happy life. I have several times been on
the Continent on government business. When in England, I reside chiefly
with my sister and brother-in-law. Your uncle, Sir Henry, is at present
at Vienna, and, during the time of his absence, your aunt and two
cousins are staying with me. These, my dear, are the principal
circumstances of my life.

'I will now say something of the events of yesterday. When my servants
told me of the robbery committed by the pedlar there appeared to me so
much ingratitude as well as roguery in the transaction, for the man had
taken more than ten pounds in money for his goods, that I determined to
let the law take its course with respect to him, and my servants were at
the justice's to swear to the things; but the description the two women
servants gave me of you interested your aunt and me very much in your
favour, and we thought that if you were so young and innocent as they
represented you to be it would be a deed of kindness to rescue you from
the guardianship of such people, and it was for that purpose that we
attended.

'When you were led forward to the bar the great resemblance you bear to
your mother instantly struck me, and when in tones so dear, and so
familiar to my ear you said that your name was Lady Anne, my agitation
was extreme, though still without thinking it possible that you could be
my daughter, but when at last my own portrait was produced, and you
declared it to be your father's, then I thought it possible that your
life might have been preserved, and I whispered Sir Robert, for I was
too much agitated to question you myself, to inquire particularly how it
had come into your possession. To what a happy discovery did that
examination lead. My child is restored to me, and I am happier than I
ever expected to be again in this world.'

My father tenderly embraced me at the conclusion of his narrative, so
did my aunt and cousins, with many kind expressions of joy at my being
restored to my family.

'Your likeness to your mother is very great,' said my aunt. 'She was my
chosen friend at school from the time she came to it, which was when she
was twelve years old. In features, in voice, you are as like what she
was at your age as if you were the same person.'

In the course of the evening my father told me that in a few days, when
I should have had a proper assortment of clothes made up for me, it was
his intention to make a tour.

'We will go to town,' said he, 'again, and p