ken in heart, and shattered in constitution, I had anticipated, in the sisterly affection of my beloved Jessy, a solace for the few remaining years of my existence. I find her gone before me, and must now look towards her sweet offspring for consolation and comfort. If she is like her mother, my hopes will not be in vain, and the gifts which fortune has conferred upon me, will obtain some value in my eyes, when they are shared by Gabrielle Montgomery. The letters that your mother addressed to me, previous to her decease, and which (in consequence of their being. returned from India after my departure for this country) have been only recently received, informed me of your present situation. Lady Harold was well known to me previous to my leaving England; and I sincerely rejoice in my sister's selection of such a guardian for her precious child, who will, I am confident, sometimes admit of her devoting a few hours to a solitary and querulous

old man, who requires her aid, to soothe the dreary moments of disease and ennui. To-morrow, at four o'clock, I will, with her permission, call in Portman Square, and, in the interim, believe me, my dear Gabrielle's affectionate uncle,

DONALD LESLIE. P.S. Direct to Colonel Leslie, Harley Street.

"Good Heavens! what an incident!" exclaimed Lady Harold, as she finished the Colonel's letter. "I remember Donald Leslie, a mad-cap boy of eighteen, just before he embarked for India; but little expected ever to have seen him again. Gabrielle, my dear," she continued to Miss Montgomery, who had just re-entered the room, "what must we say to this new-found uncle of yours?"

"Whatever you think proper, my dear madam," she replied; "but every thing that is dutiful and affectionate, as to the beloved brother of the best and dearest of parents, who never mentioned him

without tears, and who, for the last few years of her existence, was led from his long silence to believe he was no more. But your ladyship must have the goodness to write for me; for I am really too flurried to do it myself."

A few lines were accordingly penned to Colonel Leslie by Lady Harold congratulating him on his safe arrival in England, and thanking him for the honour of his intended visit, "which would," she added, "be anxiously expected by his neice, who, in mind, no less than in person, was the epitome of his lamented sister."

This letter being dispatched, the party retired to dress for dinner; and the remainder of the day was passed in discussing the late unexpected event. But neither Gabrielle nor Lord Harold seemed quite so happy as they had been a few hours before. To the former, the occurrence of the morning had revived many recollections, which cast a damp

over her usual spirits; and the latter, whose imagination was but too prone to melancholy impressions, anticipated an interruption to the felicity he had lately enjoyed, in the society of Gabrielle, and conjuring up a thousand gloomy images of opposition and restraint, fervently wished uncle Leslie in the Indian deserts, from whence he came.

CHAP. VI.

THE following day, at the hour appointed, Colonel Leslie was announced, and was immediately ushered into the drawing-room, preceded by a black servant, bearing several small packages, which, on a signal from his master, he placed upon a table, and retired. Though the colonel in his letter to Gabrielle, had styled himself an old man, he was not

yet more than five and forty; but a long residence in a sultry climate, added to a slight stoop in his gait, gave him the appearance of being some years older; his air was military, and his cemplexion confessed the influence of an eastern sun; but his countenance was still handsome, and the expression of melancholy, as well as ill health, impressed upon it, could not fail of creating an interest in the susceptible beholder. With an agitation, he vainly endeavoured to suppress, he advanced towards his niece, but when Gabrielle prevented his approach by springing forward, and with the grace of a wood-nymph, knelt before him, while her soft voice murmured forth the name of uncle, his emotions could no longer be controlled, and snatching her to his arms, he called her his lovely Gabrielle, the darling child of his beloved sister, while he imprinted a thousand kisses on her coral lips; which were remarked with no slight discomposure by Lord