her disgusted husband.-All the enchantment of the scene at once dissolved.

"It is not always such society," said Louisa, struck with what had passed; her heart, in spite of the mortification she felt, yearning with a vehemence of passion, which a mother alone can understand, at this exhibition of feeling and strength of character united.

CHAPTER XVII.

LORD WILLIAM had returned from his expedition, full of health, spirits, and good humour; and he was well pleased to find his wife ready to receive him, with a colour upon her cheek, and an animation in her eye and voice, which he had not lately witnessed.

It was true, as her husband had remarked, she did look lovely and well. His absence had restored that bloom to Louisa's cheek, which the irritation of his presence had well-nigh destroyed.

Distant, she had reconciled herself to the

solitude of her heart-and had become, in some

measure, consoled for the disappointment of one sentiment, by the ineffable delight of that other that still sweeter-still tenderer! But

present, not even this, could subdue the vain, restless longings for some marks of affection, renewed in all their bitterness-as in a few days she saw him gradually decline in his attentions, and become once more absorbed in his numerous engagements.

Those vain wishes for his society-those ever rising, ever disappointed hopes that he would come-that he would be there-that he would

say

this-that he would do that were revived with a pain as irritating and consuming as that which tormented her before. Once more the fluttering heart sent the colour too hastily to the cheek. Again the sadness not communicated the counterfeited smile-the hidden pang exhausted the powers of life.

At first she had been flattered by some faint

renewal of former happiness.- Novelty for a moment had restored the truant to her feet.

He visited her more frequently in her apart

ments

he was polite, gentle, and gay

he

drove her out once or twice in the Parks in her low phaeton - he had even been seen in her opera box-he had noticed her he had seemed to take some enjoyment in her society. Again her tender heart opened to the hope of happiagain she tasted those short moments of ineffable joy, that brightened with their short fitful moments her dark wintry days.

ness

Many months these restless alternations of pain and bliss lasted; but at length they ceased altogether.

Suddenly, and without explanation, Lord William seemed to have taken a positive disgust to home. He scarcely ever appeared in his

own house--he never, on any occasion, entered

his wife's apartment.

When she saw him, it

was in the common receiving rooms, and that

rarely; for he seemed to have lost his taste for

the company of his friends

gave few of his

usual parties, and when he did, was restless,

absent, and uneasy.

The cause of this change was soon known to the gossiping world.

One of those syrens, upon whom Nature, for the destruction of mankind, has lavished her choicest gifts, while Art has added her most precious advantages, appeared upon the boards of the opera this season.

It is needless to enlarge upon rare attractions, beauty, genius, and a voice,-to whose tones the most insensible could not listen without emotion. To these were added a heart-at least, vehement feelings and passions generous in their way.