dreadful example set by their aunt to her daughters, (the eldest of whom could scarcely speak,) until she succeeded in signifying to friends and servants, that "the young woman who was formerly Mr. Granard's sister must never more be mentioned in the hearing of any person in the family." This injunction was strictly complied with, after sufficient time had passed for wonder and blame, and was perfectly agreeable to the master of the house, since he was in the first place soon engaged in looking up money for the payment of the seven thousand pounds which was his sister's portion; and the fifteen hundred pounds which he considered to be its accumulations, not choosing to accept any allowance for the board of his only sister.
When Miss Granard, or we ought to say the Countess Riccardini, had, after some months of severe suffering, once more seen her beloved brother, received the kiss of reconciliation, and the fortune which her husband nobly refused to touch, desiring the interest might be paid to his wife only, and which her brother placed in the funds, they retired to Devonshire, as being both cheap and mild, and were as happy as love and an adequate though moderate competence could make them. A year or too afterwards they contrived to take a lodging in the suburbs of London, where they had the satisfaction of not unfrequently receiving the visits of that beloved brother and friend who found with them his happiest, perhaps his only happy hours; for more girls were born to him, more
