jostled each other in my
brain, and I could neither collect myself nor listen to what was said
around me. My first clear memory was of a thousand little childish
traits of love which had passed between us. Tokens of affection long
forgotten now rushed freshly to my mind; and he whom a moment before I
had condemned as wanting in all brotherly feeling, I now sorrowed for
with true grief. The low and vulgar insolence of the speakers made no
impression on me; and when, in answer to my questions, they narrated
the manner of his death,--a fever contracted after some debauch at
Oxford,--I only heard the tidings, but did not notice the unfeeling tone
it was conveyed in.

My brother dead! the only one of kith or kindred belonging to me. How
slight the tie seemed but a few moments back! what would I not give for
it now? Then, for the first time, did I know how the heart can heap up
its stores of consolation in secrecy, and how unconsciously the mind can
dwell on hopes it has never confessed even to itself. How I fancied to
myself our meeting, and thought over the long pent-up affection years of
absence had accumulated, now flowing in a gushing stream from heart to
heart I The grave is indeed hallowed when the grass of the churchyard
can cover all memory save that of love. We dwell on every good gift
of the lost one, as though no unworthy thought could cross that little
mound of earth, the barrier between two worlds. Sad and sorrow-struck,
I covered my face with my hands, and did not notice that Mr. Basset had
entered, and taken his place at the desk.

His voice, every harsh tone of which I well remembered, first made me
aware of his presence. I lifted my eyes, and there he stood, little
changed indeed since I had seen him last. The hard lines about the mouth
had grown deeper, the brow more furrowed, and the hair more mixed with
gray, but in other respects he was the same. As I gazed at him I could
not help fancying that time makes less impression on men of coarse,
unfeeling mould, than on natures of a finer temper. The world's changes
leave no trace on the stern surface of the one, while they are wearing
deep tracks of sorrow in the other.

"Insert the advertisement again, Simms," said he, addressing one of the
clerks, "and let it appear in some paper of the seaport towns. Among the
Flemish or French smugglers who frequent them, there might be some one
to give the information. They must be able to show that though Thomas
Burke