assed the hours that succeeded their departure, and few were the
occupations that could beguile the tediousness of time. Adrian had
outgrown his boyish amusements, and found himself very scantily provided
with substitutes for them. He had naturally some taste for literature,
but though, as has before been said, it was sometimes assisted by his
father, it had never been properly cultivated or usefully directed. He
would frequently have recourse to books for employment, but from want of
habitual application soon grew weary even of those that most engaged his
attention.

Amaranthe and Claribel had long satisfied all the pride of Ursula's
heart, by the perfection they had attained in the important branches
of embroidery that she had taken such pains to instruct them in, but
to themselves they failed to afford any source of enjoyment. They
felt that they had nothing to work for, and could take little pride
in performances which they had nobody to commend. The poor governess
had exhausted all her store of histories, as well as all her stock of
knowledge, upon her pupils, and they could no longer be entertained
with narratives which they could now relate in better words
themselves.

The party were generally employed in sauntering about the grounds
together, wishing for their parents' return, and forming different
conjectures concerning the stranger, and the important intelligence
that he was the bearer of.

A fortnight elapsed, and no tidings of the travellers arrived. Another
week passed over, and nothing was heard of them; and the inhabitants of
the castle began to grow uneasy, and feel some alarm for their safety.
It was so unusual a circumstance for letters to be brought thither, that
it occurred to Ursula that some might be lying at the post-office
neglected to be forwarded. A messenger was therefore despatched to the
post town to inquire for such, but none were there.

Six dreary weeks were gone, and governess, pupils, and the remaining
domestics, were obliged to endure all the misery of suspense and
apprehension, without any means of obtaining relief of their anxiety.

At the end of that time, as Adrian, his sister, and cousin, were one
day standing at a window with their eyes fixed on the avenue, they
perceived the gates at the end open, and the carriage that had
conveyed their parents from them entering into it. Transported with
joy they flew to communicate the glad news through the castle, and
then hastened to