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But I saw hi a field in returning from a visit to Nancy Brohich I had taken the opportunity of paying while Matilda Murray was riding her matchless mare He must have heard of the heavy loss I had sustained: he expressed no sympathy, offered no condolence: but almost the first words he uttered were,--'How is your mother?' And this was no matter-of-course question, for I never told him that I had a mother: he must have learned the fact from others, if he knew it at all; and, besides, there was sincere goodwill, and even deep, touching, unobtrusive sympathy in the tone and manner of the inquiry I thanked him with due civility, and told him she was as well as could be expected 'What will she do?' was the next question Many would have deeiven an evasive reply; but such an idea never entered ave a brief but plain statement of my mother's plans and prospects

'Then you will leave this place shortly?' said he

'Yes, in a ht When he spoke again, I hoped it would be to express his concern at my departure; but it was only to say,--'I should think you will be willing enough to go?'

'Yes--for sos only--I wonder what should ree; because it e it; and that was a profound secret, which he had no business to trouble me about

'Why,' said I--'why should you suppose that I dislike the place?'

'You told me so yourself,' was the decisive reply 'You said, at least, that you could not live contentedly, without a friend; and that you had no friend here, and no possibility ofone--and, besides, I know you MUST dislike it'

'But if you rehtly, I said, or meant to say, I could not live contentedly without a friend in the world: I was not so unreasonable as to require one always near me I think I could be happy in a house full of enemies, if--' but no; that sentence must not be continued--I paused, and hastily added,--'And, besides, we cannot well leave a place where we have lived for two or three years, without soret to part with Miss Murray, your sole re pupil and companion?'