and while the color mounted into her cheek, and her heart fluttered, he placed in her hands a packet, which had just arrived from the Continent. They all insisted on having it opened then and there; and in a few minutes' time, behold! their eager admiring eyes were feasted by the sight of a most superb diamond necklace--and at the bottom of the case was a small card--which Kate, blushing violently, thrust into her bosom, in spite of all Mrs. Aubrey's efforts. There was a long letter addressed to Mr. Aubrey from Lord De la Zouch, who, with Lady De la Zouch, had been for some weeks at Paris--and one from her Ladyship to Kate; and, from its bulky appearance, 'twas evident either that Lady De la Zouch must have written her a prodigiously long letter, or enclosed one to her from _some one else_. They saw Kate's uneasiness about this same letter, and considerately forbore to rally her upon it. Poor girl!--she burst into tears when she looked at the glittering trinket which had been presented to her--and reflected that its cost would probably be more than would suffice to support her brother and his family for years! Her heart yearned towards them, and she longed to convert her splendid present into a form that should minister to their necessities. While touching upon this part of my history--which I always approach with diffident reluctance, as matter too delicate to be handled before the public--I must nevertheless pause for a moment, and apprise the reader of one or two little circumstances, before returning to the main course of the narrative.