These were Mr. Hatfield and Lady Georgiana!” Here the young man paused in his meditations, as if to fix all his powers of thought with as much intensity as possible upon that era of his life whence dated at it were a new existence. But his ideas came rushing in upon his soul with such overwhelming force, as literally to hurry him along; and, obedient to the current of continuous and self-linking reflections, he thus proceeded in that silent history which he was repeating to himself:-- “And what were my first impressions on entering into the presence of Mr. Hatfield and Lady Georgiana? I scarcely know now--for I remember that the lady snatched me to her bosom--folded me in a fond embrace--covered me with kisses--and even wept over me. It was the first time I had ever seen her, to my recollection. Mr. Hatfield then embraced me in his turn, and with as much fervour as if he had been the Mr. Rainford whom I had expected to meet and to behold! I was then, as I just now reckoned, between ten and eleven when all this happened; and it struck me--I recollect it well--that there was a considerable likeness between Mr. Rainford and Mr. Hatfield:--but then Mr. Rainford had light hair, and Mr. Hatfield black,--Mr. Rainford had reddish whiskers, and those of Mr. Hatfield were dark as jet. Yes: those were my ideas at the time; but I suppose that they were the offspring of a delusion. Nevertheless, when I call to mind the features of that Mr. Rainford who was so good to me in my infancy, it even seems now that I can recollect a resemblance between them and the countenance of my own father such as it now is. Still, this is most probably mere fancy;--and I wish to arrive at truths, not indulge in idle speculations. Well, then--to go back to that interview,--that first interview between myself and those who have since turned out to be my parents,--I can call to mind each look they bestowed upon me--each word they uttered. They told me that they were my uncle and my aunt--that they were rich, and intended to have me to live with them altogether thenceforth, and be recognised as their heir--that Mr. Rainford had gone upon a long, long voyage to settle in a far-off land, whence perhaps he should never return--and that they would supply the place of the parents whom I had lost in my infancy and of the generous friend who had thus quitted his native shores for ever! There was so much in the voice--manner--and language of Mr. Hatfield which reminded me of Mr. Rainford, that this circumstance materially consoled me for the deprivation of my long-loved protector; and I was moreover just at that age when kindness, handsome clothes, indulgence, and the change of scene which immediately followed, were fully calculated to attach me to those who gave me so many enjoyments. Thus, I am afraid that I was ungrateful to the memory of Mr. Rainford--by loving Mr. Hatfield too soon and too well,--for I could not then suspect that he was my father;--no--nor did