave to differ from you; for, I really cannot see my sister's conduct in that light; my notions on such matters may be different from those of many, and of course it was not what Howard ever could have asked himself, nor what I, perhaps, ever should have proposed to my sister, although I know her to be one of the kindest of beings."

"It was carrying her kindness, as you call it, rather far," said Sir Henry, again eagerly interrupting him; “and, if I had been you, I never would have allowed Miss Trevelyan to have had any thing to do with the girl ostensibly calling her Howard, too, marks the thing so much why, on the whole, I am not sure whether it would not have been better to have given her the name of Trevelyan, and let the world suppose she was your daughter; though, to be sure," added Sir Henry laughing, would have been rather a young papa." you

"And surely that would have been an extraordinary stretch of friendship," replied Trevelyan, "sacrificing my own reputation to screen my friend's; although I do na perhaps, quite enter into your very strict notions on such

subjects, and I must say," he continued warmly, "the world in general does not consider persons in Miss Howard's situation as reflecting the degree of disgrace upon those who may be called upon to befriend them which it seems. you do."

Sir Henry, smiling, said, "Well, well, we won't discuss the matter, for it certainly is one of too delicate a nature even for a friend's interference, and I am sure you will believe I did not mean any way to hurt your feelings."

A pause ensued, both parties seeming a little disconcerted; at length Sir Henry, whose mind still ran upon the beautiful vision he had seen on first entering the room, said, "Miss Howard is not at all like her poor

father."

"No," said Trevelyan, "I believe it is her mother whom she resembles."

"I am no judge," replied Sir Henry, with some astonishment in his manner. "I have not yet had the pleasure

of seeing her."

"Yet!" repeated Trevelyan," why her mother has been dead these many years; died, I believe, very soon after her birth."

Sir Henry stared.

"The circumstances of that part of our friend Howard's life," continued Trevelyan, "seemed too painful to him to dwell upon, and when on his death-bed he bequeathed his daughter to my care, all he told me of her story was, that her mother was an Italian of good family, not even divulging her name."

"Miss Howard's mother an Italian!" repeated Sir Henry, with the bewildered look of one waking out of a dream. "Are you quite sure?"

"Certainly I am," said Trevelyan, equally astonished at this question; "there could have been no reason why Howard should deceive me on that point, and particularly at such a moment."

Sir Henry again stared at him for a minute, and then burst into immoderate laughter. Trevelyan positively thought his new friend must have been seized with a fit of