"She is, sir. We are orphans "I am opposed to it," continued Mr. Y——, taking up the narrative, as his wife half-paused, "and much prefer that Julia should be with us,—she and Mrs. Y—— should not be separated. I am sure there is room enough in our hearts for all our children, and Julia is one of them!" The grateful, loving smile, and dewy eyes of the wife, alone expressed her sense of pleasure at these words. For myself, I declare to you, I did not like to trust myself to reply. I was turning over some new pages of the history of human nature! Sometimes I think, as I did then, that the soul of man never reaches the full development of its earthly capacities, except when continually subjected to the blessed influences of nature! The city—the beaten thoroughfares of existence—curb, if they do not deaden, the better manifestations of the spirit, check forever, the most beautiful, individualizing specialities of manner even! But I did not mean to moralize. When Miss Peters rejoined us, her brother-in-law rose (as I also did, of course) and seated her between us, on the sofa. "My dear young lady," said I, taking her hand respectfully in my own, "permit me to say, as Dr. Johnson did to Hannah More, upon meeting her for the first time, 'I understand that you are engaged in the useful and honorable occupation of instructing young ladies,'—if it were possible more thoroughly to forget the brevity of our acquaintance, than I have already done, this would have deepened my respect and interest for you! Pardon me, if I take too great a liberty. You have, from the commencement of our acquaintance, permitted me the privileges of an octogenarian"—— "And of a gentleman of the old school!" she added, with great vivacity, and with the most bewitching smile. "Before I leave you, my dear Miss Peters, will you allow me to make a prophecy?" "If you are a prophet of good, sir"—— "Can you doubt it, when your future fate is the subject?" "Indeed, sir, I shall have great faith in your auguries!" returned my fair neighbor, bestowing the twin of her first smile upon me.