forward: "Oh, it's my own brother Dick!"

It turned out to be really Nelly's long-lost brother. He had followed
the rest of his family out to America by the next vessel in which he
could procure a passage, but had never been able to discover any
trace of them. Getting work for a time as he best could, he had at
last entered the service of a market-gardener, where he had done so
well as to be able in time to begin business on his own account. He
could not have recognised his little sister Nelly in the tall,
good-looking girl before him; but time had not changed him so
materially as to prevent Nelly's loving heart from recognising her
only relative, and the moment her eye fell upon him, a thrill of
almost certain recognition chained her to the spot.

It is unnecessary to dwell upon the delight of both brother and sister
at their unexpected reunion, and the torrent of inquiries and replies
that followed. Dick had for so long a time given up all hope of
finding his kindred, that the joy of recovering Nelly overpowered his
sorrow at finding that she was the only one who survived to him; and
as the young gardener had been intending to live in a small cottage of
his own, he was only too glad to claim Nelly as his housekeeper. And
before Lucy went away, she had the pleasure of seeing Nelly
comfortably installed in a home which she could consider as really her
own.

It was no small trial to Lucy, when the time came, to say a long
farewell to her aunt and cousins, especially to Sophy, between whom
and herself there was now a strong bond of attachment; and to Stella,
as to whom she felt a strong foreboding that she should never see her
again. Her only comfort was that she could leave the matter in the
hands of Him who knew best, and that Stella could safely be trusted to
that protecting love which will never leave nor forsake any who humbly
seek its true blessing.

With Mary Eastwood, too, it was another hard parting. She spent a day
or two at Oakvale before her departure, and both long looked back to
that short visit as to a time tinged indeed with sadness, but charged
with many sweet and blessed memories.

At last the preparations for the long journey were all made, the
packing completed, even to the stowing away of the little gifts from
each, and of the large packet of bonbons and cream-candy which Edwin
brought in at the last moment for his cousin's regalement during her
long journey. Then the cab was at the door before