as we will let us admit nothing but facts, and not these till they have been first deniedstill vague, ay vain, beliefs will spring up in our hearts-midnight, despite all reasoning, will be haunted with a shadow and a thought.' So long as the soul knows this is not her own home, she will have visitings from another, and there will be that in our thoughts of which we can give no account-a fear and hope, which we sometimes will deny, and which will never be more than a dream. It is this fine and mystical sense which Inesilla succeeds so well in exciting. Then the human interest is admirably kept up. Our superstition is awakened through our affection."

Emily." I think it opens so beautifully: the feeling of happiness-sunny, confiding happiness-contrasts powerfully with the afterdesolation."

Edward Lorraine.-"Altogether, I know no tale of stranger and wilder beauty."

The day wore on, and, when evening came, the party were arranged to Lady Mandeville's satisfaction as regarded her guests: whether it was so very delightful to herself, may reasonably be questioned. An elderly neighbour had had the cruelty to come out without his wife, his con

stant partner at cards; and Mr. Morrison was one who would as soon have thought of going without his dinner as without his rubber. This rubber had therefore to be made up by the Mandevilles themselves and Mr. Morland. Miss Arundel and Lorraine were at the other extremity of the room, by the piano, an occasional song serving as the excuse for what was a tête-à-tête in all but the embarrassment. Certainly that evening Edward was a little in love -to be sure he had nothing else to do.

Now the letters arrived at Norville Abbey in the evening a great misfortune this-for, on an average, there is not one pleasant letter out of ten, and it is miserable to pass the night ruminating on the other nine. One really wants the spirits of the morning to support the coming' in of the post. There was one letter universally disagreeable-it came from Mr. Delawarr, and entreated Lorraine's instant return to London. Regrets came flattering enough to the fortunate or unfortunate receiver of the epistle; even Emily ventured to say she was " very sorry," but it was in such a low voice that no one heard it. "You must come and see us again," said Lord Mandeville; "unless we are in town before you can escape.”

Early the next morning, the wheels of a departing carriage rolled off, unnoticed, as its occupier supposed, by all. One ear, however, heard every sound; and either a very gentle hand, or a very light wind, slightly stirred a curtain. Poor Emily! she only caught sight of the postilion. Why, with all our deep and unutterable sympathies with love, are we inclined to laugh at half its disappointments?

CHAPTER XIV.

"Happiness

Is the gay to-morrow of the mind
That never comes." ""

"I GIVE my most cordial approbation," said Lord Mandeville: "I think Emily Arundel is a very sweet creature-a little too visionary."

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Nay, it is that," replied his wife," which makes her so interesting: she is just a heroine for a romance in five volumes; and I shall never forgive her, if something a little out of the common run of, brought out one season and married the next, without an interesting embarrassment, does not happen to her."

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My dear Ellen, beware how you encourage this tendency in your pretty protégée-to invent a life rather than live with all your penetration, I think you are hardly aware of the strength and intensity of Miss Arundel's character. At fifteen, her poetry of feeling (you

see I do my best to please you with a phrase) would just give piquancy and freshness to her entry into life; but at twenty, it is grown into a decided mental feature- and nothing would surprise me less than to see her throw herself away on a worthless fortune-hunter, under some mistaken fancy of affection and disinterested

ness.'

"No fear of that; I have a match for her in perspective one that I am much mistaken if both she and you would not highly approve."

"And I am much mistaken if she has not some floating fancy of her own."

But for

"But suppose we both agree in our choice?" “Well, suppose what you please, only be cautious how you act upon your suppositions." "In the meantime, I have your consent to ask her to accompany us to Italy?" "A very cordial yes to that." Emily gladly accepted the offer. Lady Mandeville's friendship, her position was at this moment very awkward to live alone at the Hall would have been too independent-a residence with her aunt was put out of the question by her marriage-and Lady Alicia's death prevented her deriving that advantage from Mr. Delawarr being appointed her guardian,