not immediately settle in the world, it is my wish that her time should be divided between her invaluable friends at Meadowscourt, and the house of her other guardian, the truly-worthy Mr. Rainsford. Thus she will be accustomed to the habits both of high and of moderate life, and be equally qualified to fulfil her duties, whichever may finally be her allotted station."

We have already mentioned Geraldine's having another guardian, a merchant in Dublin. With his family she was but little acquainted, though she had spent one day with them during her last residence there, and had conciliated universal admiration by her beauty, urbanity, and unaffected sprightliness of manners; but she was at that time living with a very fine and very fastidious knot of fashionable people, who kept entirely within their own circle; and to visit, or receivė visits out of it, was a task nearly as diffi cult as to take at once a trip across the Atlantic. As, however, we are apt to remember

member our friends the moment we want them, Mr. Rainsford's house appeared now the asylum of peace to Geraldine; and she determined immediately to write to his wife upon the subject, after obtaining the consent of lady Louisa Southwell. "I am no longer necessary to her hap-. piness," she said, while bitter tears coursed each other down her cheek at the conviction; " and till her heart is changed to me, the sooner I remove out of her way the better."

Though accustomed, for several days, to the alteration in lady Louisa's manners, Geraldine was shocked by the extreme coldness with which she received the proposal of leaving her. It was soon decided. After a short and painful conversation— "At least, madam," said Geraldine, blushing and hesitating, "you will allow that it is not in search of any body-it is not for any reason, I mean, but to comply with my father's wishes that I propose a change of abode; for I hear his excellency is expected

expected at Meadowscourt, and, of course, some of his staff will accompany him."

66

Possibly so," returned lady Louisa, with increasing coldness; "I am not in the secret of the movements of the staff; but when once hearts come to understand each other, the separation of persons is very immaterial."

This observation made Geraldine look a little foolish; she felt its truth, and experienced, at the moment it was uttered, a secret, exulting consciousness of happi, ness in the certainty of being beloved, which would not be repressed -which overbalanced her regret for offending-her pain at parting with her friend, and even that friend's continued and implacable resentment.

She received, by return of post, an answer from Mrs. Rainsford, who was charmed with the prospect of possessing an inmate of Geraldine's accomplishments, elegance, and taste; she only objected to the terms proposed as too liberal; and concluded

cluded, that, "as at this season all Dublin was out of town, she hoped to see her dear Miss Southwell, as soon as convenient, at her villa at the Black Rock."

· Geraldinesmiled at this characteristic conclusion, and immediately began her preparations for departure. Attentive, even in the midst of her severest displeasure, to the decorums that politeness and hospitality required, lady Louisa Southwell had arranged that her own woman, Mrs. Dillon, should travel with Geraldine, and consign her safely into the hands of Mrs. Rainsford, She was therefore surprised, on the eve of her departure, to see Katherine Lawless busily employed in buckling the straps of a trunk, as if she too proposed being of the party." It's a folly to talk, Miss Geraldine," she began, as in reply to our heroine's amazement" do you think I'd be letting your mother's child go among strangers, and not be wid her to take care of her?" H

"I am sorry, Katherine, it cannot be," Geraldine

Geraldine answered, rather seriously. "Dillon is to accompany me, and I cannot take you also. You are lady Louisa's servant, not mine.""

"Hout tout! never you mind that," answered Katherine Lawless." Didn't my lady give me leave to go in the stead of mistress Dillon, and why wouldn't she? seeing as how, when I'm entirely determined, the divel himself wouldn't be after hindering me, let alone my lady, who is nat like the divel at all at all, barring betimes when she's in a bit of a passion. And have you money enough for all your expinces, Miss Geraldine, dear?" continued Katherine, looking anxiously in her face; "for you know, darling, before this rumpus, you was very extravagant, planting trees, and building of dairy-houses and summer-houses; and I've a matter of forty pounds I could let you have in no time, and never feel it, jist, dear, to help bear your thravelling charges."

"Be assured, my good Lawless, want of

money