and endearing intimacy could not fail to be the consequence.

Two years had elapsed since the eldest Miss Ranmore had been married to Mr. Roswell who was now in such a delicate state of health, that his physicians recommended to him a voyage to Bermuda, to pass the late autumnal months, and the winter. His wife had always felt a great horror of the ocean, but her love for him, "which many waters could not quench," made her resolve to accompany him. She thought if she could prevail on Justina to go with her, she should have a friend and assistant in every exigency,-her own sister she knew could not go; for their mother's health was so weak, that she was obliged very often, to commit to her daughter the care of the family.

She

Mrs. Roswell therefore wrote to Justina, informing her of these circumstances, to which she added such a pathetic appeal to their long friendship, that it moved her, and she thought if her aunt and sister approved, she would not think of her own sacrifices, but would accompany her friend. showed the letter to them both; they were affected by it, but could not reconcile themselves to the idea of parting with Justina; "besides," said Augusta, "there is nothing to be seen there but barren rocks." 66 T confess," said Justina, "the place she is going to, is not interesting to my imagination,

but when I picture to myself Harriet with her fearful and sinking spirits, watching over a sick, and it may be a dying husband, I feel strongly inclined to accompany her." After much reflection and discussion on the subject, they found, that though painful to part with each other, they had not the heart to refuse the urgent entreaties of Harriet, and Justina's answer to her friend, was her own gladdening presence. They embarked immediately, and found both their voyage and residence abroad pleasanter than they hadexpected. The sea air had an immediate and benign effect on the health of Mr. Roswell, which every day's residence in this salubrious climate tended to confirm. His happy wife, whose feelings had before been desponding, now presented a countenance, that seemed to impart her own happiness to all around her, nor did they in their joy forget the author of "every good and perfect gift."

They found the inhabitants of the islands amiable, friendly, and desirous of contributing to their accommodation, in every way in their power. They would gladly have instructed them in many arts to lessen labour, and to augment the bounties of Nature by cultivating the ground as was practised in their own favoured land; but Justina found them so satisfied with their own way of managing the soil, that she feared any suggestions of improvement in agriculture

would be as unwelcome to them, as those of Triptolemus Yellowly were to the Shetland Udaller. Her chief entertainment, after those derived from her own heart, were her letters from Augusta, which were frequent and long; she told her much of the occurrences in A- -; she informed her that two gentlemen had come there to live, immediately after Justina had left it, with whom she had become acquainted, and who were frequent visiters at her aunt's. In the praises of one of them, her pen never seemed to tire; his name was Elmore; his intelligence, his elegant manners, fine disposition, and attentions to herself, were themes she painted with such cloquence, that Justina had no difficulty in discovering, from her artless language, that his perfections, whether real or imaginary, had won the heart of her youthful sister, which much increased her solicitude and

impatience to return. Of the other gentleman, whose name was Arlington, Augusta spoke much more seldom; she said he was highly esteemed by every body, but, for her part, she thought he was much too grave and taciturn.

CHAPTER VI.

Like a soft, gloomy cloud's thine hair,
Ting'd with the sun's warm setting rays,
And lightly o'er thy forehead fair,

In many a spiral ringlet plays."

OWENSON.

"To-morrow then we shall see this wonderful sister of yours," said Elmore, smiling to Augusta, "of whom you have told us so much." "Yes, sir, her letter says that she will be here to-morrow; but I am sure I never told you that she was wonderful." "Why! in the first place did you not say she was the most beautiful creature in the world ?" "I have never seen all the people in the world," said Augusta; "I only said she was more beautiful than any person I had ever seen." "Oh! true," said he, "I believe you did only say that-but did you not also mention that she was the most sensible, the most amiable, the most engaging, and the most of every thing lovely that was ever seen?" "I believe I may have spoken of her in that manner and is it not true, aunt?" said she, turning to Mrs. Ranmore; "Is not Justina as I have described her?" "You ought not to appeal to me, child," said Mrs. Ranmore; "for I am scarcely less partial than yourself; we had better leave the gentlemen to judge for 5

VOL. I.

themselves." "To-morrow, then," said Augusta, laughing, "you shall judge for yourselves; I will not retract a sentence of all I have ever told you of her; and when you become acquainted with her, if you do not find it all to be true, you must have neither eyes, ears, nor hearts."

"Oh!" sighed Arlington, mentally, as he gazed on the face of Augusta, which the enthusiasm of affection had lighted up with new charms; "if she at all resembles you, she must indeed be lovely." After the gentlemen were gone, "Augusta!" said Mrs. Ranmore, "if it be true what Pope says, 'he hurts me most, who lavishly commends,' you have injured your sister by your praise; she must indeed be wonderful, as Mr. Elmore observed, to equal your description of her." "I am sure," said Augusta, "I would not injure my sister for the world; but I can never speak of her without feeling that I am incapable of praising her as she deserves; yet, if you think I have prepared them for disappointment, I am sorry I have been so prodigal.-No!" cried she, after some reflection, "I defy them to be disappointed in Justina."

Augusta was now in the "brilliant morning of eighteen," and a brilliant morning it was indeed to her; she was "beauty's self," her form was tall and graceful, her features regular and charming, her eyes hazel, shaded with long dark lashes; but their most