"I do not wish to hear them," said Signor de Castella, irritably.

"Sir," calmly interposed Mr. St. John, "I demand it as a right. The baron has been freely remarking upon me and my conduct to-day, I understand, in the hearing of all present, and I must be permitted to justify myself."

"You must allow for the feeling of irritation on the baron's part. You are neither devoid of cool judgment nor sound sense, Mr. St. John."

"That is just what I have allowed for," replied Mr. St. John, frankly. "He feels, no doubt, that he is an injured man; and so I have been willing to show him consideration. Any other man, speaking of me as De la Chasse has done, would have got a horsewhipping first, and the option of meeting me afterwards."

"Let this unpleasant matter be dropped, Mr. St. John," was the resolute answer.

"Sir, I beg you to listen to my explanation: it shall be given without disguise. When I came of age, I obtained possession of a handsome fortune. It is all dissipated. I was not free from the faults of youth, common to my inexperience and rank, and I was as extravagant as my worst enemy could wish. But I solemnly assert that I never have been guilty of a dishonourable thought or mean action. There is not a man or woman living, who can bring a word of reproach against me, save that of excessive imprudence in regard to my money-and a good part of that went to help those who wanted it worse than I do. Well, about a twelvemonth ago, I was cleared out, and had liabilities to the amount of a few thousands besides."

"Pray do not enter upon these details, Mr. St. John," interrupted the Signor de Castella.

"Sir, I must go on-with your permission. My brother, Mr. Isaac St. John, whom you know, by reputation, sent for me to Castle-Wafer. He pointed out to me the errors of my career: told me to reflect upon the heedless course I was pursuing. I had been reflecting on it, had become quite as awake to its ills as he could be, and I had firmly resolved that it should end: but to a man deep in debt, good resolutions are sometimes difficult to carry out. My brother offered to set me free; but upon two conditions. One was, that I would give him my word of honour never to set my name to another bill; the second, that I should take to myself a wife. The first I was quite willing to accede to, and keep; but I demurred to the latter, and my brother explained his generous intentions further. He and my mother were extremely anxious that I should marry; not only as a security against my relapsing into unsteady habits, but because some superstitious fear clings to our branch of the family, that with us, my brother and myself, will die out the last of the St. Johns. Isaac proposed to give up to me, at once, CastleWafer-it has always been his intention to do so when I married-and to resign to me an income proportioned to it. A liberal settlement he also offered to make on my wife, whom they had already fixed upon." "Was it Miss Beauclerc ?" interrupted Rose, who never lost her equanimity in her life.

"It was my cousin Anne," resumed Mr. St. John, with scarcely a glance at Rose. "She and my mother were at that time visiting at Castle-Wafer. But the marriage suited neither her nor me. She was engaged, unknown to her friends, to Captain Saville, and she confided to

me this attachment. I took upon myself all the brunt of the refusalfor Captain Saville's position, at that period, did not justify his aspiring openly to Lady Anne St. John-and informed my brother I could not marry Anne. High words rose between us, and we parted in anger. I thought then, and always shall think, that he was very severe upon me -I mean as to my past follies. He, in the isolated position which his infirmity has caused him to enshrine round himself since childhood, had never been exposed to the temptations which attend youth and rank, and he could not make allowance for me. He spoke of them as crimes, rather than venial errors, and I retorted passionately. I said more than I ought, and in this spirit we parted, I returning to London. Just then my mother's sister died, leaving me what money was at her disposal. It was not much; but it was sufficient to pay my debts, and to this purpose it is being applied, as it is realised. By next November every shilling I owe will be discharged. I should have preferred not appearing again before my brother until I was a free man, but circumstances have ordered it otherwise. I was about setting out for Castle-Wafer the day information reached me that De la Chasse had again made his appearance here, and I came off at once, without the credentials I should otherwise have brought with me. But you cannot doubt me, M. de Castella ?" "Doubt what?"

"My ability—my power-to offer a suitable position to your daughter.” "Sir, the question cannot arise. Though I should very much doubt it. My daughter is not Lady Anne St. John."

"I should have added that Lady Anne is married; a change having occurred in Captain Saville's prospects. She wrote to my brother, on her marriage, telling him it was at her instigation I refused her: without referring to my own feelings; and indeed she did not know whether they were favourable to her or the contrary: no necessity," he continued, with a passing smile, "for telling Anne I declined the honour of her hand. My brother is most anxious to be reconciled to me: I know it from my mother. And I can take upon myself to say that all the favourable projects and settlements he proposed for Lady Anne, will be renewed for Adeline."

