England? Why did you not write me word you were coming?"

"I had a mind to surprise you, and am happy to observe that I have done so agreeably."

The ironical manner in which he spoke informed his sister that she had every thing to fear, and she observed that the tale she had told him had not obtained belief. Again, she thought, I will touch another chord, perhaps that may take a better effect.

"I conclude, Frederick, by your ignorance respecting my illness, that you have never received any of the letters that I have written to you lately; that accounts for your apparent coldness to me, as well, also, as for your not wishing me joy of my approaching marriage with your friend, Captain Danesford. Did you not meet him going to town on your way to Brighton? Surely, you must have passed him on the road."

"Danesford! my friend! You-you become his wife -impossible!"

"Nay, it is very possible, for every thing is arranged between us, and in three months time we shall be united. I never could have dreamt that you would have thrown obstacles in the way of our marriage; but it seems, by your mysterious manner of receiving this communication, that this alliance is no longer agreeable to you."

"Anna, there was a time when it would have been the proudest day of my life to have given my sister to my friend to be his wedded wife-but now I would sooner give him a pestilence!" and he arose, and walked up and down the room, in an agitated manner.

"What has befallen you, Frederick?-are you gone suddenly mad?—what am I to understand by this strange conduct? your manner to me, too, after so long an absence! Is this the way to meet a sister?-a sister who has been on the verge of the grave!" and an hysterical fit of tears burst from her eyes, as she sobbed with violent emotion.

Anna, my dear Anna, my sister, calm yourself. What have I done? I have behaved brutally to you-forgive me. Oh! may I have cause to ask your forgiveness; may I indeed find that I have entertained evil thoughts of one in whom I ought to have had unshaken trust. Prove to me that I have been the veriest brute on earth, and I shall be the happiest of men. Oh! yes: if you, my sister, are the pure, dear sister you once were, I shall again hold up my

head aloft, and look in the face of an honest man without shame; but if-if you are a lost one, if you are even sullied in your fair fame, if any seducer has dared, Anna, I am still your brother-still your loving brother-take refuge in my arms. Let us hide ourselves in the depth of some solitude together, and mourn that we are wretched-but still mourn together."

He pressed her to his heart-he kissed her affectionately. The door was flung open-Lord Herbert entered, mad with rage and agitation, he caught Miss Clermont from the arms of her brother, while Frederick, overcome with amazement and horror, stood motionless.

CHAPTER V.

For it is not an open enemy which hath done me

This dishonour: for then I could have borne it:

Neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself

Against me, for then, peradventure I would have hid myself from

him,

But it was even thou, my companion, my guide, and
Mine own familiar friend.

55th PSALM.

ONE evening, after having made an excursion to Richmond, Lady Herbert, her daughter, and Lord de Montmorenci, drove up to Herbert House, Miss Herbert said, for in her breast hope was not yet dead,

"I wonder if papa is ever to return from Leicestershire?"

Neither her mother, nor Lord de Montmorenci made any reply; the time was gone by at last, when the former looked with anxiety to any particular day, or hour, when she might expect to meet her husband. Her long and weary watchings had been the heart-sickening hours and years of hope deferred, and since Lord de Montmorenci had resumed his visits to Herbert House, he never mentioned Lord Herbert's name; there was a tacit agreement between him and Lady Herbert, that that name should no more pass their lips to each other. Sarah Herbert was accustomed to this melan

choly silence, so she asked the question without expecting an answer. She jumped from the carriage, flew up the steps of the house before her companions could alight, and having ascertained that her father was not come home, she gave full course to the feelings of her young heart, in that unrestrained shower of weeping, which, like the burst of a summer's gloom, passes away to be followed by renewed brightness; unwilling, however, that her mother should see her tears, she determined to go quickly to bed, but Mrs. Hanson inopportunely came into the room, and immediately her curiosity was excited, mingled with a degree of real affection which she entertained for the creature she had seen born.

Why, dear Miss Herbert, what is the matter?"

"No-nothing, Hanson-nothing, don't tell mamma I am crying, I am only vexed, that's all."

66

I, tell your mamma, miss! Lord love ye, I never see her now, no more than if I warn't housekeeper. Martha Trelawny is hand in hand with my lady, nobody else is ever suffered to come a nigh her, and the more's the pity. Why, there's that feller Dick Stevenson, he knows more nor he ought to know, he knows what my lord's about, that's what he does, and if he was my lady's friend, he'd tell her too, and it's a shame he don't-but Peggy Cox prevents that.

