ing at the same moment in shutting the door, with violence which drove Sir Hildebrand to a considerable distance from

it.

Recovering himself in a few moments, Sir Hildebrand exclaimed-" Curses light upon thee!-villain! rascal! though not to-night, the time shall come, and quickly too, to thy confusion!"

He directed his menace to the tower which Fabian had entered, and left the terrace with a hasty and agitated step.

The senses of Eleonora were wrapt in astonishment and horror, at the scene of which she had been a witness. There could rest no doubt upon the intention of Sir Hildebrand to have committed murder, if Fabian had permitted his entrance into the tower; and the inhabitant of the tower, she concluded, from Fabian possessing the key of access to it, could be no other than the unfortunate Valentine, whom it now appeared evident to her, that his unnatural brother was sufficiently cruel to wish to

deprive

deprive of life, lest his return to reason should cut him off from an inheritance of which his present malady promised him the possession. This attempt appeared to explain the words which he had addressed to her at Castle Gower." You think, perhaps," he had said, "that the hand of Sir Hildebrand is such an offer as every day may bring you, and scarcely worth a refusal; and so it is, I grant you, as Sir Hildebrand is now, his inheritance depending on a father's and an elder brother's life-this is as it appears-but a change unexpected and vast may quickly be wrought-Sir Hildebrand may rise.”— Dreadful, horrible idea!" she exclaimed, "the wretch who has resolved to wade through a brother's blood into his possessions, has already made an offer of his fratricidal hand to me! Shield, shield me, Heaven, from his persecutions! O protect from his injustice the innocent being whose destruction he plans!"

66

Her thoughts next turned to Fabian;

she

she considered that his having refused Sir Hildebrand admittance into the tower, did not appear the effect of humanity; for had his own disposition been worthy, it appeared unlikely that he would, upon any terms, have accepted a purse from one who was tempting him to an adjunction in a deed of so heinous a nature as Sir Hildebrand was planning; and notwithstanding she had seen the purpose of Sir Hildebrand defeated by Fabian, she could not induce herself to think otherwise of him than as a villanous character, withheld at that particular moment by some private reason from suffering the villany of another to take place. Still she reflected that her opinion was an injustice to Sir Sigismund's heart and discretion, as he had chosen Fabian for the guardian and attendant of his unfortunate son; but the horror which the hermit Agatha had expressed at his appearance, counterbalanced this idea, and involved her thoughts again in a chaos of doubt.

CHAP

CHAP. VIII.

"Full many a lady

I have ey'd with best regard; and many a time
The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear; for several virtues
Have I lik'd several women; never any

With so full soul, but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd,
And put it to the foil: but you, O you,

So perfect, and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best."

THE TEMPEST.

' I suppose him virtuous, know him noble,
Of great estate, of fresh and stainless youth,
In voices well divulg'd, free, learn'd, and valiant,
And in dimensions, and the shape of nature,
A gracious person: but yet I cannot love him."
TWELFTH NIGHT.

WHEN Eleonora awoke in the morning, the first objects which occurred to her imagination were, the poor unfortunate Valentine and his parents. With what pangs,

she

she considered, would their hearts be rent, were they to become acquainted with the attempt made by one of their sons to deprive his brother of existence! and should opportunity ever favour his diabolical purpose, she feared that their reason might fade, perhaps their existence droop, under the knowledge of such an act. She wished they could be apprised of Sir Hildebrand's unnatural intention; and still she could not summon resolution to become herself their informer. She hoped that Fabian would impart Valentine's danger to his father, and consult with him on the steps proper to be taken for his protection; still she feared that Fabian might but be half the friend of Valentine, and might forbear to make this communication to Sir Sigismund; and the point on which she rested her apprehension was the previous knowledge that it appeared, from the conversation which had on the preceding evening been overheard between them, that Fabian had possessed himself of Sir K 5 Hildebrand's