Ellen! my beloved Ellen! Think well ere you repeat that we are separated; weigh well the fate to which that decision dooms me-bound heart and soul to one who from some obligation, contracted before she knew me, believes herself called upon to abandon me; but above all, dearest Ellen, search deeply into your own conscience, and then tell me which of our two oaths-both sworn by your mother's spirit-that mother, were she yet living, would absolve us from? I ask this, while looking at her picture, and her sweet face seems to smile in approval of my demand." This letter did indeed produce the most trying and passionate conflict of feelings Ellen had yet experienced. She was in heart and mind almost as perfect as Lord Enersdale believed her; but she was not wholly free from human weakness. There was something almost tumultuous in the joy with which she thought of her newly-acquired certainty, that no other woman would ever be Lord Enersdale's wife. For the first time she ventured to persuade herself that time-some event, some change, she knew not what it might be, nor how effected-but that something would occur to break the fetter which now chained her to silence; and that though happiness might be distant, still that it might again be hers. Under the influence of this renewed hope, she even so far departed from her former resolve as to write, herself, an answer to this precious letter, in which she admitted, with all the candour of her nature, that she had many doubts whether the oath which bound her would have received her mother's sanction while living; whereas, she felt assured that the dearest wish of that mother's heart would have been satisfied by her knowledge of his regard for her child! " "Perhaps," continued she, "I ought to argue with you on the invalidity of your oath, sworn as it was under a false belief that I was free and unfettered by one, which might, as it has done, separate us; but I cannot play the hypocrite, nor will I conceal from you the hope your letter has given me, that we may not be parted for ever. Time unravels many a web which seems to defy discovery. Caution sometimes sleeps with the wicked, and one unwary word may at any moment bring to light all I have sworn to conceal." CHAPTER II. "Within this aching heart once more "Sympathy is one of the greatest levellers in existence-truly it is no respecter of persons; it cares not for the distinctions of age, rank, fortune, sex, or position; it binds together those in outward. semblance the most opposed, it smoothes over all discrepancies, reconciles all differences; it is nature's electric wire, which touched at one extremity, simultaneously responds at the other." FROM that hour Lord Enersdale's energies returned. He wrote daily to Ellen as though their marriage were but delayed--consulted her on all he thought of doing at Swindonand after a few days of this renewed inter course, informed her of the death of the old Rector, and his wish that she should present the living thus become vacant to their mutual friend Mr. Cavendish, and request him to come immediately to take possession of it. This request was of course instantly complied with; but Mr. Cavendish's sojourn at Swindon was short. His intended bride's eldest brother had returned to England on some family affairs, and as there was now no impediment to the marriage, the Marquis of proposed that it should be celebrated during his visit to England, that he might give his sister away. This proposal necessitated a journey to London, whither Mr. Cavendish was accompanied by Lord Enersdale, who longed to see and converse again with his sister, and also to listen to all little Eddy, who had returned home, might have to say of Ellen. He did not, however, prolong his stay many days, but returned alone to |