ness and want of decision. As if anxious, however, to find an excuse for the line of conduct I had been preparing to adopt, I daily dwelt on all the little circumstances of Rosalinda's life, since our first acquaintance; and, in every one, thought I found some ground for the suspicions that hourly haunted me. My resolution at last was taken: I quitted Naples. I addressed a few lines to her, whose charms had so long spread around me the delusive dream of existence, from which I now awoke; but I made no attempt at explanation; I gave no reason for my abrupt departure, for I dared not trust to the vindication which I felt Rosalinda, spite of my suspicions, had the means of offering, in regard to herself and all her actions. My only safety was in sudden flight. My letter was cold and unanswerable. Rosalinda never replied to it. Would to God my conscience had been equally silent! but I have felt it here and here" (striking his head and heart) ever since.”

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"You were wrong, certainly," said Mr. Altamont; "but it is best always to retreat from error, and not, because one has been half-way on the road to ruin, continue on to the journey's

end. Poor Rosalinda! was she totally silent? was she quite passive under the blow ?"

"Not a word-not a reproach escaped her. Her silence has been her only rebuke, and it has sunk deep

"Ah!" replied Mr. Altamont, " this is curious; but she has pursued you here, it seems, though the character in which she comes is strange enough. She is engaged as Prima Donna at the Opera, I believe ?"

"I know not," replied Lord Mowbray, "how all this is, or what it means; I have seen her once only while staying at Montgomery Hall, at some house in the neighbourhood; but I fled her presence; and from that very cause I am here at this moment. I came hither to reflect upon what I should do."

"Oh! not marry her surely, I hope, after having had courage to resist all allurements to do so in the very atmosphere of the original syrens themselves. Be assured, my dear Lord, it would never have done-it will never do. Had she not appeared on the stage, it were different, perhaps; but since she has chosen such a resource, (it must be choice,) that settles the matter."

Lord Mowbray sighed. "Well, Altamont, I can talk no more to-night: I never talked so much before, and never shall again, I believe. Goodnight !"—and they separated, to reflect upon, and to feel, the unhappy results and true sense of Flirtation.

CHAPTER VII.

O hone a rie! O hone a rie!

The pride of Albin's line is o'er,
And fallen Glenartney's stateliest tree-

We ne'er shall see Lord Ronald more!

WALTER SCOTT.

WHEN Our main subject was interrupted by following Lord Mowbray to the retirement he had chosen near London, where the history of his early life has been developed in his account given of it to Mr. Altamont, the family at Montgomery Hall were left in a state of great anxiety and agitation, occasioned by the visit of the mysterious stranger in the mask. Whatever efforts had been made by General Montgomery to conceal the real state of his mind, evidence of what was passing within too plainly showed itself in the absence of that serenity of countenance

which was his peculiar characteristic. A look of care withered his placid brow; and the smile that was wont to play around his mouth was exchanged for a fallen expression of woe, which marked, more than the lapse of time had ever done, the deep furrows of advancing years.

There was also a change in Lady Emily. Her quick, light step became measured, and as it were thoughtful, in its path; the song that she carolled gaily through the house, in passing from one part of it to another, was no longer heard ; and she would sit, listless and unoccupied, gazing on vacancy.

One evening, while Miss Macalpine was studying her favourite Madame De Sevigné, and Lady Emily was listlessly touching some chords of her harp, Miss Macalpine said, after a long pause, during which she had been contemplating the changed expression of Lady Emily's countenance-" I ha'e been thinking, Lady Emily, it's mony a lang day now since Lord Mowbray gied awa' in that burky manner;-I wonder whaur he is now ?"

"What made you think of him, Alpinia ?" "No' a bit, but I miss him; I think he had a