Mabel, Vol. I (of 3)

ble weigh'

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opportunity of visiting the prettiest sights of the neighbourhood, either on foot, or in Mr. Ware's carriage. Much as she enjoyed these excursions, Mabel, at length, found that she was frequently obliged to excuse herself. The slightest additional pallor on her mother's countenance, had always been sufficient to make

ess which she found it difficult to suppress, and, instead of being relieved on her children's account, by the promise that they should share the comforts of a home with her sister's own family,

give us, as upon the state in which they find us. In good spirits, and vigorous healt

plain to Mabel, that she had risked the greater part of her small fortune, not from any strong motive, but, simply because her sister had been extravagant enough to embarrass herself by the purchase of luxuries, and she had been too weak to refuse the loan which the superior claim of her children had rendered rather unjust than generous, she now found this difficulty increased by a constant fear that she should guess the truth. It was, therefore, necessary to carry on the search unobserved, and the wish to do so, fixed upon her like a spell, and harassed her continually. She would, then, on the morning of any proposed expedition, endeavour to appear as gay and well as possible, that she might induce Mabel to join the party; but, on the

bodily illness, when it finds, as it we

he had ever learned to place on herself, even in the indulgence of the slightest whim; and her affection for her could not blind her to the fact that she had chosen for her children a guardian too weak

enewed impatience she would return to the secretary-till wearied an

favored a walk to the woods which had been agreed on, she entered the room, and found her seated, unoccupi

, vacantly, "yes, I have be

ean that-not really unkind-only

I cannot find them, though they are all here." She stopped and glanced at the

e try and find it-I will look over

ought to find, it is my own

ou were to be kept quite quiet, and now you are wandering about all day-only thin

I feel that I am dying, but do not

od looking at her mother

hild. Well may you be surprise

mother, what

Mrs. Lesly, much excited, "how could I

t tell me-is there a sorrow I have refused to

cheeks, and Mrs. Lesly contin

confidence,) "day after day you are wearying yourself with something you will not let me know, and injuring

is of my children, and oh!" said she, turning her he

ha

pap

hing be worse than this concealment

said Mrs. Lesl

ould rather hear any thi

essive calmness with which she had been speaking before, and looking attenti

el, walking to her, and kneeling by h

of before. It would have been but a poor pittance-yet it would have saved you from want; but this is nearly all gone now, for my sister has been borrowing of me from time to time, promis

o has supported me through far wo

ly, sorrowfully, "but do not live to cu

s left me, and power to use the education my dear father gave me; and I am so happy to think nothing worse is to be feared, even should any thing so strange occu

ed her child in her arms, say

t injure ourselves, not those depend

om her heart, and though she was still ap