greetings were exchanged with those joyous emotions, of which conscious love is sensible when no longer mourning over the tediousness of absence. The little Aubrey, keenly susceptible of the cheering influence of kindly affections, playfully skipped before, whilst his sisters, smiling upon their father, extended to him their innocent arms; catching them alternately in his, he proceeded to lead his wife up the narrow stone staircase that lay before them. Breathless with the fatigue of mounting, Mrs. De Brooke was obliged to repose at each long landing-place terminating the respective stairs, leading to the various chambers occupied by the prisoners. After another painful and wearisome ascent, they reached at last the gallery leading to the apartment of De Brooke, who, to give it a less comfortless appearance, by the good management of Robert, had provided a table neatly spread with refreshments, of a sort gratifying to the view of his children, and of which they readily partook.
After an interval given to recover herself, and to contemplate the objects around her, though not without a sigh, Mrs. De Brooke expressed her satisfaction at the present improvement in the accommodation, the badness of which had in the first instance caused so great a shock to her feelings. Cheered by their repast, and pleased with
