strength love their own; the ties of kindred are carried, we have seen, in some instances, like the love of Sir Henry for his sister, to the utmost enthusiasm, and even to idolatry. Whereas better regulated minds, impressed with the Divine command, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' in the indulgences of their more general and extended affections, regard mankind as one united family, or as brethren under one common Father. The former imperfect love is liable to fluctuate, to wither, possibly decay altogether, under time and circumstances; the latter, on the contrary, outlives such vicissitudes, and may therefore endure in time and in eternity. Is it not so, my dear? You smile assent, and 'smiles from reason flow.' Thus having fully entered into your pious and pure understanding of the subject, let us drop the argument, and leave Sir Henry with the hope, that by leisure and reflection he may cultivate nearer approaches to the Deity, and acquire strength to subdue his governing Inclinations, learn to be guided by Duty, and rise above yielding to a temporary good, how fair soever or seductive it may seem."
"In combating with, and conquering himself", added Mrs. De Brooke, "I rejoice to think he may yet become an ornament to human nature."
Dismissing from their thoughts the painful re-
