alone sprung from the inconsiderate vivacity of youth; and that a love of dissipation formed no part in her natural character, nor had a commerce with the world succeeded in depraving her.

With a degree of romance natural to her character, Eleanor now looked forward to scenes of future bliss and hope; the image of her Lord gilded every prospect, gave life to the most uninteresting occupation, and bloomed fresh beauty on every prospect; the sickly hue of discontent -vanished; vivacity, energy, and animation, glowed on her cheek, and sparkled in her eye; her complexion assumed its native loveliness-the rose and the lily were blended together, each increasing the attraction of the other; and no longer fearful of disguising her sentiments, every word she uttered breathed interest and delight.

Lady Harriet was charmed with her, and looked anxiously forward to the return of her husband and his friend to the Cape, when she had premeditated a little holiday, to celebrate the reunion of these married lovers; and, in this hope, she determined carefully to conceal from Eleanor the day that event was likely to take place for this purpose she dispatched a private message to her husband; and having learned from him when she might expect him, she on that day urged Eleanor to try on the Spanish dress which had been presented her by Lord Frederic; and declaring herself charmed with it, she requested her not to change it during the day.

Eleanor, half suspecting something, was with difficulty prevailed on; but her Ladyship, pro

testing that she also designed having one, and that she meant to take a pattern from it, she at length complied. Nothing could be better calculated to adorn the fine person of Eleanor, and set off the brilliancy of her complexion to the best advantage; while the half doubting timidity with which she regarded Lady Harriet, the anxiety her countenance expressed, whenever the door opened, a sort of conscious expectation of some more than common incident, gave an inexpressible charm to every motion.

Evening, however, at length came, and brought with it a calm and refreshing breeze.

Lady Harriet looked at her watch; and ordering coffee to be brought to them, took the hand of her son, and inviting Eleanor to follow, strolled out into the garden; they had not, how, ever, walked many minutes, before a bustle in the house roused their attention; and the voice of Captain Cummeline, inquiring for them, reached their ears.

An exclamation of "Oh Lady Harriet !" burst from the trembling Eleanor.

Lady Harriet laughed, took her son by the arm, and perceiving, Lord Frederic and her husband at the same moment entering the garden, she ran to meet them.

Eleanor involuntarily covered her face with her veil.

Lady Harriet, as she passed Lord Frederic, said to him-" For God's sake, my Lord, go and comfort poor Cary; she is dying to see you, and yet dares not advance a single step ;" and

then, seizing the hand of Captain Cummeline, she almost forced him out of the garden.

Eleanor, silent and trembling, awaited the approach of her Lord; she could not speak, she could not move, her whole frame was agitated.

Lord Frederic, affecting a calmness quite at variance with his feelings, took her hand; he tried to speak, but his voice died away in inarticulate murmurs; the alarm of both increased. Lord Frederic at length spoke-" You have read my unfortunate history, Cary; all my misery, all my guilt, has been laid open before you; dare I, then, claim your pity ?"

Eleanor sobbed convulsively-her veil covered her face.

Lord Frederic dared not encounter her eyeshis own were fixed upon the ground.

"You once, my Lord," exclaimed Eleanor, recovering her emotion, and forcing herself to speak, "you once professed to love me; surely I have done nothing to forfeit your esteem, your tenderness-Oh, deprive me not of an affection on which all my hopes of happiness rest; banish me not from your presence; you know not what you do. Look at me" continued she, raising her voice, and throwing back her veil," look at me, and, if you ever loved Eleanor Mountstewart, behold her, now, imploring you to look up, and bless her."

Lord Frederic did indeed look up-an involuntary scream of astonishment escaped him; he started back-he gazed wildly upon Eleanorhe gasped for breath.

Eleanor sunk upon her knees before him"My Lord, my husband," cried she, clasping his hand convulsively, "now bid me leave you -now cast me from you-now abandon your own Eleanor.”

"Gracious God! merciful Heaven! am I awake?" groaned Lord Frederic. "Eleanor, my Eleanor, does she live? Oh no, impossible! Eleanor Eleanor! I dream-art thou not some vision of the tomb?"

"If you have any mercy, any compassion in your nature," exclaimed Eleanor, wildly, "look at me, speak to me-compose yourself and hear me-cannot you now, Montague, comprehend all the mystery of my conduct, my disguise, my dissimulation? is it not now explained? have I not followed you from England? have I not watched over you? and can you, dare you still doubt me? Oh, my Lord, punish me not beyond endurance; but while life is lent me, look up, and pronounce my pardon."

"Look at you! pardon you! Oh Eleanor," and he sunk on the ground beside her, "I am unworthy of you; it is I, I who alone require forgiveness-Oh, my wife, my Eleanor, pity

me!"

Eleanor rose from her knees; she flew to him, she folded her arms round him-" If I have not forfeited your esteem, your confidence for ever," cried she, "in pity speak not thus; my own folly, my own levity, were the cause of all that I have suffered; it is I, I alone, who am guilty -Oh, my Lord, pardon and pity me!"

Lord Frederic folded her to his bosom, and wept like an infant; he rose from his knees, put her from him, gazed at her with unspeakable rapture, and then clasped her again to his bosom. By degrees, however, these violent emotions gave way-a sweetly tender confidence succeeded-each had much to say, much to hear, yet neither was sufficiently composed to enter into a narration of the past-all was rapture and delight -a delight too mighty for expression, a rapture too full for words. The Cummelines, the whole world, were forgotten; they saw, they heard only each other in the vast creation. Their long separation, all that had been mutually suffered, the doubts each had entertained of the affection of the other, were lost in certainty, the sweet, the animating certainty of bliss supreme. Past sorrow and anguish united in sanctifying an attachment so long tried in the school of adversity; and each read in the countenance of the other, a delight, a confidence, a security, which, even in the first happy moments of their union, had been unknown; nor had either an idea of the lapse of time, till Lady Harriet herself came to summon them into the house.

They found a large company assembled, which had been previously invited by Lady Harriet, without the knowledge of Eleanor, to celebrate the reunion of these married lovers.

Lord Frederic, ashamed of his undress, for he had not changed his attire since his return from the barracks, made a hasty retreat to his own lodgings; but soon returned to the happy Elea