h, having left school, came to reside with me, and
preside over my establishment. I should have said that it was far less
difficult to manage than in my cousin's time, as I had dismissed several
of the footmen and grooms, as well as other useless hangers-on, who, I
felt sure, benefited neither themselves nor me, by living lives of
idleness. As may be supposed, Emily, who had grown into a beautiful
young woman, had no want of admirers; but, to my surprise, she refused
several excellent offers in succession.

"Why should I leave your house, my dear brother?" she answered, when one
day I gently expostulated with her on the subject. "When you have a
wife of your own, it will be time enough for me to do so; unless she
wishes me to remain."

Soon after this, Oliver Farwell, who had generally spent his vacation
with me, was ordained, and the incumbent of the chief living belonging
to the property having died, I presented him to it, and he commenced a
career of sympathising care over the flock committed to him, which soon
endeared him to them, while he gained the love and respect of people of
all denominations in the parish.

"It is a long time since the Davenports paid us a visit," I said to
Emily one day. "Will you write and invite them? I am sure that you
will be glad to have your old friend Grace with you."

I had not seen Grace for a long time, and I somehow or other always
thought of her as the little girl who had been Emily's friend, and the
daughter of our kind protector during our adventures in the Eastern
Archipelago. I could scarcely believe my eyes when an elegant and
refined young lady stepped out of the carriage which brought Captain and
Mrs Davenport to my house. I had never thought of marrying; indeed, I
had not been attracted by any of the young ladies in my immediate
neighbourhood. When I saw Grace, however, and found her sweet, and
amiable, and well-instructed, and refined, and right-minded, possessed
indeed of all the qualities which should adorn a woman, new thoughts and
feelings took possession of me, and I became convinced that no lady in
the world was more calculated to add to my happiness than she was.
Still, I could not tell how her own feelings might be engaged. Perhaps
Emily saw how things were going on, for one day she said to me--

"I do not think you need be afraid, Walter; and if you ask her, I shall
be very much surprised if she refuses you."

Thereon, before many hours had passed