years in which I enjoyed them passed in tranquillity—they were the happiest of my life.

"

The last interview I had with my dear friend, alone, in our favorite retreat, was one summer's evening. I had waited for her near an hour; and, supposing some unexpected incident had prevented her coming, I had just closed the volume, with which I was amusing myself, and was going to return to the house, when I met her on the steps of the temple, her own and Mrs. Clifford's footman being at a small distance. As soon as she saw me she dismissed the servants, and, with a look of anxiety which alarmed me, threw her arms about me, and then burst into tears. I was too much struck to break silence, but she soon recovered her voice. "In your society, my Athenia," said she, "I trust I shall find a refuge from my own disquieting emotions; the count has left us. His departure is not the cause of your uneasiness, my dear; he has many shining qualities, but I always thought them alloyed with a fire and impetuosity little calculated to win the gentle heart of my Selina." "Yes," resumed she, sighing, "love is indeed a stranger to my bosom ; but, had Almado given me leave, I could have inspired esteem, unmingled with a softer sentiment, had not the violence of his passions absolutely changed it into terror. I was enjoying the sweetness of the air, and contemplating the beautiful effect of the moonlight in the cypress walk, rather later than usual, last evening, secretly congratulating myself on being likely to be so soon freed from the count's importunities, when I saw him at the further end of it; determined to avoid him, I turned down a path, leading through the wilderness, and went directly to the saloon, where I found my uncle and aunt, with Sir George and Lady Sidney, who were just arrived. Almado did not appear till supper time; he tried to dissemble, but excessive anger was marked on his glowing countenance : he withdrew as soon as he could with politeness, on pretence of writing some letters of importance. At breakfast, he was visibly discomposed; and, notwithstanding his avowed purpose of quitting Oakley Grove immediately, he prolonged his departure till noon. It so happened that I did not go into my dressing room till an hour before dinner; the first thing that caught my eye was this billet, laid on the toilet." She took it out of her pocket-book; it contained, as nearly as I can remember, the following words :

"I thank you, madam, for that contemptuous behaviour, which has conquered love, in raising a just indignation. I shall, as soon as possible, be in my native country, and it is uncertain how long those circumstances which precipitate my return may detain me there: you think you shall not see me again; but know, the resentment your conduct has awakened, shall never sleep more. ALMADO."

"I trembled excessively on reading this note. How weak to be so much affected! This man, who wrote it, will be many leagues distant: but, my Athenia, I could not sufficiently compose myself to venture from home so early as I longed to be with you; my ideas were full of horror. I fancied I might be insulted by the count, who, perhaps, had concealed himself near, with some desperate intention, and only feigned the necessity of his speedy departure. I imparted my fears, and their motive, to Mrs. Clifford, who kindly tried to dispel them, and indulged my folly, by permitting her servant, with mine, to attend me.'

I was prevented making a reply by the approach of Lord Castlebroke, with a gentleman, which I soon discovered to be my brother, though he was grown very tall, and five years' travelling in different climates had greatly embrowned his complexion. I flew to welcome his return to England, and he returned my sisterly embrace with the warmest affection. In the mean time, my guardian stepped forward, and, taking Selina's hand, presented her to my dear Lionel, as my most intimate friend, and his other daughter. My brother purchased a house soon after his arrival, and resided at the lodge till it was ready for his reception. He had frequent opportunities of seeing Miss Clifford, and the nearness of his relationship to me rendered her less reserved in conversation with him than she usually was in general society. You will not wonder that he loved a woman so truly lovely with the tenderest affection, nor, had you known the worth of Lionel, that it should create in her bosom a mutual attachment. Our guardian approved what had long been my ardent wish, and in a few months my happy brother received his Selina from the hand of the almost equally happy Mr. Clifford. They united their entreaties that I would live with them, but my lord would not consent to my leaving Castlebroke Lodge: it was

at last agreed that my time should be equally divided between the two houses: 1 accompanied my sister to this sequestered abode, and was for some weeks her visitor, a witness to the felicity of an union which rose on the permanent basis of virtue.

Of those who paid their personal congratulations to my brother on his marriage, Colonel Fortescue was among the foremost they were educated at an academy together, but no particular friendship subsisted between them, till they chanced to, have apartments under the same roof at Florence. Congeniality of virtues changed the common civilities of acquaintance into the more delightful attentions of sincere esteem.— Lionel insisted on unceremonious visits from Mr. Fortescue, and the colonel obeyed his injunctions with evident pleasure. I will not pay so poor a compliment to my brother's friend, as to attempt a description of his personal or mental accomplishments; it is sufficient to say, the latter would have reflected lustre on a diadem.

