estionably, when young you were
very like her."

"These changes are not at all unfrequent, I believe," replied his son.
"I have myself known instances where the individual when young resembled
one parent, and yet, in the course of time, became as it were the very
image and reflex of the other."

"You are perfectly right, Tom," said his father; "every family is aware
of the fact, and you yourself are a remarkable illustration of it."

"I am not sorry for resembling my dear father, Lucy," observed her
brother; "and I know I shall lose nothing in your good will on that
account, but rather gain by it."

Lucy's eyes were already filled with tears at the ungenerous and
unfeeling insinuation of her father.

"You shall not, indeed, Thomas," she replied; "and you, papa, are
scarcely just to me in saying so. I judge no person by their external
appearance, nor do I suffer myself to be prejudiced by looks, although
I grant that the face is very often, but by no means always, an index to
the character. I judge my friends by my experience of their conduct--by
their heart--their principles--their honor. Good-by, now, my dear
brother; I am quite impatient to hear your history, and I am sure you
will gratify me as soon as you can."

She took his hand and kissed it, but, in the act of doing so, observed
under every nail a semicircular line of black drift that jarred very
painfully on her feelings. Tom then imprinted a kiss upon her forehead,
and she withdrew.

When she had gone out, the baronet bent his eyes upon her brother with a
look that seemed to enter into his very soul--a look which his son, from
his frequent teachings, very well understood.

"Now, Tom," said he, "that you have seen your sister, what do you think
of her? Is it not a pity that she should ever move under the rank of a
countess?"

"Under the rank of a queen, sir. She would grace the throne of an
empress."

"And yet she has all the simplicity of a child; but I can't get her
to feel ambition. Now, mark me, Tom; I have seen enough in this short
interview to convince me that if you are not as firm as a rock, she will
gain you over."

"Impossible, sir; I love her too well to lend myself to her prejudices
against her interests. Her objections to this marriage must proceed
solely from inexperience. It is true, Lord Dunroe bears a very
indifferent character, and if you could get any other nobleman with a
better one as a husband for her, it would certainly be m