destroyed. Being strongly built up at one end, which communicated with the vaults, and filled up for a considerable space at the other, where the watch-tower was entirely demolished. This entrance, he rightly imagined, could they manage to clear it, would greatly facilitate the taking of the castle from its present usurpers, when the friends of his much-loved young mistress should come to her assistance, as he doubted not they soon would. Gerald, his two nephews, and himself, consequently, resolved to set about it; but, to avoid suspicion, only worked during the night. After much labor, by the third morning, they had cleared away enough of the masonry to enable them to crawl through. They passed under the moat, and perceived an unobstructed passage for about three hundred yards, then it was stopped up with earth and stones: this they found a much greater difficulty to remove; but, after six more nights' unremitting exertion, they had the pleasure of again seeing daylight, and shortly the passage was wide enough for a man to crawl out on his hands and knees. Fortunately the opening happened to come in the middle of a small plantation, and was therefore not likely to be discovered; but, to be more secure against discovery, Oliver, before he left the place to seek his master, covered the opening with boughs and rubbish. Thus brighter prospects of success and happiness seemed to smile upon our hero, and, with a lighter heart, he mounted his horse and proceeded to Kenilworth, doubting not of assistance; nor was he deceived,-the good old man wept with joy at his appearance. He had, of course, heard of the assassination, and had no idea but that Pearcy had fallen with his old friend, the baron. He had made several attempts to gain admission to Ardengap Castle, both with persuasions and threats, but without avail. He was always answered by some creature of Lord Rondle's, "That the Lady Blanche was too much indisposed to receive visitors." Not doubting that the lady was under constraint, in fact, nothing better than a prisoner in her own castle, he was half inclined to attack it on his own authority, if longer refused a personal interview with her; but now that Pearcy confirmed his suspicions, by narrating the true state of things, he resolved to lose no time in assisting him in freeing the Lady Blanche from the power of the vile usurper. Three days were sufficient for Pearcy to muster and bring his L. 29. 1. Q own power to Kenilworth: they joined the constable's forces, and, with resolute hearts and high spirits, set out the following morning, at day-break, for the castle. The temporary success of the wicked is their greatest punishment:-so found Lord Rondle. He had now the possession of the castle he had so long coveted, and the Lady Blanche in his power, a union with whom would gratify his passions of lust and avarice, and legalise his claim to the possessions he usurped; and what obstacle was there now to his plans? -her father dead, and Pearcy, whom alone he had feared, he believed to be no more.-A wretch in his service, a priest, who had been degraded for many enormities readily agreed to marry him to Lady Blanche, and, to construe all her refusals as consents; and for most of his gang, he could well depend upon them in any deed of villany; therefore he cared little for her resistance to his will, though nettled at her firm determination and bitter reproaches. His temporary success was dearly bartered for his eternal happiness. His goading conscience allowed his guilty soul no rest. From the night he steeped his hands in the blood of his kind and venerable kinsman, horrid phantoms seemed continually to haunt him. He could not bear to be alone an instant; and the society of the companions of his guilt afforded him nothing but disgust. If he attempted to seek oblivion in repose, the most horrid dreams disturbed his rest, and, waking in horror, he would find his feverish spirits more disturbed than refreshed; but, once defiled in the stream of blood, he resolved to wade through it, and, at every risk, attain his ends. On the night his agents were employed to despatch the wounded Pearcy, he was disturbed, as he anxiously paced his chamber, by a deep groan. He stopped, and, looking wildly round, remained for a few minutes motionless. He opened the door leading to the gallery,-all was still; the torture of suspense again returned, and he resolved to go to Pearcy's room himself, and see the bloody deed accomplished. As he closed his door, he started on observing on the panel the distinct and perfect print of a bloody hand; such a hand he had lately seen, and the recollection made him shudder. He heard footsteps behind, he turned, and the two murderers approached. Is the work done?" he inquired of them in an under voice; and pointing to the door, "is this sign yours?" The men shook their heads, and replied, "My lord, the job's not done." "How! not done, cowards!-did you deed?" shrink from the "We are no cowards," said the men ; " and you know well we don't stand nice about trifles; but what interrupted us, when just ready to strike, was nothing human." They then, in a low tone, with many oaths and asseverations, gave an exaggerated account of the mysterious appearance of Blanche, whom they firmly believed to be a spirit. "Your fears deceived you," cried their ferocious master, when they had finished; but it matters not; the deed must be my own. It is too late, now; but, to-morroow night, not all the spirits in heaven, or powers on earth, shall save him from my dagger; and for this " tell-tale mark”—(pointing to the bloody hand on the door.) The men declared their ignorance of it, and, at his direction, proceeded to wipe it out; but dismay was in Lord Rondle's looks, as they turned their haggard looks on him. On perceiving the bloody mark gradually return, as soon as they had effaced it, "Leave me!" he cried: "it is a trick." But the men had scarcely turned to obey, when he called them back. No-no," he cried," come with me, Then, muttering to himself, "I cannot-dare not, be alone. And am I turned coward too? and are such vile wretches as these my comforters?" and he laughed the bitter laugh of desperation. (To be continued.) TO ERNEST. And is thy young heart, then, so cold Thy promise, too, forgot, And the vows which in morning's prime were told, At eve remember'd not. But no! that beam from those eyes of light It tells me the vows made when morn was bright Are at eve remember'd still. F. A. THE AGE OF INNOCENCE. How many reflections does the charming pair of prints, The Age of Innocence, and The Rival Favorites, bring to mind! how many recollections of the past, and how many anticipations for the future! The inimitable artist has delineated youth in true colors: he seems to have said to himself, with the poet Laureate : And I was once like this! this glowing cheek Was mine! those pleasure-sparkling eyes, that brow, Dies o'er the sleeping surface!" A partiality for childhood is a common passion of our nature. The late princess Charlotte gave a pleasing exemplification of it. On the arrival of the princess with her consort at Claremont, when they first took that residence, there were several aged men and women residing in different tenements in the park, who had been servants to the different possessors of the estate, who never yet having served a prince, or princess, were impressed with the fear that they would not be allowed to retain their habitations. One of the old women, whose husband was shepherd to Mr. Ellis, and was blind by age, kept a little school at one of the lodges, which was given them by Mr. Ellis, as their habitation, on account of their long and faithful services. They could not entertain the slightest hope that a princess would allow them to retain their dwelling, and continue the little school; and they actually made preparations to occupy another cottage. This information was no sooner conveyed to her royal highness, than she sent a message to them, giving them free leave to remain; and often, when her royal highness passed by the school, she would peep into it, unperceived, and retire, exclaiming, with a smile, “Happy little creatures!" Speaking of youth, Sir Richard Steele says," As it is usual with me to draw a secret unenvied pleasure from a thousand incidents overlooked by other men, I threw myself into a short transport, forgetting my age, and fancying myself a school-boy. This imagination was strongly favored by the |