It was not then for his own sake entirely that he rejoiced in his improved circumstances. When he drove his neat little carriage to meet his sister, and when he brought her home, and shewed her his house--their house as he called it--with its pretty comfortable sitting-room, looking out upon the garden, and the neat little chamber, where all her old favourite books--recovered from the friend who had taken charge of them during her wanderings--rested upon the neatly arranged shelves, he felt as happy as man can wish to be. And when, with eyes glistening with pleasure, he assured her that it was her home as long as she lived--he said what he never found reason to repent, for the cheerful face of his companion bore perpetual remembrance of his brotherly kindness. He had once thought of marriage; but the idea had now passed away entirely. In early years, he had been sincerely attached to a school friend of his sister's, whom he had met during one of his Oxford vacations; but she died early, leaving her memory too deeply impressed, to make him wish to replace it by giving his affection to another. His sister, now almost his only near relative, had sympathised, most sincerely, in his loss, and had endeavoured to aid his own manly judgment in regaining that cheerfulness of tone so necessary for the right discharge of the every-day duties of life. She had been rewarded by the more than usual continuation of a brother's early love and esteem, and she had, therefore, no scruple of accepting his offer of protection, and a home. From that time, she had continued to keep his house with the most cheerful attention to his wishes and whims, and with an evenness of temper which had always been peculiar to her. There was an air of gaiety about the whole house; the two maid-servants and the old gardener seemed to possess peculiarly good tempers--they were, indeed, scarcely ever disturbed, and we may venture to add, that they were not very much overworked. There were hives of bees in the garden, chickens in the court-yard, and the gaily-feathered cock strutting about, giving a lazy crow now and then--all seeming to take their ease, and enjoy themselves. In fact, there was a blessing on the good man's home, that was always smiling round it. It was to this pleasant abode that the young soldier had come down wearied with London amusements, like some strange being who had yet to find a place in its social order. "You are fortunate, sir," he said, as he strolled down the garden by his uncle's side, "in your neighbourhood. I have seldom seen anything before more comfortably beautiful, if I may use the expression." "I am glad you like it," replied Mr. Ware, "and I assure you I shall be quite contented if it has the power to make you spend a month or two here agreeably. If you are fond of scenery, there are many places worth seeing, even within a walking distance."