the expiration of six months, he far excelled every apprentice in the shop, and yielded the palm to the journeymen only in the nicest and more difficult branches of the trade. Stimulated by his extraordinary advancement, which far exceeded what his most sanguine hopes had led him to anticipate, he now applied himself with renewed ardor, and at the end of a twelvemonth was accounted the best workman in the shop.
Daley's work now began to acquire a much higher repute than it heretofore ever had , and ere another six months rolled round, was sought after with avidity by the whole city. Orders without number for sideboards , scrutoires, ottomans, sofas, and numerous other etceteras of a similar nature, poured into the shop. To meet this flood of custom, all Herbert Mordaunt's energy was called into active operation ; and from early dawn till long after the whole city had sank to repose at night, he sedulously toiled at his bench. Nothing that skill or assiduity could accomplish, was left undone. These disinterested exertions to advantage his welfare, did not pass unheeded by the kind-hearted Mr. Daley, for when two years had passed away, he generously released Herbert Mordaunt from the remainder of his apprenticeship, and offered to take him in as a partner ; but this he declined, proposing to retire to one of the flourishing inland towns in that state, where he set up business on his own footing.
In the populous town which he had pitched upon, as the place of his future abode, Herbert Mordaunt's honest countenance and frank manners won the good-will of the public, and he had soon work sufficient in his shop to keep him steadily engaged. Every mouth was loud in praise of the extraordinary young artificer ; the men spoke of his exemplary habits and close application to business, and the ladies ( who are invariably more zealous than the other sex, in whatever they undertake) vowed they would each order a toilet, a workstand, or some such article, were it but for the sake of getting a look at his handsome face-whilst his exquisite workmanship was a source of admiration for all.
In a little time his custom increased so rapidly that he was forced to employ several journeymen to assist him in his labors, and even then it was with much difficulty he could satisfy the eager demand of the people for his work. The second year, the fame of his skill having been trumpeted abroad, he did a still more extensive business ; and was now acknowledged by all to be decidedly the most steady, diligent, and skilful mechanic in the town, and one not likely to squander the fortune which he was evidently realising. It was the third year after Herbert Mordaunt had left his native city, to seek a home among strangers, that Mr. Allenwood, one among the most respectable men in the town, called at his shop to purchase a workstand for his niece, a sweet auburn-haired girl, who leant fondly upon his arm. No sooner had Herbert Mordaunt encountered the mild glance of the latter, than the quenchless fire of love was kindled within his bosom. Yes, reader, Herbert Mordaunt was fascinated with the playful smile and damask cheek of a girl, whom he had then, for the first time seen. His heart thrilled with emotions hitherto unknown to it, as he stole timid glances at her countenance, in the artless expression of which, innocence and intelligence seemed struggling for the mastery. It seemed as if he could not sufficiently admire her bright laughing eyes, and he was convinced, as he watched her graceful attitudes, as she stood admiring the elegance of the different objects around her, that he had never beheld half so perfect a form as that of the beautiful and accomplished Theresa Allenwood. Before leaving the shop Mr. Allenwood, whose keen perception could detect under the garb of a mechanic, the bearing of a gentleman, gave Herbert Mordaunt a kind and pressing invitation to visit him, which he assured him he would not fail to do.. A few days afterward he accordingly called upon Mr. Allenwood, who occupied a neat yet small dwelling on the suburbs of the town ; for his income-although it yielded a plain and very comfortable support for himself and niece, enabling them to dress in a style beseeming the high station which they filled in society- was too limited to admit of his taking a larger and more elegant house. Mr. Allenwood he found to be a strong-minded, jovial old bachelor, who had read much, travelled much, and was possessed of a thorough practical knowledge of men and their ways, which he had gained by a long intercourse with the world. When courteously questioned during his visit by Mr. Allenwood respecting his birth-place and family, Herbert Mordaunt-aware that an attempt at concealment would but create embarrassment on his part, and probably beget unfavorable suspicions in the mind of Mr. Allenwood -frankly revealed the estrangement that existed between his parents and himself, with the circumstances attending it ; and was happy to learn that the course he had pursued was highly approved of by him. He also flattered himself by the kindling of Teresa Allenwood's dark and voluptuous eyes, that if she was less forward in expressing it, she was by no means less warm in her approbation thereof than her uncle. Before two weeks had elapsed, Herbert Mordaunt again called upon Mr. Allenwood, at whose house he became in course of time a constant visiter. The more he knew of Teresa Allenwood, the higher he learnt to appreciate her amiable qualities ; every succeeding visit served to bring to light some new and valuable trait in her character, which on the previous one he had judged faultless. The frequency of his visits at length removed, as it were, the screen of reserve- through which her