"Then you would take upon yourself to say too much, Mr. St. John: you cannot answer for another. But let this unprofitable conversation end. My daughter is promised to Monsieur de la Chasse, and no other man will she marry."

"Sir," cried Mr. St. John, speaking with agitation, "will you answer me one question. If I were in a position to offer Adeline ample settlements; to take her to Castle-Wafer as her present home-and you know it must eventually descend to me-would you consider me a suitable

match for her ?"

"It is a question that never can arise."

"I pray you answer it me-in courtesy," pleaded Mr. St. John. "Would you deem me eligible in a pecuniary point of view?"

66

Certainly. It is an alliance that a higher family than mine might aspire to."

"Then, sir, I return this night to England. And will not again present myself to you, until I come armed with these credentials."

"Absurd! absurd!" ejaculated M. de Castella, whilst Adeline uttered a smothered cry of fear. "I have allowed this conversation to go on,

out of respect to you, Mr. St. John, but I beg to tell you, once for all, that Adeline never can be yours."

"I will not urge the subject further at present," said Mr. St. John, as he held out his hand to bid adieu to Madame de Castella. "We will resume it on my return from England."

"You surely do not mean to persist in this insane journey!" abruptly uttered M. de Castella.

"Signor de Castella," said Mr. St. John, with a pale cheek but firm manner, "I will not resign your daughter. If I could forget my own feelings, I must remember hers. To marry her to De la Chasse would be to abandon her to the grave. She is not strong; you know it; not fitted to battle with misery. Adeline, my darling," he added, turning to her, for she was sobbing hysterically, "why this distress? I have repeatedly assured you, when your fears of these explanations were great, that I would never resign you to De la Chasse, or to any other. Hear me repeat that assertion in the presence of your parents-by the help of Heaven, my love, you shall be my wife."

"Meanwhile," said M. de Castella, sarcastically, 66 as you are now, at least, under my authority, Adeline, permit me to suggest that you retire from this room."

She rose obediently, and went towards the door, sobbing.

"A moment,” cried Mr. St. John, deprecatingly, "if it is from my presence you would send her. I am going myself. Adieu to all."

He opened the door, and stood with it in his hand, glancing hesitatingly at Adeline. Her feelings were wrought to a high pitch of excitement, control forsook her, and darting forward she clung to the arm of Mr. St. John, sobbing out hysterically,

"You will return-you will not desert me-you will not leave me to him ?"

He wound his arms round her, just as though they had been alone. "It is only compulsion that takes me from you, Adeline," he whispered. "Be assured I will not let the grass grow under my feet. When three days shall have passed, look every minute for my return: and then, my darling, we shall part no more.'

Lower yet he bent his head, and kissed her fervently. Then resigned her to them, for they had come flocking round, turned, and was gone.

:

De la Chasse left for Paris the next day. He concluded Mr. St. John had taken himself off for good. He did not appear to lay blame to Adeline all his superfluous rage was vented on St. John. As to any affection Adeline might be suspected of entertaining for Mr. St. John, that he thought nothing of. A Frenchman does not understand or believe in this sort of affection.

66

The banns of the marriage were put up, and would shortly be published to the world, according to the custom of the country. Alphonse Jean Hippolyte de la Chasse and Adeline Luisa de Castella." The ceremony was to take place at the neighbouring chapel; the civil portion of it, previously, at the Mairie at Odesque. A sumptuous banquetdinner was to be given in the evening by M. de Castella at the château, and the following morning the bride and bridegroom were to leave it for Paris. In the course of a few days, Signor and Madame de Castella were to join them, and all four would then proceed to the South together.

"I'd have seen them further, before they should have made such arrangements for me, with their French ideas!" bluntly exclaimed Rose to Adeline. "If I could not go away with my husband on my weddingday, I'd run away with him beforehand."

Three days passed, and no Mr. St. John. The fourth morning arose, and Adeline was in a distressing state of excitement; as she had been ever since his departure. To what can I compare her restless anxiety? You all remember the old tale of Bluebeard. "Sister Anne, Sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?"

"Alas, my sister, I see only the dust from a flock of sheep." "Sister Anne, Sister Anne, can you see anybody coming?"

Thus it was with Adeline. When her eyes ached with looking out, and she retired momentarily to refresh them, it would be, "Rose, Rose, do you see him coming?"

"No, I don't see a soul."

