was something inexpressively interesting in her appearance. I
suspect hers must have been the loveliness of a kind, affectionate, and
contented heart, which showed itself in her watchful attention to her
blind father, and in her always unaffected manner.

Dr. Vernon was the first to address Mr. Mannering, when he not only
perceived his affliction, but also discovered he was conversing with no
ordinary individual; for it is astonishing, when two persons of great
acquirements and high moral worth are thrown together, how speedily they
understand each other. The storm continuing, prolonged the interview,
until, in the course of conversation, it appeared that Dr. Vernon and Mr.
Mannering had known each other in their youth, though circumstances had
separated them in later years. This, of course, was an additional source
of interest, and, after a little while, Dr. Vernon insisted on Mary and
her father getting into his carriage, and promised to set them down at
their own door.

The acquaintance thus renewed, was not likely again to drop, and from
paying them frequent visits, it very soon happened that either Dr. Vernon
or his son was sure to call to see the invalid every day. Arthur Vernon
was at this time about five and twenty, and was no less remarkable for
his great talents than for his amiable disposition. He had inherited an
independent fortune from a distant relative, but, from love of science,
and a consciousness of the wide field of active benevolence that they
might open to him, he had studied medicine and surgery with great
perseverance. Latterly he had devoted himself more particularly to the
consideration of the eye, and the truth was, he began to think that Mr.
Mannering's sight was not irrevocably gone, and that he had a knowledge
of remedies which, by the blessing of God, would restore the sight of his
father's old friend.

It was to Mary herself that Mr. Vernon first breathed his hopes of
effecting a cure, and is there much wonder that henceforth she looked
forward to his visits with interest and delight? And, as day by day hope
seemed to promise recovered sight more and more surely, it was very
natural that she should feel deep gratitude to the young surgeon.

Sometimes when Mr. Vernon came, Mary was at needlework, sometimes
attending to the necessary domestic arrangements, and sometimes reading
to her father; and, if the last was the case, the conversation not
unfrequently turned upon the book be