vain was every attempt to banish it from her thoughts. In passing out of the principal saloon, the crowd was so great that their little party was separated. In vain did Henrietta turn her eyes in every direction; sir Theodosius no more appeared: but in a few minutes they were joined by a pilgrim, who was assiduous in his attentions towards her and her female friends. He led them to a recess in the apartment, and went in quest of refreshments. Returning towards the sofa where they sat, he observed the same: Highland seer whose appearance had before so much disturbed lady Beau-: mont again approach her. Gliding softly behind his back, he heard him address her in an accent meant to be. Scotch, but which was a wretched imitation of that language-" Daughter of my native mountains," he said, " why tarriest thou here, while the husband of thy thy bosom is in dalliance with the friend thou cherishest in thy dwelling?" He might have continued to speak, for Henrietta was in no condition to interrupt his cruel purpose; but he fled with the quickness of lightning, while the poor victim of his diabolical arts could only stammer out a wish to return home. The pilgrim, little less agitated than her ladyship, hurried out in search of the carriage. On his return, he found Henrietta had removed to an anti-room, where Mrs. Lessington was hanging over her with a hypocritical semblance of concern for her sudden indisposition. Taking the arm of the fair sufferer, he led her to the carriage, and having placed her in it, sprang upon the box with the coachman, and directed him to drive to Berkley-square. CHAPTER III. "Twist ye, twine ye—even so, In a state of mind bordering on distrac tion, the abused and credulous fair one reached her own mansion. She observed lights in a front drawing-room, and rushing hastily up stairs, threw open the door of the apartment, and was successively clasped to the bosom of her father and her uncle. As soon as her agitation would permit her to listen to an explanation, Mary informed her that the two gentlemen had arrived about half an hour after her departure to Mrs. Lessington's, but that all her entreaties to be permitted to ap prise her ladyship of the joyful news had been negatived by her uncle. "And has sir Theodosius not been at home in the course of the evening?" questioned Henrietta, the warning of the seer rushing to her memory. "What should lead you to suppose so?" inquired Mary, in reply, somewhat surprised at the manner in which the question was put. "I thought he purposed to be your protector through the evening?" "But I was separated from him in the crowd," rejoined her ladyship, "and— But no matter, he will be here presently, I dare say," she added carelessly, and again placed herself betwixt her father and uncle. At the termination of an hour, sir Theodosius entered the apartment. His manner was grave and dignified as he approached to welcome the father and uncle of his wife. Then turning to lady Beaumont, he said 66 " When C 5 you reluc tantly tantly drew from me a consent to mingle in the motley groups this night assembled at Mrs. Lessington's, it was granted on the express condition that you should never quit my side. Yet no sooner was I unavoidably separated from you by the pressure of the crowd, than you imprudently left the spot where I had the only chance of finding you, and where you must have been assured I would seek you the moment I was able. The consequences of this heedlessness have been most unpleasant: you were so far made the dupe of a pretended seer as to betray doubts of the honour of your husband, and afterwards left the house under the protection of a pilgrim, with whose real character you were unacquainted. All this and more I learned as I traversed the rooms in search of you, in a state of anxiety bordering on distraction, exposed to the sneers of those who had so effectually played on your credulity for their own amusement. Dear, |