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Mr. Briggs, being Mr. Eyre's solicitor, wrote to us last August to inform us of our uncle's death, and to say that he had left his property to his brother the clergyman's orphan daughter, overlooking us, in consequence of a quarrel, never forgiven, between him and my father.

He wrote again a few weeks since, to intimate that the heiress was lost, and asking if we knew anything of her.

A name casually written on a slip of paper has enabled me to find her out.

You know the rest." Again he was going, but I set my back against the door.

"Do let me speak," I said; "let me have one moment to draw breath and reflect." I paused-he stood before me, hat in hand, looking composed enough. I resumed-

"Your mother was my father's sister?"

"Yes."

"My aunt, consequently?"

He bowed.

"My uncle John was your uncle John? You, Diana, and Mary are his sister's children, as I am his brother's child?"

"Undeniably."

"You three, then, are my cousins; half our blood on each side flows from the same source?"

"We are cousins; yes."

I surveyed him.

It seemed I had found a brother: one I could be proud of,-one I could love; and two sisters, whose qualities were such, that, when I knew them but as mere strangers, they had inspired me with genuine affection and admiration.

The two girls, on whom, kneeling down on the wet ground, and looking through the low, latticed window of Moor House kitchen, I had gazed with so bitter a mixture of interest and despair, were my near kinswomen; and the young and stately gentleman who had found me almost dying at his threshold was my blood relation.

Glorious discovery to a lonely wretch! This was wealth indeed!-wealth to the heart!-a mine of pure, genial affections.

This was a blessing, bright, vivid, and exhilarating;-not like the ponderous gift of gold: rich and welcome enough in its way, but sobering from its weight.

I now clapped my hands in sudden joy-my pulse bounded, my veins thrilled.

"Oh, I am glad!-I am glad!" I exclaimed.

St. John smiled. "Did I not say you neglected essential points to pursue trifles?" he asked. "You were serious when I told you you had got a fortune; and now, for a matter of no moment, you are excited."

"What can you mean? It may be of no moment to you; you have sisters and don't care for a cousin; but I had nobody; and now three relations,-or two, if you don't choose to be counted,-are born into my world full-grown. I say again, I am glad!"

I walked fast through the room: I stopped, half suffocated with the thoughts that rose faster than I could receive, comprehend, settle them:-thoughts of what might, could, would, and should be, and that ere long.

I looked at the blank wall: it seemed a sky thick with ascending stars,-every one lit me to a purpose or delight.

Those who had saved my life, whom, till this hour, I had loved barrenly, I could now benefit.

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