"Believe me," returned Eleonora, "that it cannot be known to any one who more sincerely pities the object whom it con cerns." 66 Pity me likewise then," exclaimed Sir Sigismund, "and, for the love of mercy, name it to me no more!" Almost repentant of having opened the subject to Sir Sigismund at all, Eleonora obeyed his request; and they proceeded in silence till they had entered the gardens of Castle Gower. Pressing the hand of Eleonora affectionately in his, Sir Sigismund then said," Come, cheer thee, cheer thee, sweet daughter of my protection! fear not a farther interruption of thy peace from Sir Hildebrand. I confess that although his father, I have but little sway over his actions-what little I do possess, I will strenuously exert in your cause-but I repeat, fear him not. Few indeed are the virtues which have place in his heart; with sorrow I make this acknowledgment; rely rely therefore that his preferences are momentary, and that with constancy of feeling he is unacquainted." Eleonora listened to him in silence-his words displayed the insufficiency of his power to ensure her tranquillity, if Sir Hildebrand were determined to interrupt it; and with a heart ill at ease she retired to her chamber. ! VOL. II. E СНАР CHAP. IV. "It came o'er my soul as doth the thunder, MASON. "Now air is hush'd, save where the weak-ey'd bat, His small but sullen horn, As oft he rides 'midst the twilight of the path, COLLINS. SEVERAL days elapsed, to the inexpressible satisfaction of Eleonora, during which she met Sir Hildebrand as usual at table, but received from him no farther marks of the disgusting and licentious conduct with which he had insulted her, on the morning of of her walk with Sir Sigismund to the wood-cutter's cottage. Sir Hildebrand appeared, as he had ever shewn himself since she had known him, petulant in his manners, passionate in his temper, indifferent towards his mother, overbearing and insolent to his father. When his eyes were turned towards her, she believed that she could discover in them the expression of an inward triumph; and she feared that he even turned them upon her oftener than he had been accustomed to do; but she hoped likewise that this idea was but the effect of her sensitive apprehensions. She now saw Sir Sigismund less frequently than she had done a week before. That habitual melancholy, which was the consumer of his health and spirits, had again risen to a height which often confined him for a day or two together to his chamber; and at those periods she was deprived also of the society of Lady Thomasine, who was unremitting in her attentions to her husband. The greatest relief, and only relaxation which the mind of Eleonora experienced in these hours of her solitude, was to wander through the gardens of the castle, and in one of those lonely rambles, she encountered the page Edwin. "Well, Edwin," she said, "I am become acquainted who the unfortunate person is to whom your song was the other day directed, as you sat upon the steps of the turret-you are a kind boy, and I admire the tenderness of your heart." "if it "It must be a hard heart, and an ungrateful one too," replied Edwin, did not pity poor Sir Valentine, and lead me to do whatever I am able to sooth his unhappy life. O how kind a master he was to me! how different to--" "Sir Hildebrand," it appeared as if he were inclined to say; but he checked himself, and became silent. 66 "Your master!" returned Eleonora ; was Sir Valentine ever your master?" "O yes!" replied the page, with a sigh of |