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resided a Mr. Percival, who having been many ycars a woollen-draper in the city of London, had accumulated a decent fortune, and retired, with his daughter Rosetta, who, after her mother's death had been his house-keeper, to the pleasant village of Rosewood, where they inhabited a small though neat mansion, built in tho cottage style, and surrounded by a beauteous garden, bounded on the western side by a luxuriant orchard, and on the eastern by a moandering rivulet, which flowed in gentle murmurs; while the distant clacking of the mill, and a deep sounding water-fall, added to the rural beauties of the scene.
Next to the fair Jane, Rosetta was esteemed the handsomest girl in that part of the country. She was in her ninteenth year, and her truly amiable manners soon gained her the csteem of tho surrounding families, and, amongst the rest, farmer Arnold's. Rosetta admired all the sisters, but particularly attached herself to Jane. Their sentiments were congenial, and their chief happiness seemed to be in each other's society. Often, with the permission of her parents, Jane would repair to Mr. Percival's, and reside with her dear Rosetta for three or four days at a time. Together they would wander through the mazes of the adjacent wood, gathering wild flowers or fruit, or visit the cottages of the poor neighbours, and relieve their wants as far as their own ability would allow. Often as they roved, arm in arm, their discourse would turn on Henry, Rosetta's brother, whom she tenderly loved, and sincerely regretted his absence.
On their departure from London, Henry had refused to accompany his father and sister to Rosewood, but accepted an advantageous offer which was made to him by a merchant who was
