LAURA MERVILLE;

OR,

THE EGYPTIAN GIRL IN ENGLAND.

CHAPTER I.

THE ARRIVAL.

LAURA MERVILLE was the only child of rich parents residing in Egypt; and, till she was eight years old, she had never expressed a wish without having it instantly gratified. While Laura was very young, this excessive indulgence did not appear to produce any bad effect, as she was naturally good-tempered and kind-hearted; but as she grew older, the evil of suffering her to do

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only what she liked became more apparent, as her indolence prevented her from learning anything that gave her the least trouble. At last her faults were so glaring, that even Mrs. Merville herself was ashamed of them; and, on one occasion, when Laura's ignorance had just appeared in the most mortifying light, Mr. Merville took advantage of the opportunity to urge his wife to send their daughter to a school in England. Mrs. Merville at first shed abundance of tears at the thought, but as she was a woman of great good sense, by degrees her better feelings prevailed, and she had the courage to consent to part with her daughter, not only for months but years.

When Laura was told that she was to go to England, she was rather glad than sorry. She was indeed grieved to part from her mother, of whom she was very fond; but a child's ideas of time and space are so indefinite, that she

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thought they should soon meet again; and as a life of indolence and constant indulgence naturally produced ennui, she had a craving for excitement which made her eager to visit fresh places, and to behold new scenes.

Perhaps if a long time had intervened before Laura's departure, even Mr. Merville's courage might have failed; for it is difficult for fond parents to part with an only child, and voluntarily to deprive themselves of all the innumerable pleasures that the presence of a child throws Over a dwelling; but it happened that only a few days after it had been determined to send Laura to England, a most favourable opportunity of doing so occurred. A lady who had lost her husband in Egypt, was about to return to England with her children; and thus, Laura was assured not only of protection, but of suitable companions during her voyage. As the lady was to depart in a few days, no time was to be lost, and the

hurry was a fortunate circumstance for Mrs. Merville, as it prevented her from dwelling on the pain of parting. Thus, when the moment of separation really did arrive, all seemed like a dream; and Laura was actually gone, before her mother fully comprehended the extent of the sacrifice she had made.

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Mrs. Cecil, the lady under whose care Laura was placed, was a stranger to the Mervilles. had resided in a remote part of the country, and both she and her children were weak and sickly. Laura, on the contrary, was strong and boisterous; and during the voyage she kept Mrs. Cecil in constant fear, lest she should fall overboard, or some other misfortune should befall her. It was therefore with a feeling of sincere pleasure that Mrs. Cecil, the day after her arrival in London, took Laura to the school that had been recommended to Mrs. Merville, and which was a few miles from town. It was the beginning of Octo