Still no reply. There was another pause, during which her eyes were bent on the floor, and his on her graceful head, and dark falling hair.

"After to-day," continued Alfred, his nervousness was mastered now by the intensity of his emotion, and his voice was soft and thrilling,-" after to-day, when you have once dismissed me, I shall darken your path no more. Lofty and influential as your position is, I should only be a clog on your chariotwheels-some spirit magnanimous as your own, will become your shield and champion through life: you will go on bestowing blessings, and healing broken hearts, and find your own happiness in theirs. So be it! light, and gladness, and honour, and blessing shed dew on every step you take! may you lie down in peace, and rise up in safety, and go forth under the wing of Heaven; and may whoever you bless with your love return it all an hundred-fold, and love you, and live for you-as I would have done!"

His hand was on the lock;-with her protracted silence his last hope died away, and the word "farewell" was on his lips: but before it was uttered, the drooping lashes rose, and Margaret's eyes met his. "I have listened to you, Mr. Crawford; will you listen to me?"

He stood motionless: she was pale as marble with agitation, and not the vestige of a smile was on her lips. "If I did not believe in your sincerity after the proofs you have given," she said, "I should have the

heart of an infidel. I do believe you: you treated me as courteously and kindly as you do now, the first hour that we met. My wealth is nothing to you-I know it but you have known me for a very short time, you have never seen me but in disguise; you are comparatively a stranger to my real character. How can I hope to make you happy, who am only a beginner,-only an ignorant disciple,-whose eyes are but just opened to the dayspring from on high? No, Mr. Crawford,"-her voice became broken, and a brilliant blush rose to her temples,-"you judge by the outward appearance, but God judgeth the heart: and He knows both our past lives, and that I am not worthy of you!"

He would have thrown himself at her feet in indignant denial: but her lifted hand forbade him.

"Can you," she went on, in a still lower tone,

you to whom the pomp and parade of wealth are but dross,-give up your retirement and comfort for the labours I must encounter? can you bear the claims of society, and the yoke of custom, and the burden of responsibility: and all this for one who continually needs guidance, and whose best resolutions are often a morning cloud? Can you bear all this?"

"I can!" said Alfred, firmly, "all this, and more, Miss Armadale; were the burden ten times heavier, I could, and would, for your sake, so help me God!"

Margaret looked at him in silence for a moment,

then her features brightened into a glowing smile, and she gave him her hand. He clasped her to his heart and held her there, and in the glow of that first embrace all his timidity melted like snow: the strength of a giant and the nerve of a lion seemed to run through every vein; as he looked on the princely head that rested on his breast, and knew that she was all his own!

Flow smoothly on for once, through the reedy banks of this bitter world, thou bright but treacherous stream of the heart's true love! Let no foul whisperers embitter thee; let no rocky foes divide thee; let the winds only freshen thy speed, the sunbeam only brighten thy surface: seek out no secret channels; touch no defiling shore: but steadily and unruffled in the eye of light, roll on to that glorious throne, whence thy waters proceeded first!

Soon they loved and soon were buckled-
None took time to think or rue;
Youth and worth and beauty coupled,
Love had never less to do!

BALLAD OF WILLIE AND JEAN.

HE interview in the library, so important and interesting to the parties concerned, was protracted till it was too late for any

explanations: consequently a certain degree of awkwardness was pretty generally felt when the party assembled at dinner. That something had been going on, was evident, but what was a mystery: and not less so, was the manifest transformation of Alfred: his eye was so radiant, his manner so animated: there was such an excited flush upon his cheek; his mother, who watched him narrowly, knew not whether to hope or fear whether this was to be attributed to the exhilaration of success, or to the feverish exertions of wounded pride. To solve the doubt she stole frequent glances at Miss Armadale, but the unusual quiet gra

vity of her features served but to increase her perplexity. So oppressive was the mental atmosphere, that every body felt it a relief when the children came in, to give their company and their prattle in exchange for almonds and raisins. They were full of the wonderful story of Nurse Wilton's nephew: curiosity being excited, Mrs. Crawford told it at length, even as Wilton had related it to her that afternoon and every body extolled Margaret's kind and generous heart, which seemed to have the effect of making her sadder than before.

"What a good thing it was," said Rory, looking full in her face," that you were so cold that morning!"

"What morning, Rory?" asked Cecilia.

"Oh! the first morning she was here; when she was Esther, you know: we were all at breakfast, and in she came, so cold and shivering: and nursey gave her some tea and nursey says they made friends then, and that is how she got her nephew back, you know. But oh, mamma! it is so droll! do you know, we kept talking about Miss Armadale that morning, and about what you and sister said of her, and how rich she was, and who she could marry, and all! didn't we, Esther? I mean Miss Armadale?"

Margaret seemed not to hear, but Uncle Sym, who sat next to her, delighted to have an opportunity of making her uncomfortable, observed, " Miss Armadale is too wrapt in meditation to answer foolish