who placed it there were no longer visible, and Barbara was half disposed to believe, that amongst the strange inhabitants of the castle of Lornberg, wizards and magicians might be numbered. It was long since either had tasted food, and both partook thankfully of the tempting repast before them:-there were wines of dif ferent sorts and hues; but the invisible hands had filled a small glass from a bottle of rich Tuscan, by which lay a slip of paper, with the words," Wolfstein pledges his bride.". It was one of the singularities of this inconsistent being, that he would, from time to time, address such minute and insignificant courtesies to her, whom it seemed, in all material instances, his delight to outrage and insult. The repast ended, they quitted the apartment. The same slight sound was heard, which had announced the arrival of supper, and almost immediately, when the curious Barbara again opened the door, the lights, the table, and all that was thereon, had

disappeared. A door on the opposite side of Madame de Wolfstein's chamber led through an elegant dressing-room to that of her woman. The toils of a long and arduous journey, inhanced by so much mental suffering as they had endured, had so subdued their strength, that each easily yielded up their senses to a salutary and refreshing slumber.

CHAPTER VII.

"You shall give me leave

To play the broker in mine own behalf;

And to that end, I shortly mind to leave you.".

Shakspeare.

MADAME de Wolfstein and her attendant had been some time risen, when a tap at the door claimed their attention. Their visitor was the holy Felix, who came to mingle his morning orisons with those of Louisa, and offer her such pious consolations as were but too necessary under the calamitous circumstances in which she was involved. In the course of their mutual communications, it appeared, that amid the luxurious accommodations of the castle, it possessed neither chapel, nor apartment of any kind for the especial purpose of religious worship. A chapel

indeed, there was, but it had been for many years grievously profaned, and rendered incapable of being applied to pious uses, Wolfstein having converted it into a theatre.-Louisa therefore led the Confessor through the suite of apartments destined for her occupation, and they made choice of one, which commanded from its bay window a magnificent marine view, for the oriel; and the father promised he would endeavour to obtain permission to go to Venice, and procure such holy articles as were necessary for the completion of their purpose. Louisa whispered in the shuddering ear of this good man, the horrible sacrilege which had been revealed to her by Barbara.

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My child," he replied, crossing himself in deep consternation," we ought not to weary of life, since it is plain there is still work appointed for us to do:-I will seek this poor strayed sheep, and save her if possible."

Engaged in similar contemplations, the

hour passed calmly and usefully; when one of the beautiful thoughtless damsels of the castle entered the apartment, and kneeling to Madame de Wolfsteïn, presented her a basket of sandal wood, filled with roses, jessamine and orange blossoms, on which lay a billet, which she said contained the morning salutations of the Lord of Lornberg.—It bore a request, couched in the most courteous terms, to be permitted to partake her breakfast, when her pleasure for the disposal of the remainder of the day might be declared. The damsel, whose name was Kara, and who was a little Turkish girl, as soon as Louisa had perused her husband's greeting, presented her with a sheet of ornamented paper, and a golden style, and Louisa briefly traced her consent to the request of her Lord. The Confessor took his leave, and Wolfstein was with her almost instantly. His manner on this occasion wore something of the softness and courtesy of former days, but no ex