ng that Mr Everett
thinks so too. He told Mr Barker so, and I think I could have
guessed it from his manner towards me.

"Isabella desires her best love to you, and she will send you a
drawing by the first opportunity that offers. She has sketched your
favourite Bubbling Spring for the purpose, thinking you would like it
better than any other subject. I am sure you would think it
beautiful, independently of the sweet associations which endear that
spot peculiarly to us. I am really astonished at Isabella's progress
in drawing: her pencil sketches are beautiful, and she succeeds as
well or better in water-colours. She finishes very highly in the
latter, and yet she is quick. If she spent as much time as many girls
do on her drawing, I should not think it right to let her sacrifice
other things to this accomplishment, though it is useful and
beautiful, and may, she hopes, be turned to some good account.
Harriet and Alfred are as good as children can be. Their affection is
delightful to me. It is quite sufficient to repay all my cares for
them. They get on very well at school, though at their age their
progress cannot be so remarkable as Isabella's.

"Isabella is now come into the room, and she begs to fill the little
that remains of this sheet. She has a very fine subject to write
about, which I kept to the last, as being the most remarkable event
which has happened to us for a very long time. Farewell, my dearest
brother, we think of you hourly, and one of our greatest delights is
to talk over the probabilities of our meeting. O, when will it be?

"Ever your affectionate,--

"Jane Forsyth."

The subject on which Isabella wrote to her brother, was that of Mr and
Mrs Rathbone's noble present. As my readers are already acquainted
with the circumstances, there is no occasion to weary them with a
repetition. We also omit three or four of Charles's letters, which
contain no detail of new events, and proceed to one which he wrote on
Christmas-day.

"Dear Jane,--

"I address this letter to you, merely because I can express myself
better when writing to one person than to several; but the contents of
this are wholly, or in part, as you may see fit, for the public good:
by the public, meaning the inhabitants of Number 21, South Bridge
Street. In the first place, I offer you all my love, and best wishes
for a cheerful Christmas, and much enjoy