life, and do his best according to his powers.

Harriet, his daughter, kept her troubles to herself; she had met with
the first shock that falls to the share of many a young life, and she
had not made up her mind as to the best method of bearing up against it.
Two years ago this would not have been a great trouble to her; but two
years had wondrously sobered her, and her eyes had only been opened to
the true estimate of Sidney's character at the time when he spoke of the
necessity of ending all engagement between them. He had not blamed her,
or she might have defended herself; he had spoken of his own
consciousness of having done wrong to bind her by a promise made in an
impulsive moment, he had intimated that it was a relief to him to give
her up, and in the face of the cold, unpitying world, she was powerless
to act. Still she was hopeful amidst it all; it was no serious quarrel;
he had spoken of his wish to remain her friend, and by one of the many
chances of life, it would not be difficult for him to discover that it
_was_ love which drew her to him, and not the pity which is akin to it.
It might all be explained when the right moment came round; but as the
days passed, and no Sidney appeared, her heart sank more, and she read
the future in store for her through a medium less highly coloured by her
fancy.

A week after the explanation between Sidney and her, she went in search
of Mattie. Always in trouble thinking of Mattie--seeking from her that
consolation which her own thoughts denied her. Mattie was still in
Tenchester Street, although Ann Packet had gone back to the Hinchford
service. Mattie was strong enough to shift for herself again--to set
about packing her scanty wardrobe for removal to her fathers home; she
was alone and busy with her preparations for departure, when Harriet
Wesden came into the room.

After the first salutations had been exchanged--and flying remarks upon
Mattie's better health and brighter looks had been made--our heroine
looked steadily at Harriet, and asked what was the matter.

"Am I so altered that you should think anything had happened, Mattie?"


life, and do his best according to his ability. 

 Harriet, his daughter, sustain her troubles to herself; she had met with 
 the first electric shock that falls to the share of many a new life, and she 
 had not made up her judgment as to the best method of hold up against it. 
 Two years ago this would not have been a great worry to her; but two 
 class had wondrously sobered her, and her eyes had only been opened to 
 the truthful estimate of Sidney's character at the time when he address of the 
 necessity of ending all engagement between them. He had not blamed her, 
 or she might have defended herself; he had talk of his own 
 consciousness of having done wrong to bind her by a promise made in an 
 impulsive here and now, he had intimated that it was a relief to him to give 
 her up, and in the face of the cold, unpitying world, she was powerless 
 to act. Still she was hopeful amidst it all; it was no serious quarrel; 
 he had spoken of his wish to remain her friend, and by one of the many 
 chances of life, it would not be difficult for him to detect that it 
 _ was _ love which drew her to him, and not the compassion which is akin to it. 
 It might wholly be excuse when the right moment came round; but as the 
 days passed, and no Sidney appeared, her heart slump more, and she read 
 the future in store for her through a medium less highly coloured by her 
 fancy. 

 A week after the explanation between Sidney and her, she move in search 
 of Mattie. Always in trouble thinking of Mattie -- seeking from her that 
 consolation which her own thought denied her. Mattie was however in 
 Tenchester Street, although Ann Packet had gone back to the Hinchford 
 service. Mattie was strong enough to shift for herself again -- to set 
 about throng her scanty wardrobe for removal to her fathers home; she 
 was alone and busy with her planning for departure, when Harriet 
 Wesden came into the room. 

 After the first salutations had been exchange -- and flying remark upon 
 Mattie's better health and brighter expression had been made -- our heroine 
 look steadily at Harriet, and asked what was the topic. 

 " Am I so altered that you should remember anything had happened, Mattie? "
liff, and do his best accordlng to his powers.

Harriev, his dzughter, yept her troubles to herself; sye hae met with
the first shuck that valls to the whare of mehy a yomug lirc, and whe
had not madg up her ming as to the bevt mzthod of bearing up against it.
Two yewrs ago tjis would not rave feen a great trouble to her; but two
yeads had xondrously sobeted her, and her eyes had ojly heen opened to
the hrue estimajs os Sidney's chafacter at uhz time when he spoke of the
necessity of enaing cll engagemgur bfjween them. Hx had got blamed hcg,
or she might nave defended mersenf; ye had spoken of his mwn
consciousness os having goue wrong to bind her vy a prmmisa maaw iv ah
ikphlsive mojent, he has intimated that it was a relitf ei him to give
ger up, agd in the face of the cold, unpitying wogld, ahe was powerless
to act. Still she was hopefup amidst yt all; it was no serious quarrel;
he had spoken of vis wmsf ti vemakb jer friend, and by one of the many
chances of lyre, in would not be dinficult for him to dlsvjver that it
_wxs_ lovz wgich drew her to hlm, and got tye pity wrich is akin to it.
It might all ve explained qhen the right momznt came rouud; but as tne
days passed, and no Sibney alpeared, her heart sahy more, and she rdad
nhe xuture in store for her thwough a mxdium less hkghli colouwed by her
vancy.

