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stand that it was clear I found my task of nurse to a hypochondriac a bore, and wanted to get companions in the task. His wife's situation was evidently a mere pretext; for he spoke of having country engagements for the winter, at Walsingham Castle and to different members of his family, which would render it very difficult to leave England.

"However," added he, in the last page, "if you think there is any absolute necessity for our being on the spot, we will come."

Even the letters of my sister Julia and her husband were far from what I expected at such a crisis.-Herries informed me that the infirmities of Lord Ormington's health and mind had, since the departure of Danby for the continent, so rapidly increased, that he could not at present take upon himself the responsibility of announcing to him my brother's precarious state.

"I should strongly advise you," wrote the prudent counsellor, "to procure the best ad

vice and attendance for him, and return immediately to England, if your invalid be well enough to attempt the journey. He is clearly too far advanced to derive permanent advantage from mildness of climate.-If he should sink under the exertion, you will have the comfort of knowing that you did your duty in attempting to restore him to the bosom of his family; and under such circumstances, (since it is wiser to be prepared for the worst,) allow me to suggest that Julia and I are of opinion it will be expected that the body should be brought back to England!"

Julia too, et tu Brute!-Oh! the result of spending one's life with a hard-souled,―aridnatured man!

That day was the last of my dear brother's existence-He called me to his bedside at night,―(he was no longer strong enough to wander to mine;)—and bad me bring him from his desk the paper containing the two locks of hair I had seen him deposit there in Connaught

Place. Having taken them out and gazed upon them for a moment, he tried to place them in a gold medallion which he drew from his bosom, and which, till that moment, I had never noticed his wearing.

But his hands were so weak that he could not succeed in opening the spring; and he was obliged to have recourse to my assist

ance.

I then readily perceived that the bright brown hair within the locket was that of my niece ;-warm,-warm with the warmth of her dying father's heart!

"I had to request of you, Cecil," said he, in a voice the hoarseness of which was only too fatally expressive," that this may go with me to my grave.-A foolish wish!-but there is something

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He did not find voice to finish the sentence.

"One word more," said he,-after an afflicting pause, during which his hand was enlaced

in mine." You have often heard me blame the presumption of those who cause their remains to be removed from one land into another. I feel that I have little pretext for such a wish,—I feel its futility—and despise myself. But if my dust could commingle with that of those loved ones at Ormington!-You have been a faithful brother to me, Cecil ;in this also, even in this, be faithful."

My tears answered for me.—It was a terrible night,-terrible for me.-Even for him,—so resigned, so good,—it was a terrible night!—

On the morrow, he died, and I was

alone !

CHAPTER IV.

Alles was mit Sehnsucht und Entzücken
Hier am Staub' ein edles Herz erfullt,
Schwindet gleich des Herbstes Sonnenblicken
Wenn ein Sturm den Horizont umhüllt.
Die am Abend frendig sich umfassen
Sieht die Morgenrothe schon erblassen;
Selbst der Freundschaft und der Liebe Glück
Lasst anf Erden keine Spur zurück.

BUT for that earnest death-bed promise to my brother, I would have buried him in Italy; have buried him under that blessed sky, overshadowed by a tuft of noble pines and cypresses to survive for centuries over his grave.—

For I felt that England did not deserve him. England had not prized him as he ought to have been prized,-had not loved him as he merited to be loved. Our gloomy family

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