THE VICARAGE. 321 



votre aimable sceur, que je brule d'impatience de 

 les connoitre, et je sens qu'ils me deviendroient 

 bientot presqu' aussi cher que vous m'etes vous 

 meme." And thus they parted. 



There is no occasion to accompany the happy 

 trio on their voyage to England, or to mention the 

 joy of the meeting at the vicarage. All Lucy's 

 cares, anxieties, and sufferings were amply repaid 

 by seeing Neville, in a progressive state of re- 

 covery, once more under her father's roof. 



On repairing to the abode of his ancestors, 

 Neville found his grandfather in the last stage of 

 dotage, and even of existence. He expired a few 

 days after his return, muttering indistinctly " sal- 

 tier," and te ultimus/' 



Mrs. Neville with pride considered her nephew 

 as one of the heroes of the family, although she 

 was shocked at seeing his arm in a sling, a black 

 patch on his head, and a countenance pale from 

 recent suffering. With her concurrence, Coombe- 

 Neville House and the adjoining estate were sold. 

 From its size and state of dilapidation, the former 

 was taken down, and some of the stone fragments 

 of the mutilated arms of the Neville family may 

 now be seen alas ! forming a portion of the wall 

 of a parish-pound. 



Neville and his aunt removed to a more modern 

 residence, a few miles from the vicarage ; to which 

 place he conducted Lucy as his wife, as soon as it 

 p 3 



