thankful if you would give me some
information respecting those I am about to meet. I do not even know how
many cousins I have there. I have heard that I had several uncles, all
of whom died, except Sir Michael, but I have never seen any of their
children."

"Sir Michael had four brothers, of whom your father was the youngest,
and his favorite. They all died, each leaving a child. The heirs of the
three eldest have already been summoned to the Abbey, and now you will
complete the party."

"But will you not describe them to me, and my uncle and aunt?--they are
quite strangers to me."

"Describe them! I! impossible;" and his features, which had relaxed from
their habitual sternness while he spoke to her, suddenly assumed an
expression of severity which almost terrified her; the color mounted to
her fair face, as she felt that, perhaps, her request had been
unwarrantable to a perfect stranger. He saw her embarrassment, and
instantly the smile of singular sweetness, which at times rendered his
countenance almost beautiful, dispersed the passing shadow.

"You must excuse my abruptness," he said; "I have been so little
accustomed of late to the society of such as you are; but, indeed, it
were better you should go unbiased to receive your first impression of
your relations. Did you say you had never seen any of them?"

"None. I have lived all my life with my old dear grandfather in Ireland,
far from any town in the old house, among the wild green hills, which
was my poor mother's home. I never saw either of my parents, but I have
heard so much of her I seem quite to know her; my heart and spirit know
her; whereas of my father, and his family, I know literally nothing."

"The time is at hand, then," he said, pointing to the beach; "there
stands Sir Michael's carriage to convey you to the Abbey." She turned
her sweet countenance with a timid, anxious look to the shore, and he
gazed at her evidently with deep interest; suddenly he addressed her:
"You wished me to describe your cousins to you, and I could not; but
now, when I think that you are going quite alone amongst them all, I
feel strangely tempted to give you one caution: think what you will of
the others, and be as friendly with them as your heart prompts you, but
beware of----." A name seemed trembling on his lips; he plainly
struggled to utter it, and then some thought checked him. "No," he said,
speaking more to himself than to her, "it were an act of blind, human