and  grateful  for  his  bequest,  yet  I  am  apt
to  forget  he  was  my  relation."

"  But  you  always  remember  aunt  Laun-
eeston  was  a  very  near  relation,  though,
in  point  of  fact,  they  were  the  same  akin
to  you  exactly  ?"

"  Yes,  Charles,  I  do  indeed  feel  that  she
is  very  near  to  me ;  and  it  has  ever  been  a
source  of  the  purest  pleasure  I  have  enjoyed
as  a  mother,  to  think  that  my  son  felt  her
equally  near  and  dear  to  hhn.  In  your
grateful  attentions  to  her  comfort,  the  de-
light with  which  you  have  listened  to  her
precepts,  the  patience  with  which  you  have
amused  her  lonely  hours,  or  supported  her
tottering  steps,  I  have  seen  the  foundation
of  many  virtues  in  your  own  character,
and  have  been  led  to  hope  that  you  would
one  day  resemble  your  father."

Charles's  usually-open  countenance  did
not  beam  with  its  wonted  smiles,  when


ALICIA   AND   HER   AUNT.  19

such  hopes  were  uttered  by  his  beloved
mother ;  on  the  contrary,  he  appeared  ra-
ther depressed  than  elated,  and  yet  not  able
to  relieve  his  mind  by  a  confession  of  any
errors  he  might  have  been  guilty  of.  Mrs.
