That child, a daughter, has hitherto lived abroad; circumstances now render it desirable that she should make her home with me; and I own fairly that nothing has so attached me to Miss Hazeldean, nor so induced my desire for our matrimonial connection, as my belief that she has the heart and the temper to become a kind mother to my little one." MRS.

DALE (with feeling and warmth).--"You judge her rightly there." RICCABOCCA.--"Now, in pecuniary matters, as you may conjecture from my mode of life, I have nothing to offer to Miss Hazeldean correspondent with her own fortune, whatever that may be!" MRS.

DALE.--"That difficulty is obviated by settling Miss Hazeldean's fortune on herself, which is customary in such cases." Dr.Riccabocca's face lengthened.

"And my child, then ?" said he, feelingly.

There was something in that appeal so alien from all sordid and merely personal mercenary motives, that Mrs.Dale could not have had the heart to make the very rational suggestion, "But that child is not Jemima's, and you may have children by her." She was touched, and replied hesitatingly, "But from what you and Jemima may jointly possess you can save something annually,--you can insure your life for your child.