Mr. Fortescue's visits to Woodbine Grove were frequent, during his stay in England. I blush not to confess how much kis merit endeared him to me; but it was not till one evening, nearly two years after our first acquaintance, that 1 became sensible how essential his society was to my happiness. The day having been very warm, we were sitting under the coionade, fronting the lawn, and listening to the melody of my brother's German flute, when the colonel's servant brought a packet to his master. He asked our permission to break the seal, and, as he read, I thought a degree of concern was impressed on his fine open countenance; to conceal the inquietude this supposition inspired, I took up some geraniums, which lay on a table by me, and was disposing them in bouquets ; when my brother, perceiving his friend's discomposure, eagerly said, "I hope you have no bad news, my dear Ray. mond." "I ought not, sir," he replied, with a sigh, "to call the voice of duty such; yet the felicity I have enjoyed in your hospitable mansion (bowing very low,) I cannot resign without regret, and I own this summons to join my regiment is unwelcome, as it enforces my departure early to-morrow." The remainder of the evening was spent in unsuccessful endeavours to amuse each other; the interval between supper and the hour when we usually retired to rest, was painful, but

no one seemed to have the resolution to shorten it: at length, Colonel Fortescue rose from his seat, and with a graceful politeness, which I never saw equalled, made his acknowledgments for what he styled the honors he had received at Woodbine Grove, and bade us adieu. We immediately repaired to our apartments, but not to rest; at least, all my efforts to woo the sleep-compelling power" were fruitless; I therefore rose, and, invited by the night, wrapped my robe-de-chambre round me, and went into the garden: all was still-not a breath trembled on the leaves of the myrtles; the dew, hang. ing thick on the blossoms, sparkled in the moon-beams, and heightened the fragrance of the orange grove: I entered the grotto, and, judge how great my surprise, when I beheld Mr. Fortescue; he started at my approach, but as I was hastily retiring, he stepped forward, and, taking my hand in the most respectful manner, led me to a seat, and besought me to indulge him with my presence a few moments.

"I should," said he, be most happy, had I cause to believe that sentiments, consonant to those which impeded my repose, actuated you, my dearest Miss Melmoth, to seek this retreat; but I dare not flatter myself with a hope so presuming -so infinitely beyond my pretentions; yet be not offended, if I implore your pity. O that my merits were such as might authorise me to change that word for friendship-friendship, did I say?-cold, inexpressive epithet!-for love!-Be not offended, if I plead the ardor of a passion, inspired, sweetest and most beloved of women, by your perfections! the disclosure, I had once determined, should never be made, because my love was without hope, but in this parting hour resolution forsakes me; perhaps it is the last time I shall ever behold you; if so"-Then, sinking on his knees, he breathed a fervent prayer for my happiness. Words could but ill describe how much I was affected. I gave him my hand, and kneeled, in silence, beside him; my tears flowed unceasingly, and spoke the language of a heart which sought not to disguise its feelings. The dawning day reminded us of the necessity of our separation the noblest-most beloved of men, led me through the orange grove, then tenderly pressing the hand he held to his lips, bedewed it with a tear.

In less than two months after the colonel's departure, we set out for the house of Mr. Clifford, where I intended staying L. 29. 2.

till Lord Castlebroke, who was absent on some affairs of moment, returned to the lodge, where he was expected in a few days. When we were within a few miles of Oakley Grove, my brother, who was on horseback, rode forward, and soon after a servant, in a very rich livery of crimson and silver, bowed as he obsequiously passed the chariot: Mrs. Melmoth immediately recognised him for one of Count Almado's attendants. Selina's pleasure at revisiting those scenes where her infant years were passed was extreme. The day after our arrival, as soon as we were disengaged from company, she was inclined to walk in the gardens; I attended her; she looked remarkably lovely: the evening air had given her lips a coral hue, and tinged her delicate complexion with an unusual bloom; her dress, too, was simply elegant, and, as such, particularly became her-a robe of the palest straw-colored lustring, confined to the waist with a broad purple satin girdle, and tassels of pearls. Inclination led our steps to a building at the extremity of the pleasure grounds; it was erected on the model of a Turkish mosque, and stood in the centre of a grove of aspins: the blue silk curtains were drawn before the windows opposite the garden gracious heaven! for what purpose ?-to conceal the Count Almado, whom we discovered, on our entrance, sitting in a musing posture, with pen and paper on the table before him: a faint scream, which escaped from Mrs. Melmoth, broke his reverie, and he hastily advanced to meet us. O! let me forget that look of horror which overspread his features, as he thus, in a voice sometimes rendered almost inarticulate by rage, and often interrupted by convulsive sobs and smothered sighs, addressed my trembling sister :-Selina, my misery is complete ;-I cannot see you the wife of another and live:this spot, so frequently the witness of your tyranny and of my suffering, is destined as that in which both shall know a period: my resolution was fixed, and, one hour later, you would have beheld me lifeless at your feet, equally insensible to your beauty and your scorn: why, then, by your presence, did you rekindle these distracting, these fatal emotions? Yes, my insulted love calls for vengeance, and the vow I have made shall yet be accomplished.'

Tears dropped from his eyes as he uttered these words: I was terrified beyond expression, and endeavouring to support my sister, who leaned, fainting, and almost motionless on my