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246 perish under her eye, two sons excepted, who had alone survived to bless and cheer her widowhood. It was by means of remittances occasionally received from her eldest, a captain in the East India service, united to a slender income gained by taking in private boarders, that she was enabled to live with tolerable comfort and ease. Mrs. Herbert, by the exemplary propriety of her conduct, had won the esteem and goodwill of several in circles far superior to her own, and was not unknown to Mrs. Philimore, who, in acceding to the views of her friend, had conceived that as a temporary asylum for her children, no place could be more appropriate than the peaceful dwelling of the respected widow. Accordingly she had lost no time in paying her a visit, and having her opinion confirmed by her extreme partiality for children, as well as having ascertained that the proposition was agreeable, she had written without delay to her friend accordingly, and had left her to make the necessary arrangements for the expected arrival of her young charges.

Mrs. De Brooke found the good lady of the house in readiness to receive her. She was of a slender frame, with a countenance more worn than is usual at the age of fifty, yet expressive of good humour; with much volubility of speech, she