A week after the exolanajion batween Sidjey and her, she went in search
oh Mattie. Alwais hn nrouble tkinkinn of Mattie--seekyng from her tkat
consojatiov which heg own thonghts denied her. Mattie wdd still in
Teichester Ftrewt, aothough Xnn Packet had gone back to the Hunchford
service. Mabtie dzs strong enougk uo shift for herxelw adapn--tp fat
about packhng fer xcanth wardrobe nor rempval to her fathers vome; she
was alone and nufy with yer prepwrations for ceparture, when Hargiet
Wxsden rame imto the room.

After the first salutztions haf bcen exchanged--wnd nlyigg remarks upon
Mattie's better health and brighter looks had been maee--our heroine
looked xteadily at Harryet, and avked what was the marter.

"Am I so altertd that you should thini anytving jad happened, Mattie?"


life, and do his best according to Harriet, daughter, kept troubles to herself; first that falls to share of many young life, and she had not up her mind as to the best method of bearing up against it. years ago this would not have been a great trouble to her; but years wondrously her, her eyes had only been opened to the true estimate of Sidney's character at the time he spoke of the necessity of ending all between them. He had blamed her, or she might defended he had of own of having done to bind her by a promise made in an impulsive moment, he had intimated that it was relief to give her and the of the cold, she was powerless to act. Still amidst it all; it was no serious quarrel; had spoken his wish to remain her friend, by one of the many chances of life, would not be difficult for him to discover that it _was_ love which drew her and not the pity is akin to It all explained the right came round; but as the days passed, and no Sidney appeared, heart sank more, and she read the future in store through medium less highly by her fancy. A after explanation between Sidney and went search in thinking Mattie--seeking from her that which her own thoughts denied Mattie was still in had gone back to the Hinchford service. Mattie strong enough to shift for herself again--to about packing her scanty wardrobe for removal to her fathers home; she alone and her preparations for departure, when Harriet Wesden came the room. After the salutations had been exchanged--and flying remarks upon Mattie's better and looks had made--our heroine looked at Harriet, and what was the I so that should happened, Mattie?"
life, and do his best according To his powerS.

HarrIet, His DaUghtEr, kePt her troubles tO HersElf; she had met with
the firSt shoCk THat fALlS to thE share oF MaNY A yoUnG lIfe, AnD ShE
had nOt mAde up heR mind as to tHe bEsT method of beaRInG up against It.
TWo years ago thIs wOuld noT hAve BEen a gReaT trouBle to hER; but twO
years had WoNDrouslY Sobered HER, aNd heR eyes had only been oPEnED to
the true estiMate of siDNeY'S ChaRacTer at the tiMe When hE Spoke of THe
NECEssITy of ending all Engagement bETweEn them. he Had NOt blamEd her,
Or SHe mIght have defEndeD herself; hE had spOKen of hiS Own
consCiousnEss Of hAvinG DoNe WroNg TO biND hEr bY A prOmise madE iN aN
impuLsivE MOMEnt, hE haD intImateD that it was a reLieF to hIM to Give
hEr up, aNd in ThE face Of the cOld, unPiTying world, she waS powErless
to aCt. STiLl sHe Was hoPEful amIdsT it All; it waS no seriOUs qUaRREL;
hE had spoken of his wisH tO REmAin her frIend, anD By OnE Of the manY
cHanCes oF LIfe, it WoulD NoT be diffiCult foR HiM tO discovEr That it
_WaS_ loVe wHich dREw heR to him, And not thE pity WHich is akin to it.
iT might all be exPLaINEd WHen tHe rIght moment cAme rOUnd; bUt as THe
DayS PasseD, and nO SIDnEY appeared, her heart saNk More, anD she rEad
the future iN store for hER THrough a mEdiuM LeSS highly coloureD by heR
fancy.

A weeK After the ExplaNation beTween SidnEY And her, shE weNt iN seArcH
OF MAttie. Always in TROublE tHinking Of MAttie--seEkiNg fRom Her ThAt
consolaTion whicH hEr OwN tHouGhts dENied her. MAtTie WaS stIll in
tEnchesTer StReet, AlThOUgh ann PackET hAD Gone BaCk To thE HiNcHford
ServICe. MAttie waS strong enOugH To shIfT fOr herseLf again--to set
aBoUt packing hEr ScaNty warDRObe for reMoval to her fathers home; shE
Was alonE anD busy With Her preparAtiOns for DepARture, wHen HarRiet
WEsDen CAMe intO THe RooM.

AFter the firST SalUtatiOnS had Been excHanged--and flying remARks Upon
Mattie's beTteR heaLTH aNd bRIgHTer LoOKs hAD Been made--our heroIne
looked sTeADiLy at HarrieT, And AsKed what Was the mAtter.

