struggle that I make it," he continued, “but did I hesitate, you would, I am satisfied, rebuke me." Ellen's look assured him that he was

right, and he observed, "This week, then, I will devote to my friend; I hope to persuade him to start with me for Northumberland to-morrow night-I am anxious the corpse should be removed from Arlington Street as quickly as possible-and the undertaker to whom I have given instructions for the funeral, assures me that all which is necessary for its removal shall be in readiness by that time. The other preparations can be executed with less hurry. All that the law could demand has been satisfied by Doctor M's visit last night, and the testimony he will give, if called upon; but once idle curiosity gets afloat, concealment may become difficult, and therefore we must be careful to do nothing so precipitately as to awaken suspicion. It is not only natural, but almost a matter of course, that her

remains should be taken to the family vault— and the intense heat of the weather may motive a quicker removal than might otherwise have been necessary. It appears that her husband's promise, which she claims in her letter, was known to her waiting-woman, and was the cause of her not removing even a bracelet from her lady's arm when she became aware that she was dead."

Lady de Quincy and Ellen were again alone. They naturally recurred to the scene they had just heard related; both felt that the most awful feature in the mournful event had only now become known to them. Ellen's tender heart carried her back in thought to the days and hours when Charlotte's voice had first spoken comfort to herself, and was both affected and terrified at the dreadful state to which that usually strong though ill-disposed mind must have been sunk, before the perpetration of such an act; while Lady de Quincy

grieved as a Christian over a fallen sister, whose last crime appeared more terrible than the rest, considered as the only one which places repentance beyond the power of the sinner.

CHAPTER XV.

"To wilful men,

The injuries, that they themselves procure,
Must be their schoolmasters."-King Lear.

"O now, for ever

Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!
Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars,
That make ambition virtues !

Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!"—Othello.

BEFORE Lord Enersdale left Lady de Quincy's cottage, to which he promised if possible to return in the evening, Ellen had asked and obtained his sanction for proposing to pass the day with her aunt, who she persisted in supposing must be much afflicted at Lady Monro's death.

"I have but one request to urge in connexion with this this visit," remarked Lord Enersdale, "that it may be but a visit, and that with Lady de Quincy may be your home till you take possession of your own. In this awful death-in Lady Monro's acknowledgment of early sin-in the consummation of her crimes there is something which seems to point to Lady Wilmot's neglect and perfidious counsel as the original cause of those crimes; and I own, dearest, that I could not feel tranquil in leaving you, were you again established under her roof."

I will write, but not go to her," replied Ellen; "it will be much better I did not see her at present; for, being ignorant how much she may know or may not know of her niece's late conduct, it would be difficult to converse respecting her."

If Ellen made this sacrifice to her lover's