In a week's time, the two households were on the friendliest terms.

Mrs.Carbury, confined to the sofa by a spinal malady, had been hitherto dependent on her niece for one of the few pleasures she could enjoy, the pleasure of having the best new novels read to her as they came out.

Discovering this, Arthur volunteered to relieve Miss Haldane, at intervals, in the office of reader.

He was clever at mechanical contrivances of all sorts, and he introduced improvements in Mrs.Carbury's couch, and in the means of conveying her from the bedchamber to the drawing-room, which alleviated the poor lady's sufferings and brightened her gloomy life.

With these claims on the gratitude of the aunt, aided by the personal advantages which he unquestionably possessed, Arthur advanced rapidly in the favour of the charming niece.