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40 gratification: however fatal had been the circumstances connected with his clandestine marriage, time, together with the approved and known worth of the partner whom, under such powerful incitements and interesting circumstances, he had selected, combined also with the publicity which he had given to his marriage, was certainly sufficient to do away the past, and elicit for the future sentiments towards him of greater philanthropy and brotherly love.

With these reflections he embraced the earliest opportunity of paying his sister a visit, when, if his reception was not so cordial as he might have desired, it was not such, however, as to provoke his displeasure. Having, since her union with Mr. Arden, learnt the art of dissembling, it was not difficult for her to assume a sort of demeanour and routine of expression in which the natural feelings had no share: add to this the constant habit of submitting her opinions to the rule of her husband's, who, as a man remarkable for acute perceptions, was highly respected and considered by her as an oracle of wisdom, he became the complete guide and arbiter of her most minute decisions.

The result of this conformity was an almost total extinction of the affection, at no time immoderate in degree, she had hitherto entertained for