The housekeeper had succeeded in raising Miss Herbert's curiosity, and restraining her tears, so the former examined her countenance with that sort of cunning instinct, which coarse vulgar minds share in common with animals; to know how far she might venture with her young mistress, and whether she should be likely to succeed in making her the means of dismissing Stevenson from Herbert House.

"What does Stevenson know of papa? what can he know, he has not taken him with him to Leicestershire-it is nearly two months that papa has been absent."

Absent, yes, miss, but in Leicestershire! he's no more in Leicestershire nor I am-but I says nothing, indeed it is not fitting I should, to you, Miss Herbert-only if my lady knew her true friends, and her false enemies, she'd not have that man to sleep another night under her roof; if my lady will speak to me, I'll tell her a bit of news or two. Shocking bad to be sure, but as I says when my preserves boils over, one must hasten to take the pot off the fire."

"I don't understand you, Hanson, you speak in riddles, what do you mean?"

"I mean that Peggy Cox and Dick Stevenson should both be off by beat of drum, without a moment's warning, and that's what they should, and if you will only procure me a haudience of your dear mamma, I will make her air stand on hend."

Miss Herbert could not avoid smiling, and replied "Oh! Hanson, poor mamma has troubles enough, without your adding to them."

"But, lord love your sweet face, Miss Herbert, don't you see things be comed to such a pass, that if my lady don't happly to some friend, Moreton will be sold, and there will be an hexicution in the house, and every thing will all come out as clear as mud."

"You astonish and terrify me, Hanson, only I hope it is all nonsense; however, I will ask mamma to-morrow to let you speak to her, and if there is any truth in any part of your gossip, she will be the best judge how to act.""

"You are very kind, Miss Herbert, to call me gossip, but gossip, me no gossip, for hevery word of what I've been telling you, is as true as that my nose is on my face."

Of that there could be no doubt, as it was of the proboscis size, and so Miss Herbert, wishing her a good night, dismissed Mrs. Hanson, and after passing in review all the painful circumstances which had clouded the bright prospects of her youth, she fell into a troubled sleep, unlike that which characterizes the repose of innocent youth. The shadowy world of sleep into which we all enter, sometimes in despite of ourselves, is a profound mystery, which the wise may well desire to look into.

While the foregoing scene had been passing in Miss Herbert's room, Lord de Montmorenci remained conversing with Lady Herbert. He had bade her good night when he handed her out of the carriage, intending to go away; but she said, "Are you not coming in?" with an expression in her voice which implied she wished he should do so, that he could not resist; but he said, you are tired, Lady Herbert, I had better not detain you from your rest."

"I am not tired, and as to rest"-she shook her head mournfully, and added hastily, "but perhaps you have other engagements."

"No, I have no engagements, and offering her his arm,

which she accepted, they entered the drawing-room together.

"What a profusion of beautiful flowers!" she exclaimed, going towards the conservatory that adjoined the windows. Dear Lord de Montmorenci, you have done this-how kind of you-I left the plants all withered and dead, and here is a renovation of bloom and fragrance. Thank you very much for this sweet surprise, for no one but you would show me such kindness now, and she held out her hand affectionately-he did not misunderstand her, but he ventured to press the offered hand to his lips. At that moment a servant entered, it was Stevenson, he asked if her ladyship had any orders for the carriage that evening?

Why did not Charles come in as usual for orders," she asked.

"He went to execute some commission which he said your ladyship had given him, and I thought I might come to receive your commands, without any particular offence."

There was nothing impertinent in the man's words, but there was an implied impertinence in the tone and manner very difficult to define; which did not justify any reproof on her part, and yet, both Lord de Montmorenci and herself felt that it was not without an intentional motive that he had thus spoken; but Lady Herbert only inquired what was the hour, and hearing that it was near eleven, she said, "it is too late, I shall not go out to-night, no," turning to Stevenson," I shall not want the carriage."

Lady Herbert walked into the conservatory; for the first time in her existence she felt an awkwardness in being alone with Lord de Montmorenci, but she did not confess this even to herself, and so she spoke on quickly, without knowing well what subject she was speaking of, and she smelt the flowers and praised their beauty; in her passionate love of these too, she was peculiar, she had a system in regard to them which was wholly her own.

There was a time when Lady Herbert would have wished that the donor had been her husband-it was no longer so and her heart was a blank; but hitherto Lady Herbert had never disclosed this secret to mortal being, she had never even spoken a word slightingly of him. Yet, it must be confessed, Lord de Montmorenci's friendship had become a dangerous blessing to her. Hitherto love, rightly placed, had been her security-she had no cause to revert