sisted on, I found a letter on my dressingtable. The writing I knew to be Lord Edward's. It appeared from its size to be voluminous. How could I read it in this tumult of preparation for-I am ashamed to say-a final effort at conquest-for the royal visitors were to leave town on the morrow. I looked at the letter again, thought of the pale face which had haunted my sleep-took it up, and was about to open it, when a packet was brought me from the Duchess of Oh. It contained a magnificent Sévigné, formed of rubies and diamonds, which she requested me to accept and wear as a souvenir of her regard. In another case was a bracelet composed of the same costly gems, but of immense size and brilliancy, which the Duchess said her brother, the Emperor, entreated me to receive from her hands as a slight token of friendship, though a most

inadequate tribute of homage and admiration on his part. My dress was at that instant completed. I fastened the Duchess's Sévigné on my breast, clasped the Emperor's bracelet on my arm, gazed at the brilliant gifts both in and out of the mirror opposite to which I stood, rapt in silent but fervent admiration of the image it reflected. The royal carriage which was to convey me to the Duchess was announced, and I was hurrying to it; when, again, the hall porter approached with,Is your Ladyship aware that Lord Edward has been several times for the answer to a letter which he sent after hearing your Ladyship's message this morning?' And that letter, where was it? I remembered that, in my haste to open the Duchess's packet, I had let it fall, and thought of it no more. Angry with myself, for this unworthy littleness of soul,-disgusted that the brilliancy of two

baubles should have sunk me so low in my

own mind, but wanting moral courage to

repair such heartlessness, as far as it could be repaired, by keeping a royal personage waiting while I wrote a line of excuse to Lord Edward, to assure him that my extreme hurry had not left me a moment for reading his letter, I lost my temper, and desired the porter never to disturb me with messages when he saw me in a hurry. In short, Ellen, I deserved to lose-and, O God!"-here Lady de Quincy's countenance became ashly pale,

-it was with a violent effort that she added, "I did lose the noblest heart that ever beat in man's breast. I had scarcely left home, when Lord Edward inquired for my answer. The porter's ire was raised on beholding the individual who had been the innocent cause of his lady's first rebuke; and, as I afterwards learned, he repeated to him my words as

crudely as possible, adding, that he was sorry he had interfered to ask for it; as all about that letter seemed to vex and anger her Ladyship.""

CHAPTER IV.

"The setting of a great hope is like the setting of the sun-the brightness of our life is gone.

He went abroad that the sea might be between
him and the grave. Alas! between him and his
sorrow there could be no sea, but that of time."

"We behold all round about us one vast union, in which no man can labour for himself, without labouring at the same time for all others; a glimpse of truth, which by the universal harmony of things, becomes an inward benediction, and lifts the soul mightily upward."-LONGFELLOW's Hyperion.

"HALF maddened with this wanton outrage on his feelings, Lord Edward proceeded to the Opera House, to behold the woman who had assured him of her whole and undivided affection, the marked object of envy to some,