ure；　genial　affections。　This　was　a　blessing；　bright；　vivid；　and　exhilarating；—not　like　the　ponderous　gift　of　gold：　rich　and　wele　enough　in　its　way；　but　sobering　from　its　weight。　I　now　clapped　my　hands　in　sudden　joy—my　pulse　bounded；　my　veins　thrilled。

“Oh；　I　am　glad！—I　am　glad！”　I　exclaimed。

St。　John　smiled。　“Did　I　not　say　you　neglected　essential　points　to　pursue　trifles？”　he　asked。　“You　were　serious　when　I　told　you　you　had　got　a　fortune；　and　now；　for　a　matter　of　no　moment；　you　are　excited。”

“What　can　you　mean？　It　may　be　of　no　moment　to　you；　you　have　sisters　and　don’t　care　for　a　cousin；　but　I　had　nobody；　and　now　three　relations；—or　two；　if　you　don’t　choose　to　be　counted；—are　born　into　my　world　full…grown。　I　say　again；　I　am　glad！”

I　walked　fast　through　the　room：　I　stopped；　half　suffocated　with　the　thoughts　that　rose　faster　than　I　could　receive；　prehend；　settle　them：…　thoughts　of　what　might；　could；　would；　and　should　be；　and　that　ere　long。　I　looked　at　the　blank　wall：　it　seemed　a　sky　thick　with　ascending　stars；—every　one　lit　me　to　a　purpose　or　delight。　Those　who　had　saved　my　life；　whom；　till　this　hour；　I　had　loved　barrenly；　I　could　now　benefit。　They　were　under　a　yoke；—I　could　free　them：　they　were　scattered；—I　could　reunite　them：　the　independence；　the　affluence　which　was　mine；　might　be　theirs　too。　Were　we　not　four？　Twenty　thousand　pounds　shared　equally　would　be　five　thousand　each；　justice—enough　and　to　spare：　justice　would　be　done；—mutual　happiness　secured。　Now　the　wealth　did　not　weigh　on　me：　now　it　was　not　a　mere　bequest　of　coin；—it　was　a　legacy　of　life；　hope；　enjoyment。

How　I　looked　while　these　ideas　were　taking　my　spirit　by　storm；　I　cannot　tell；　but　I　perceived　soon　that　Mr。　Rivers　had　placed　a　chair　behind　me；　and　was　gently　attempting