"is "Mrs. Bonville," continued Lord H-, now at Mr. Dalben's, and will probably stay under her uncle's roof for a week to come; but you will not see her son at present, Henry; neither can I tell you what sort of a youth he may be, having never happened to meet with him." Whilst Lord Hwas speaking of Mrs. Bonville, having used the word widow, and said that her husband was only lately dead, Henry's fancy began to be busy respecting her. And before Lord H― had concluded his speech, he had her whole figure before him in sable draperies and wide weepers; with a white handkerchief in her hands, ready to apply to her eyes whenever a painful thought occurred. This mourning figure was soon, however, dismissed from his thoughts; for he had many more questions to ask, and soon found a new and delightful interest in the accounts which Lord H- was so kind as to give him of their adventures on the continent. "I have often wished," remarked Henry, "that I had been old enough to have gone with my uncle." "You were too young, Henry, and your time was too precious," replied Lord H. “But it is very possible that Mr. Dalben may go abroad again, and then he may perhaps wish you to accompany him; but much will depend on the use you make of the few next years. Shall I tell you, Henry, what is the most dangerous and trying time for all young people? It is precisely that period into which you are about to enter; when the parental authority must, in a certain degree, begin to be relaxed. Mr. Dalben will not now be able to watch and follow you, as he did in your infancy. His own strength will naturally fail as your's increases and advances to maturity, till the period will come when he will look to you for that support which he afforded you when most in need; and thus in the course of nature an opportunity is given to the child to show his disposition at least to repay, in some degree, that which indeed never can be repaid, namely, the debt of gratitude due to the parent; for I make no doubt, Henry, that you look upon Mr. Dalben as upon a real father, and, indeed, one of the best of fathers." Henry did not speak; but the look which he gave to Lord H was more expressive than any words which he could have used. Well, then," said Lord H, "if it is so, and I doubt it not, now is your time to begin to B 5 show your sense of gratitude to Mr. Dalben. And how is this to be done? Shall I tell you? By giving him as little trouble as possible. He has said to me, that it was the greatest pleasure which he could now propose to himself, to have you with him till you enter the University; but, at the same time, that whilst he hopes still to be able to give you the instruction which it is necessary for you to receive, in order to enable you to make a respectable figure as an under graduate, yet he does not feel that he should have strength to contend with a youth, who, from indolence or any other cause, required a strong hand to keep him to his duty. If, then, my dear Henry, you are not entirely amenable to the gentle influence which your uncle will be able to use, you must make up your mind either to return to Clent Green, or to be placed in some other situation by which you will be separated from Mr. Dalben. And this I have thought right to state to you, or rather, I have been requested so to do by your excellent uncle; at the same time that I tell you that he is looking forward to the prospect of two or three happy years with you, with a degree of delight which proves, beyond all dispute, how entirely his affections are wrapt up in his adopted son." "Lord H—,” replied Henry, "I cannot answer you; I do not know what to say; I am so afraid that I may not do well—I hope-I hope"-and he could add no more; but a sort of sob, which he tried to suppress, betrayed the strength of his feelings. 66 Enough, enough," said Lord H-; "we will not say another word, my dear boy. I have said all that is sufficient to explain the state of the case. And now look out, and see how the lovely hills, beneath the shade of which you spent your early, happy days, are nearing upon us. A few short hours, and you will behold again, with God's blessing, all those exquisite scenes where you have spent so many happy hours 'Domum, domum, dulce domum.' This shall be the burthen of our song to-day, as it will be that of the redeemed when they shall all be brought into those glorious mansions which are to form their homes for ever and ever." Lord Hand Henry made a short rest at the small town through which they must pass in their way from Clent Green to Mr. Dalben's. And soon after this, as they travelled post, Henry had the pleasure of seeing the Malvern hills |