bu CHAPTER II.

And why not death, rather than living torment ?-
To die is to be banished from myself;

And Livia is myself. Banished from her,
Is self from self; a deadly banishment!

SHAKESPEARE.

AMHERST had been in bed for several hours, when he was roused from his slumbers by the loud toll of the castle bell, followed by the tramp of horses in the court-yard. He rose, and went to the window, through which the flashing of torches from below gleamed upon the ceiling. To his sur prise he saw Lord Eaglesholme in the act of dismounting, surrounded by his attendants. Amherst felt rejoiced at his arrival, resolving to procure the much-wished-for interview next day; and he composed himself again to sleep, to dream of years of happiness.

Lord Eaglesholme, fatigued with his long and late ride, did not appear at breakfast. In about two hours, however, Amherst was admit

ted to his apartment. His heart beat high with the joyful certainty of the speedy fulfilment of all his wishes. He found his Lordship seated in the same arm-chair, in the same dress, and nearly in the same attitude in which he had first seen him, on the day of his arrival at the castle. He was not, however, so deeply engaged in his author as he then appeared, but was employed in looking out for the threads of those subjects in which he and his young friend had been occupied, when their studies were interrupted. He rose immediately upon hearing Amberst's step, and embraced him with a kindness and warmth which could scarcely have been greater had the latter been his son.

After expressing his hope that Amherst had felt no ennui during his absence, "I have been just endeavouring," said he, "to recall those ideas which had arisen in my mind after our last experiments, and which have been put to flight by my absence on other matters. You remember the phenomena which exhibited themselves in our last experiments, and which both of us remarked had been hitherto unnoticed by others ?"

I do, my Lord, most perfectly," said Amherst, but I must confess to you, that my heart is so filled at present with considerations deeply affecting my future happiness, that until my mind is put to rest, I cannot possibly find room for any other thoughts. It was my impatience on this subject, that induced me to solicit the present interview."

1 Lord Eaglesholme assumed the attitude of attention, and was silent, while Amherst proceeded.

"To you, my Lord, who are best acquainted with the incomparable merits of your niece, I am sure it cannot be surprising to learn, that, in thé first moment of my introduction to her, the charms of her person made an immediate and deep impression upon me; and the intercourse I have since enjoyed with her has discovered to me a heart and a mind no less lovely and ange lic than the form they animate. As my growing admiration of Miss Malcolm has been so strong that I could not conceal it, you must have remarked it, and it is very probable that I am now only making a declaration, which my whole behaviour, when in her presence, must have led you very early to anticipate. Why then should

I thus formally address, in set phrase, you, whose kindness has convinced me, that I already enjoy your friendship and your good opinion, on my own account, as well as on that of my family? My Lord, I love your niece with an attachment exceeding in ardour, any thing that language, can describe; and I am happy in enjoying the conviction that our passion is mutual, since I have already ventured to ascertain, from her own lips, that I am not indifferent to her. May I then hope that you will sanction our union ?-I need say nothing of my family or of my prospects, you are, I believe, sufficiently acquainted with both, to know that neither of them are despicable. Be assured I feel how very inestimable the gift is, which I am now bold enough to ask of you; but the consciousness of possessing such a treasure will teach me to deserve it."

Whilst Amherst was speaking, Lord Eagles holme's pallid countenance, and large, dark, mélancholy eyes, were illumined with transient rays of joy, lighting them up at rapidly succeeding intervals, like those brilliant and innocuous flashes, gleaming cheerfully across the Italian landscape, during the balmy summer nights. A

pleasure, more intense than any of which Amherst had ever before perceived symptoms, played over his noble features, and the sanguine lover hailed the happy omen in his heart. Seizing his Lordship's hand, with all that enthusiasm he was so apt to give way to, he energetically exclaimed," My Lord! you have ever treated Miss Malcolm as your daughter,-Oh! let me then be your son !"

Amherst had no sooner pronounced these words, than he perceived a very surprising change of expression in Lord Eaglesholme. He started up with a look inexpressibly wild and agitated, and striking the palms of both hands violently on his brow, so as to shade his eyes from observation, and turning rapidly away, he paced the room, exclaiming, in broken and half-muttered words, as if his power of utterance was choked by his feelings,

"Oh God! in what a dream of bliss was I indulging! I-I who am doomed to know no bliss! -My spirit was treading the flowery paths of Elysium, when hell-blackest hell-was yawning beneath my feet!-No, no, no!no such earth