contrived to disengage himself from the little arms so tightly twined round him, he turned to me, and said,

"Mademoiselle, this is my daughter ; see what a wild colt you have to tame! Sybil, go and speak to Mademoiselle."

But Sybil did not stir; she only pouted her rosy lips, and clung closer to her father, eyeing me askance. My heart began to forebode evil; the words," She is ugly enough to frighten little Sybil Devereux," again rang in my ears. I believe I looked distressed, for I felt the tears rising in my eyes; and this was perceived by the boy-Albert, for I saw him walk up to the little girl, and heard him with grave earnestness, say, in a tone intended to be a whisper,

"Sybil! how badly you are behaving! the poor woman looks quite miserable."

Sybil turned her large eyes upon me again; at first, with a glance of suspicion, but, by degrees, her face brightened, and her lips re

laxed into a smile. Children are skilful physiognomists; a mere infant will like, or dislike, from the effect which the countenance of a person produces upon its fancy. The little girl looked steadfastly in my face for a moment, and then, with an altered expression, came towards me, and freely gave me her hand. I seized it with an emotion, at that early period of our acquaintance, unaccountable. I experienced at my heart, a rush of feeling, powerful in its nature. I pressed the little hand with fervour to my lips, and at that moment, felt flowing into my very soul, devotion and love towards the young being, which, truly since, has swelled to the highest tide of human attachment-a tide which has never once re

ceded.

"The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David!" thus only can I describe my entire devotion to Sybilla Devereux.

Ah! and the thought always comes over me with agony, like the stab of a sharp in

VOL. I C

strument, it was I who educated her-1 who directed her steps, as she grew from an innocent child to a lovely woman; it was I, who instilled into her young mind, principles, by which she was to form her future conduct. I was her instructress her friend- and the faults, the misfortunes of her life, can they be traced to the injudicious management of her Awful fearful thought governess?

tre

mendous responsibility! But yet, I labored, not relying on my own strength. I earnestly prayed for guidance from above, and my best endeavours were given to the work; never did I relax in thought or deed; my every energy was strained for the undertaking. Alas! alas! our best works, how imperfect-how full of sin are they!

Sybilla having once passed the rubicon, once surmounted the difficulty of commencing

our acquaintance, with the happy ease of childhood, seemed, in a moment, to be perfectly friendly with me. She leant familiarly upon my armas we walked on, and chatted at a brisk pace, letting me into the history of all around; accompanied by Albert, she dragged me here, there, and everywhere.

I saw the two children look at one another when I spoke in my very broken English; for but little of that language I had been allowed to acquire at Cumberland House, and Sybil would fain have laughed out loud, had she not been checked by a glance from Albert. He certainly seemed to exercise more control over the little lady- or rather, to possess the power of controlling her, in a greater degree than any one else at that period.

Mr. Devereux, seeing how favorably matters were proceeding between Sybil and myself, judiciously left the trio together to become thoroughly acquainted.

I was soon taken to a rustic cottage-a

possession which appeared to comprise every earthly joy to the children; and truly, it was a perfect baby house. Everything was in miniature. There was the cooking apparatus, in which Sybil especially delighted; how she gloried over her saucepans! The love of housewifery is surely a natural propensity in a woman's heart, for every little girl takes extreme pleasure in preparing the miniature repast intended for her doll; and if she can but slyly wash its frock-what an ecstasy of enjoyment! Hence, may it not be inferred (though low be it even whispered, for unpalatable-it will, doubtless, sound to many of my gentle readers) that the fair sex were, in reality, intended for household drudges. I have heard of some gentlemen so ungallant in their ideas, as to go so far as even to approve of the custom, still prevailing in the East, of wives waiting on their husbands and guests at table; but such Goths and Vandals, would gain but few allies in opinion here, where "the women of Great Britain,"