henfion that her fentiments were not in unifon with her father's. He thought that a reflecting mind must feel a temporary depreffion during the period of a decifion fo momentous to its future welfare. Yet while he regretted the abfence of that charming vivacity which he alike dreaded and admired, and anxiously wished that fir William's expected declaration would release him from that filence which his delicacy prescribed, and leave him at liberty to re-affure his mistress's virgin heart by proteftations of fervent gratitude and unalterable love, he thought even Geraldine herself never appeared fo lovely with all her enchanting graces fporting around her, as fhe did in her present interefting melancholy.

This golden dream foon terminated. On the fourth morning after his arrival at Powerscourt, Henry furprised Geraldine

02

raldine in an agony of grief too violent to be referred to any other cause than extreme and hopeless forrow. The folicitude of generous love was inftantly awakened, and he entreated her confidence in terms ftrongly indicative of affectionate fympathy. "If," said the lovely mourner, fixing her radiant eyes upon him with a firm but despairing look; if you are indeed the noble dif "intereft d Henry I have ever fuppofed "you, I may yet be happy; if not, "I am a wretch for life. This is not "a time for difguife and affectation.

My father intends that you should be

my husband; but though I efteem

your virtues, my heart avows a pre"ference for another, which I never "can furmount. Nothing but mifery "can refult from our union. Be ge"nerous, Henry; and, by refusing me, st prevent a difclolure which would be "deftructive

"deftructive to my father's peace, and to which nothing but defpair fhall "ever drive me."

As all language would be inadequate to defcribe the feelings of Mr. Powerf court, I fhall only fay, that he filently dropped the fair hand which he had ardently grafped at his entrance, and, after a minute's paufe, ftammered out a few words expreffive of his refolution to comply with her request. He then haftened to the door. Stay," faid Geraldine, whofe heart, relieved from the burden of her own forrows, inftantly felt for him to whom he ap peared to have transfered the infup portable load; "Stay, and hear the "effufions of gratitude, efteem, friend

、

fhip,- ""No," faid the tortured. youth, breaking from her, "if I fay "another moment, I never can refign

"you."

0 3

His

His fubfequent conduct has been already described, and the mystery of lady Monteith's requiring two thousand pounds a year to be left at her fole difpofal will be explained by obferving that he thought even that fplendid donative would be inadequate as a proof of her esteem for a man who had evidently facrificed his own happiness to hers. Her affectionate wifhes pointed to Lucy Evans as his best and most fuitable reward.

Sir William's refentment at Mr. Powerscourt's fuppo ed indifference to his daughter's merits had foon fubfided, and a little after the departure of the Monteiths he fent him a friendly invi tation to come and fee him, with an affurance that he was ready to ferve him in whatever way he thought proper to point out. Henry determined upon this vifit, with the expectation that his me

lancholy

lancholy would be relieved by frequenting the fcenes in which he had nursed his infant paffion, and that the converfation of his refpected benefactor would footh his faddened fpirits. The air of dejection and indifpofition which was fpread over his countenance excited the kind attention of his benevolent kinfman. He took him all the walks and rides he used to take with Geraldine, and, by way of diverting him, conftantly dwelt upon a theme which he thought must be pleafing, the affection of lord Monteith, and his daughter's happiness. "It is very strange," fir William fometimes faid to himself," that

Henry refufed Geraldine, and yet he "don't like to hear of her being happy "with her husband; and after all, they "never used to fall out; and Henry is " a very good young man, with nothing "of envy or malice in his difpofition."