The young lady did not say that there was intention in the accident; and if there be a fault in that omission, we are humbly of opinion that at least one half of the blame rests upon Mr Darnley himself, for assuming such magnificent airs and playing the great bashaw in his family. We could write a long dissertation on this subject, but whether such dissertation would be read is doubtful. As when the above reply was given to Mr Darnley by his daughter he stood in mute astonishment for a while, an opportunity was thus afforded for the young lady to continue, and to endeavour to divert for a moment her father’s thoughts from Penelope, and to direct them to poor Fitzpatrick. Miss Darnley therefore said: “And we met Miss Primrose, Sir, as she was coming from a visit of consolation to a poor old man, of whom we have often heard you speak?” Mr Darnley in an instant understood to whom the allusion was made, and he exclaimed: “Bless me! Is poor old Fitzpatrick living still, and in Smatterton?” Seeing how completely and pleasantly the current of her father’s thoughts was changed by this recollection, Miss Darnley proceeded to give a full and abundant relation of all the particulars of the poor man’s case, and the illness of the grand-daughter. Mr Darnley was moved at the narration, and he said, “I will go and see the poor man and his grand-child.” Miss Darnley then directed her father to the cottage, and with her sisters returned to Neverden. They were all three much pleased that their father’s attention was thus directed, and they entertained some hopes that good might result from his accidental meeting with Penelope, which they anticipated, as they had not many minutes back parted with her at the door of the poor man’s cottage. And when they arrived at Neverden, they told their brother all that had passed, and he also was pleased, and he anticipated favourable results from the meeting. In the mean time, Mr Darnley the elder found his way to Fitzpatrick’s cottage; and as he entered the wretched abode, his feelings were shocked at the sight of such miserable destitution as appeared in the lower apartment. Scarcely could he believe that such a place could be the abode of human beings; and he could not help thinking, that though there was not in Neverden so splendid a building at Smatterton castle, yet at the same time there was not a hovel so miserable as that in which he was then standing. He felt compassion for the poor man who was destined to close his life in so desolate an abode, and he thought of the service which that poor man had rendered to him.