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Rh faithful in his attendance upon him, and the more so in this present sad vicissitude.

"What of your mistress?" exclaimed De Brooke, tremblingly impatient; "is all well?"

"Yes, Sir, my missus is not ill, tank God; and de shildren be quite hearty, bless deir little souls; but", presenting a letter, "dis will tell you all you wish to know."

De Brooke snatched it from his hand, and hastily ran over its contents. It was dated from Kennington, where, with satisfaction, he found his wife had now taken up her residence. The tenderness in which her language was dictated conveyed to him a soothing balm; her regrets seemed principally to arise from his protracted absence; he thence perceived that Mr. Philimore, in conformity with his request, had kept from her view those circumstances, the knowledge of which could tend, without answering any useful purpose, but to irritate her grief and add activity to her apprehensions.

Whilst De Brooke was perusing the billet, Robert, who, not from prying curiosity, but from honest fidelity, made his master's concerns his own, stood transfixed, his eyes riveted upon his countenance, till he started from his position, on