vain that he was warned of their designs--he was infatuated,
and would listen to no counsel but that of his treacherous betrayers,
who plunged him deeper and deeper into obligations and liabilities,
which, in the end, engulphed the whole of his large fortune. He had
even to fly the country to escape a prison, and is at this moment in
hiding from his creditors until his affairs can be arranged. Everything
had to be given up. My mother's small portion is barely sufficient to
maintain her and my sisters; my brothers, ill-prepared for the lot that
is before them, are abroad in the world, making their way as they best
can; as for myself, not choosing to add to my mother's burdens, I have
accepted the post in Mrs Mason's family which I now occupy. She is an
old and well-tried friend, who has known me from my infancy, and both
she and her children regard me as one of themselves. They urged me to
accompany them in their removal to Canada, and cast in my lot with
theirs. What better could I do? Of my own family, not one advised my
remaining in England. I accepted my dear friend's offer--and thus it
has come to pass that we meet once more."

Whether Philip and Mary Ashton understood all the interesting addresses
given on that occasion may be doubted.

"I say, Harry," cried Charley, some days after this, "I am so glad that
Phil is going to be married. That Mary is a nice girl, and she will
make some amends for Sophy having gone away. Not that she is likely to
be up to her--I should like to see the girl who could be."

A short time after the family were reunited at Ashton Clearing, to which
Philip had brought his wife, Charley acknowledged that if not superior
she was fully equal to Sophy. Harry had made up his mind that no
employment was superior to that of a settler; and, anxious to resume it,
he studied very hard while at college, and took a most creditable
degree. The farm had now grown into a very pretty little estate, to
which the name of Ashton was universally given. Cottages had been
erected on the property, and had been eagerly taken by new comers. Saw
and grist-mills had been built in the neighbourhood, and many other
houses and cottages. Harry had, with his father's assistance, purchased
a good-sized farm near Ashton, and had secured another for Charley, so
that they might be near their father to render him the assistance he
required.

His family had long known what had been Philip's secret wish. They