as if he had really gained the connection he had long desired; but I cannot see how this lady could, by possibility, be his sister, nor did I ever hear of any person wronging him, though he has often referred to the time when he was poor, and rejoiced exceedingly that he went into that commercial house in which he has so kindly placed Charles Penrhyn."
"I can remember the time when he was a young man, and used to come to Granard Park as a gentleman, but he was quite young, and I understood he had no mother, but a father abroad—then there came a time when papa used to pity poor Frank very much, and it strikes me that I have heard him say that 'he had been devilishly ill-used;' after that we were in London, and he came very often and seemed to be papa's only comfort, but never joined mamma's parties, though she often wished for him; for even when people called him poor, and some reflected on him the same as mamma did, yet they always considered him a gentleman, and spoke of him with a peculiar kind of pity and affection, but I never knew why. I now think this lady Osmond, or rather her relations, must have been the cause of it—depend upon it he has experienced some peculiar misfortune in early life, connected with his pecuniary affairs."
Isabella burst into tears as she said, "If his youth suffered from misfortunes of that kind, I am sure
