he answer which he sent me, related to something of the
greatest importance, in which the welfare and the happiness of
more than one person are closely involved: both would be
endangered if the most absolute secrecy was not observed by
you as well as by us, as to this correspondence between Henry
and myself. If I felt justified in doing so, I would explain
to you--"

"Don't, my dear, don't; I had rather not have it explained; I
had rather not hear a secret," cried Mrs. Hatton. "I never
liked them; it is much pleasanter not to know things which
concern other people; but you may be sure I shall never
breathe a syllable to any one about the letters. I only hope,
my darling Miss Ellen, that you will always be as happy as you
ought to be, so good as you are, and always trying to do good
to people, and to be of use. God bless your Sweet face!"

My heart smote me at the praises of this excellent woman; and
I answered with a deep sigh, "My fate is a far happier one
than I deserve, or ever can deserve, dear Mrs. Hatton; for I
am engaged to Edward Middleton, and am to be married to him in
a fortnight."

"Well, my dear Miss Ellen, I do wish you joy, with all my
heart!" (and what a heart it was; there are not many such.)
"How happy you will all be! Of all the husbands you could have
had, I would have chosen Mr. Edward Middleton for you--so
handsome--so good--so clever as he is! I remember one day,
that poor little Julia was still alive, I said to Mrs.
Middleton, 'Now, what a nice thing it would be if your little
girl was to marry her cousin some day, and those two fine
fortunes were to make but one.' 'No, no,' she cried, 'he
admires Ellen too much to wait for Julia;' and then she
added--'Mrs. Hatton, I am afraid that I love Ellen more than
Julia; is it not dreadful?' 'And if you do,' I answered, 'what
does it signify? Julia will never be the worse for it; there
is enough tenderness in your heart for both of them.' But I am
grieving you, dear Miss Ellen, by talking of that poor dear
little cousin of yours; but you know, dear, everything is for
the best, and the dear child might have lived to be wretched,
poor thing! Well, well, I will say nothing more about it; but
only that it is very pretty of you, my darling, to have kept
all your love and your sorrow for Julia so fresh in your
heart, in the midst of your own happiness. No doubt, she is a
blessed little angel now; and, perhaps, she can see into your
thoughts, and is bless