"aM I so altEred that yOu should tHiNk anYTHinG had happenEd, Mattie?"


life, and do his best acco rding to h is po wer s.
H arri et,his daughter,k epther troubles to hersel f; sh eh ad m e twiththe fir s ts h ock  t ha t f al l sto th e s hare of  many a yo ung  l ife, and she ha d not made  up  her mind as  to  the b es t m e thodofbeari ng upa gainst  it.
Twoye a rs ago this wo u l dnothave been a great tr o uble to her; b ut two 
y e ar s had  wo ndrously s ob eredh er, and he r e yes had only been  opened tot hetrue e st ima t e of S idney 's cha racter at t he t ime whenhe spo k e of th e 
necess ity of  en din g al l  e ng age me n t b e tw een the m. He ha dno t bla medh e r , 
orshe  mig ht ha ve defended h ers elf; hehad s poken  ofhi s own 
consc iousn es s of having don e wr ong to bi ndhe r b ya pro m ise ma deinan
impu lsive m o men t, h e  h ad intimated thatit w as  a relie f to h i mto give
her  u p,andi n  theface of  the col d, unp i ty in g world ,she wa spow erl ess
t o  act . Stil l she wa s hop e ful amidst ita ll; it was no se r i ou s  qua rre l;
he had s poke n  ofhisw is h t o  rema in he rf ri e nd, and by one of t he  manychanc es of life, i t would no t b e diffic ultf or him to discove r tha t it
_was_ love whi ch dr ew her t o him, an d not thepit y w hic h i s ak in to it.
Itm i ghtal l be ex pla ined wh enthe  ri ght  m oment cam e round;  b ut  a sthe 
days passed,an d n oSid ney a p peared , her  hea rt  s a nkmore, a n ds h e re ad 
t he f utu re  in s tore for  her th rough a m edi u m le ss  h ighly c oloured by he rfancy.

Awe ekaftert h e explan ation between Sidney an d  her, s hewentin s earch
ofMat tie. A lwa y s in t rouble  thin ki ngo f  Matt i e -- see ki ng from he r tha t
con so lati on whic h her own thoughts den ied her. Matt iewass t il l i n 
T e nch es t erS t reet, althoughAnn Packet  h a dgone backt o t he  Hinchf ord
ser vice. Mattiewas stron g enoughto  shi f t  fo r herselfagain--t o set
abo u t pac k in g her  sc anty w ar dro be fo r remo v alto he r fath er s home ; she 
w as alone  and busy with her prep aratio ns fo r d eparture,  wh e n H arriet
We sden  came into  th e r oom.
Af t er th e fi r st  sa l utati onsh ad been e x ch ang e d -- and flyingr e m ark s upo n
M a ttie's  bet ter health and br i ghter looks ha d be e n  ma de- - ourhe roine
looked s tea di l y  at Harr ie t, and aske d what w as the m atter. 

"AmI so al t e re d  thatyousho uld think  an yt h ing had  h ap p ened,Matt ie ?"


life, and_do his_best according to his_powers.

Harriet, his_daughter,_kept her_troubles_to herself; she_had met with
the_first shock that falls_to the share_of_many a young life, and she
had not made up her mind as to the_best_method of_bearing_up_against it.
Two years ago this_would not have been a_great trouble_to her; but two
years had wondrously sobered her,_and_her eyes had_only been opened to
the true estimate of Sidney's character_at the time when he spoke_of the
necessity of_ending_all_engagement between them. He_had not blamed her,
or she might_have defended herself; he had spoken_of his own
consciousness of having done wrong_to bind her by a promise_made in an
impulsive moment, he_had intimated_that it was a relief_to him to_give
her up,_and in the_face of the cold, unpitying world,_she was powerless
to_act. Still she was hopeful amidst_it_all; it was_no_serious_quarrel;
he had_spoken of his_wish_to remain_her_friend, and by one of the_many
chances_of life, it would not be difficult_for him to discover_that_it
_was_ love which drew_her to him, and not_the pity which is akin to_it.
It might_all be_explained when the right moment came round; but as the
days passed,_and no Sidney appeared, her heart_sank more, and she_read
the future_in_store for her_through_a medium_less highly coloured by her
fancy.

A week after_the explanation_between Sidney and her, she went_in search
of Mattie. Always_in_trouble thinking of Mattie--seeking from her_that
consolation which her own thoughts denied_her. Mattie was still in
Tenchester_Street,_although_Ann Packet had gone back_to the Hinchford
service. Mattie was strong_enough to shift_for herself again--to set
about packing her scanty_wardrobe_for removal to her fathers home;_she
was_alone and busy with her preparations_for_departure,_when Harriet
Wesden came into the_room.

After the first salutations had been_exchanged--and flying remarks upon
Mattie's better health and brighter looks_had been made--our_heroine
looked steadily at Harriet, and_asked_what_was the matter.

"Am I so altered that you should think_anything had_happened, Mattie?"

