Rather, madam, should I press upon you some token of exchange for the fair charge you have committed to me.

Your jewels hereafter may profit the boy in his career: reserve them for one who needs them." "No, lady," said Ursula, rising and lifting her eyes to heaven;--"they shall buy masses for his mother's soul; for him I shall reserve a competence when his years require it.

Lady, accept the thanks of a wretched and desolate heart.

Fare you well!" She turned to quit the room, but with so faltering and weak a step, that Nina, touched and affected, sprung up, and with her own hand guided the old woman across the room, whispering comfort and soothing to her; while, as they reached the door, the boy rushed forward, and, clasping Ursula's robe, sobbed out--"Dear dame, not one farewell for your little Angelo! Forgive him all he has cost you! Now, for the first time, I feel how wayward and thankless I have been." The old woman caught him in her arms, and kissed him passionately; when the boy, as if a thought suddenly struck him, drew forth the purse she had given him and said, in a choked and scarce articulate voice,--"And let this, dearest dame, go in masses for my poor father's soul; for he is dead, too, you know!" These words seemed to freeze at once all the tenderer emotions of Ursula.

She put back the boy with the same chilling and stern severity of aspect and manner which had so often before repressed him: and recovering her self-possession, at once quitted the apartment without saying another word.