and up stairs is a sitting-room and two excellent bed-rooms, if you please to walk up; I am sure you will be delighted with them."

"I dare say they are all very good; but it is more accommodation than we require, my good woman," said Mr Malfort.

“You shall have it all for two guineas and a half per week," said Janet; "I am sure you will get nothing so cheap in all Seafowl.”

Mr Malfort shook his head-" That may be very true," said he, "but it is too much for us. I cannot possibly give more than two guineas per week, including everything."

“Well, then,” said Janet, with a gulp, and considerable emphasis, "you shall have it for two; but I hope you will allow me something for myself."

"I cannot give more than two guineas, including everything," again repeated Mr Malfort, drawing the arm of Constantia into his, and preparing to depart; "I cannot give more than two guineas."

Janet gulped again, and with redoubled emphasis replied, "Well, sir, since it must be so, you shall have it for two, for one month; till the season advances, you shall have it for two guineas, including everything." Mr Malfort still looked hesitatingly, and Janet renewed her attack. "Pray,

will you provide coals, sir, or shall I? Either way, you cannot be more moderate anywhere in Seafowl."

Constantia gave her father's arm a gentle pressure," We had better fix," said she; and Mr Malfort forthwith closed with Janet, allowing her to provide necessaries, and trusting to her honesty for the charges.

"You may depend upon me," said Janet; "and though it does not become me to say so, there is not a more honest woman in all Seafowl,-poor though I am, still I am honest, and would wrong no living creature ;"-and she drew out of her pocket a written certificate of her character, signed by John Chesterfield, and other respectable characters, which perfectly satisfied Mr Malfort and Constantia. Janet rejoiced she had got the lodging let, and forthwith communicated the same to her master; telling him she had let it for a guinea and a half per week, which was all she could obtain, and half-a-guinea for her own services. This latter clause she concealed entirely from Mr Malfort, as she trusted to his bounty for some gift, in consideration that she served him without wages. Janet's standard of morality was very low; and, like all unrenewed persons, she was perfectly satisfied with her own conduct; for, though no Catholic, she took the sacrament once a-year, as a

kind of charm to wash away her sins, and cheated the remainder of the year with an easy conscience; for she was one of those "who deceived themselves, because the truth was not in them."

Pine Cottage commanded a beautiful view of the high romantic rocks, and blue ocean of Seafowl; and the Malforts soon took possession, and found themselves comfortably settled in their new abode. Doctor Zealwell, as it happened, was the physician consulted about Miss Malfort, but nothing could extract from him a flattering account of her symp

toms.

"I do not say," he observed, "that immediate danger is to be apprehended; but there is much to be feared from a severe winter. Here, indeed, the climate is milder than in London; but that pulse is not good."

The poor father felt his soul sink at these tidings. How, in the present state of his affairs, could he remain here? yet how leave her all alone? Where were the funds to be found for all the expenses that were thought necessary for her? A thick cloud darkened all the future. But Mr Malfort was a Christian; and there was a light which dispelled the darkness, and brought peace to his troubled soul. "There is a great Physician, who can heal and make alive; in him I will place my confidence. None ever had cause to repent, who trusted all to the Rock of ages."

These and similar thoughts cheered his soul, when, walking all alone, he explored the varied beauties of the landscape around this beautiful village.

"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar."

CHAPTER XXI.

"In every object here I see

Something, O Lord! that leads to thee;
Firm as the rocks thy promise stands,
Thy mercies countless as the sands;
Thy love a sea immensely wide,
Thy grace an ever-flowing tide."

SUCH was Seafowl, and such were Mr Malfort and his daughter. To them the world had lost its allurements, but they had learned to seek a better country. Mr Malfort saw the last tie that bound him to life rapidly loosening, in the illness which was hastening his daughter to her long home; but he possessed the greatest of all comforts, and was willing to resign her. As yet, though near neighbours, they were quite unknown to the Vainall family. Lady Amelia, indeed, had been told that there was a sick and pious lady, who lived in the beautiful cottage she had so often admired; but she had never met Mr Malfort, nor was in any way known to his daughter. The Marchioness had succeeded in making herself acquainted with all the