ated to the faith and observance of religion, till
they had pervaded his whole nature, bowed his head in rebuke; a few
tears stole from his eyes.

"You are right, father--," he said tenderly, giving emphasis to the
deserved and endearing name. "I am comforted already!"

So, side by side, silently and noiselessly, the young and the old man
glided back to the house. When they gained the quiet room in which the
family usually assembled, the sisters and servants were already gathered
round the table. They knelt as the loiterers entered. It was the wonted
duty of the younger Spencer to read the prayers; and, as he now did so,
his graceful countenance more hushed, his sweet voice more earnest than
usual, in its accents: who that heard could have deemed the heart within
convulsed by such stormy passions? Or was it not in that hour--that
solemn commune--soothed from its woe? O beneficent Creator! thou who
inspirest all the tribes of earth with the desire to pray, hast Thou
not, in that divinest instinct, bestowed on us the happiest of Thy
gifts?

CHAPTER III.

"Bertram. I mean the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of
it hereafter.

"1st Soldier. Do you know this Captain Dumain?"
All's Well that Ends Well.

One evening, some weeks after the date of the last chapter, Mr. Robert
Beaufort sat alone in his house in Berkeley Square. He had arrived that
morning from Beaufort Court, on his way to Winandermere, to which he
was summoned by a letter from his wife. That year was an agitated and
eventful epoch in England; and Mr. Beaufort had recently gone through
the bustle of an election--not, indeed, contested; for his popularity
and his property defied all rivalry in his own county.

The rich man had just dined, and was seated in lazy enjoyment by the
side of the fire, which he had had lighted, less for the warmth--though
it was then September--than for the companionship;--engaged in finishing
his madeira, and, with half-closed eyes, munching his devilled biscuits.
"I am sure," he soliloquised while thus employed, "I don't know
exactly what to do,--my wife ought to decide matters where the girl is
concerned; a son is another affair--that's the use of a wife. Humph!"

"Sir," said a fat servant, opening the door, "a gentleman wishes to see
you upon very particular business."

"Business at this hour! Tell him to go to Mr. Blackwell."

"Yes, sir."

"Stay! perhaps he is a constituent,