And then, 66 Mary! go to the window. Can you see him coming?" And the day passed like the others, and he never came. It was, indeed, an anxious time with her. Left to herself, the marriage would inevitably take place, for, unsupported by St. John, she should not dare to oppose her father. But, on the fifth morning-ah, what triumph!— he returned. Adeline, dear girl, look at him, what do you read? A firm, self-possessed step, self-possessed even for him, a proud smile on his beautiful features, a glance of assured satisfaction in his truthful eye. He comes, indeed, as St. John of Castle-Wafer.

gone

Miss de Beaufoy, Adeline, and Mary were alone; the rest had over to the farm. He took Adeline's hands in his he saw how she had been suffering. "But it is over, over," he whispered to her; "I shall never leave you more."

"It was unwise of you to come back, Mr. St. John," said Aunt Agnes, as she shook hands with him.

"It was wise of me to go," he cried, a happy flush of triumph on his brow. 66 Ah, dear Miss Beaufoy, you will soon pay us a visit at CastleWafer. Where is Monsieur de la Chasse ?"

"He has left for Paris."

"I am sorry for it."

Adeline looked at him.

"He styled me an adventurer-a hunter after Adeline's fortune. Had he remained till to-day, he might have eaten his words."

"What is there to hope?" whispered Adeline.

"Hope all, hope everything, my love," was his reply. "I tell you to do so.

St. John, like an ambassador, had brought his credentials with him. All that he had so confidently asserted to M. de Castella was realised. His brother had received him with open arms, and shed tears of joy over the reconciliation. Solicitors were at once employed to liquidate Frederick's remaining debts, and to set free so much of his property as was in the keeping of the Jews. Castle-Wafer would be resigned to him on his marriage, and a brilliant income. He had represented Adeline in glowing colours to his brother, not enlarging on her beauty, which he said would speak for itself, but on her numerous endearing qualities of mind and heart. And the latter, as he listened, became reconciled to the frustration of the marriage with Lady Anne St. John, and wrote word to Adeline

that he was prepared to love and welcome her as a daughter. His offered settlements for her were the same which he had proposed for Lady Anne,

and undeniable.

A letter from him to Signor de Castella was presented by Mr. St. John. It contained formal proposals for Adeline, with an explanatory detail of what has been stated, in substance, above, submitting the whole to M. de Castella's approval. The letter also contained a request, which Frederick was to urge in person, for M. de Castella and his family to at once visit Castle-Wafer, that he might become acquainted with the home to which he consigned his child. The marriage could then take place as soon as was convenient, either in England or France, as might be agreed upon, after which, Frederick would take her to a warmer clime for the winter mouths.

Annoyed as M. de Castella was, he could not but be flattered at the honour done him, for he well knew that Isaac St. John of Castle-Wafer might aspire, for his brother, to a higher alliance than his would be. But he showed his vexation.

"You have acted improperly, Mr. St. John, both towards me, and towards your brother. Pray did you tell him that Adeline was, all but, the wife of another?"

"I told him everything," said Mr. St. John, firmly; " and he agreed with me, that for Adeline's own sake, if not for mine, she must be rescued from the unhappiness which threatens her."

"You are bold, sir," cried M. de Castella, a flush of anger rising to his brow.

"I am," returned Mr. St. John, "bold and determined. You must pardon the avowal. It would ill become me to be otherwise, when so much is at stake."

M. de Castella wheeled back his easy-chair, as he sat, the only diversion from the uncomfortable, straight-backed seats which graced his cabinet. "Listen to me," he said; "I hope finally. Your journey to Castle-Wafer, as I warned you it would be, has been worse than profitless our conversation is the same. No human entreaty or menacecould such be offered me-would alter my determination one iota. Adeline will marry De la Chasse."

“I have abstained from urging my own feelings," said Mr. St. John, warmly, "but you must be aware their happiness is at stake. My whole future, so to speak, is bound up in Adeline."

"You do well not to urge them; it would make no difference: I am sorry, but it would not. This must end, Mr. St. John. I have already expressed my acknowledgments to you for the honour done me in your wish for an alliance; I shall express them presently to your brother. And I have no objection to confess, that, under different circumstances, I might have been tempted to entertain it. But the barrier between you and Adeline is insuperable."

“Oh, M. de Castella, pray reflect. I have been bred with as nice a sense of honour as you: I venture to say it and I trust I shall never be guilty of aught to tarnish that honour. But I should deem it an unrighteous thing to sacrifice to it a fellow-creature's happiness, and she an only child."

"Oh, tush! Sacrifice!-happiness! These chimeras of the imagination are not looked upon in a serious light with us. Adeline may rebel in