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Rh her brother, whose fraternal feelings, on the other hand, had suffered no abatement from absence or time, being only suspended in consequence of her past neglect, and the uncertainty of her future conduct relative to his family. For the sight of her was well calculated to renew the pleasing memory of early years; her only brother, and she his only sister, when living under the roof of his honoured and respected mother, they naturally felt an interest in each other, the greater in proportion as it was undivided.

It cannot be doubted, however, that in her case new connexions and associations had gone far to obliterate the old, when even De Brooke's mind continued to be chiefly occupied with the same train of ideas that had mingled themselves with the first impressions which the news of his sister's arrival had awakened. Full of anxious concern, therefore, on a subject that still lay nearest his heart, he would have given utterance to his wishes, but forbore to do so, supposing that on such a point it rested more with his sister to be the first to mention, viz. that of the introduction to her of his wife and daughters. Finding, however, that she remained perfectly silent on that head, after a due interval he took his leave, retiring from her house more depressed in spirits than when he entered it;