sisters with increased neglect and harshness when not in the presence of her lord.

Nothing could be more uncomfortable and gloomy than matters now were, and I greatly pitied our two noble and accomplished mistresses, as I saw them, day by day, subjected to the underhand tyranny of their vulgar stepmother, and the overbearing pertness of Miss Barrett.

The earl continued so infirm, and at last became so extremely weak, as to be unable to leave his bed-chamber, and it was with difficulty his two affectionate daughters could obtain permission from the countess to watch by his side, and then they were always under the surveillance of one of the trio.

An end was, however, soon put to all anxiety on the poor earl's account.

One night we were roused from our beds with intelligence that his lordship was dying. I hurried to Lady Geraldine's apartment, where I found her ladyship and Lady Caroline in · great agitation, and half-dressed. I accompanied them to the room of the earl, by their

desire. He was still sensible, and was asking for his "dear children."

The countess was calmly sitting in an armchair, by the side of the bed, while the faithful valet, Hammond, was supporting his lord's head. Miss Barrett and mademoiselle were sitting whispering together in the ante

room.

As soon as Lady Caroline and her sister approached their father's bed, he desired them to kiss him, adding in a low voice, "Forgive me, my darlings, forgive your unhappy father."

They embraced him again and again, and on their knees implored him to forgive them.

"I have nothing to forgive, my beloved girls,-it is I-I who must ask your pardon for giving you a step-mother, for daring to put her in the place of your noble mother." Saying this he sunk back exhausted, whispering to Hammond, "Remember, oh, remember!"

The countess had left the room for a few minutes while this conversation was going on, and on her return came to the bed-side,

saying in a most unfeeling tone to the earl, "Well, how do you find yourself now?" He turned his eyes upon her with a look of such anguish and reproach as might have touched a heart of steel; she, however, only turned coldly to the two weeping sisters, observing, "He is better now, so you may as well go back to your rooms."

"No, madam,” replied Lady Caroline, “we will never quit our dear father again while he has life." Saying this, she and Lady Geraldine kneeling by the bed, and taking the emaciated hand of their father in theirs, they smothered it with kisses and bathed it with their tears.

His lordship again opened his dying eyes, -they fell on his insensible and bold-looking countess. He turned them from her in disgust, and fixed them on the faces of his two weeping and heart-broken daughters. "Kiss me once more, my darlings," he said, "and send Clareville to me."

He was beginning to wander, and his wife interposed, saying,

"What are you thinking of? your son is not here."

"I forgot," said his lordship; "I forgot. Remember, Hammond, remember!"

These were the last words the poor earl ever spoke, and in half an hour he was no more."

I conducted the two distracted young ladies to their rooms, for Mrs. Tomkins was too much overcome to be of the slightest use to them, while the countess soon consoled herself for the death of her third husband.

She despatched letters to England to bring her brother, (an attorney,) to look after the affairs of the deceased lord, and then composed herself to the task of adorning herself in weeds.

In due time her attorney-brother arrived, very full of vulgar importance, in consequence of his sister's accession to such high rank, and, as he hoped, wealth.

In this he was not disappointed. The earl's will, which was in the possession of the countess, being opened in due form,

and before proper witnesses, disclosed that she was left three thousand pounds a-year for her life, and the town house, with its plate and furniture. She was also left guardian, together with his son, to Lady Geraldine, during her nonage. The earl requested requested that the countess would allow Lady Caroline to reside with her and under her motherly care, till she married. In addition to the noble bequest to the mother, he left Miss Barrett three hundred a-year for life!

His daughters were well provided for by his first wife's marriage settlement, but this enormous bequest to the present countess, who had been his wife but a very few months, seemed extraordinary, and showed the immense influence she must have had over him. It was no wonder, as poor Mrs. Tomkins said, that he had so often begged his daughters to forgive him.

As to the wealth left to the needy and grasping countess and her daughter, I do not believe our ladies ever gave it a thought; but the idea that her poor sister was left under the