justly complain. He liked the attentive) Murray had no thought of self in his entire

courier, and acknowledged to Mr. Elms- devotion to the daughter of his old friend, worth, "that Frascati did manage to se- but he was but human after all, and somecure every convenience for them, and was times the thought would cross him that altogether a most attentive and convenient Agnes was very young and eternally separascal." Antonio's dark eyes flashed rated from her cousin by barriers her eonstrangely, and a quick, sinister smile pass- science would never permit her to pass. ed like lightning over his lips, as Mr. Was it impossible for her heart to be Elmsworth, in his boorish way, repeated weaned from the hopeless affection he Serimia's words to him as he was attend-knew still struggled in her soul? Could ing upon them one day. He bowed low, she never be won by devotion, constancy, He knew his own love placing his hand upon his heart: "Il Conte tenderest love? did him much honor, his only destre was to make himself as useful as possible to Monsieur and H Conte." He was indeed a jewel of a courier!

When they reached Geneva, after going up the Rhine and visiting Lucerne, the fatigue of travel had so prostrated Mrs. Elmsworth, that no manoeuvring was ne cessary to show that Agnes must remain constantly with the invalid. Frascati was so thoughtful and kind at this time, that Agnes stopped him one day, as he handed in at the door a plate full of fine grapes for her aunt, and thanked him. Frascati's

face beamed with satisfaction.

for her to be higher, purer, more unselfish than Robert's; for he would, oh, so gladly, give his own happiness, his own life, in exchange for hers. He would have laid her hand in Robert's, and blessed them, in

his perfect love for her, satisfied if she were but once more the bright, happy young girl he had known at Mrs. Hudson's. Mr. Murray had thoroughly conquered his own heart, and schooled it; but human hearts are wild dreamers after all, and Hope will sing us to sleep with fairy tales even in mature age. If a day-dream flashed across Mr. Murray's mind, he resolutely thrust it back-he could do no more! He procured a situation for Mrs. Lucy in ar American family, who were to pass the winter at Nice, and who designed return

"Signorina," he said earnestly, "I can do but little for you or madame, but my will is good, command me to the utmost-ing in the spring to Louisiana-an arrange

I will do my best always!"

Mrs.

The climate was getting too cold in Switzerland for Mrs. Elmsworth; Serimia was tired too; it was now September; it was agreed to hasten into Italy. Elmsworth wished to get to Rome before the winter set in, so the pilgrimage began again as soon as she could bear it.

ment which suited her very well.

The Elmsworths reached Genoa safely, but Mrs. Elmsworth was so wearied that it was thought best to proceed immediately by sea to Civita Vecchia, and from thence to Rome, where they had ordered all letters for the whole party to be forwarded.

They were established, in the course of Mr. Murray had returned to Paris, but judged it best not to join the party during a week, in a pleasant suite of apartments their travel; his trusty agent kept him fully overlooking the Piazza di Spagna. The posted in regard to their plans-he saw column of the Immaculate Conception beSerimia was quiet; not ready to use foul fore their windows, which commanded as means to attain his base ends, he felt that a side view the steps leading to the convent of the Trinita del Monte, with its his presence or any one else's would be an intrusion upon Agnes in her aunt's feeble ever changing crowd of the picturesque state. As long as Mrs. Elmsworth lived, vagabondage of Rome. Agnes stepped to Agnes was personally safe; he served Ag- the windows and looked about her with nes best by remaining away and holding interest and curiosity; she could not rehimself in readiness to join her as soon as press a thrill of emotion as she rememAntonio thought his presence necessary. bered that she stood within the walls of He kept Antonio freely supplied with mo-the "Eternal City." She had seen but ney and passports, in case he should wish little, so far, of the customary sights of She was soon obliged, to use them, for Agnes or himself. Mr. foreign travel.

however, to recall her wandering eyes and will go hard with you to have it known to thoughts to her aunt, who seemed unusu-Monsieur or Il Conte di Serimia!" Antonio ally feeble and exhausted from the rail-laughed his low, scornful laugh as he ut road travel Agnes helped her to undress tered this last name. and into her bed, and arranged everything as comfortable as she could for her. She was standing by her aunt, holding a glass of cordial to her lips, when Mr. Elmsworth entered the room with a large package of letters.

Fanchon looked at him as if alarmed, then in her most coaxing tone:

"But surely you would not harm a poor young girl trying now honestly to get her bread? Monsieur is too generous for that."

"As for the honesty, my little Fanchon, "Two for Agnes, from the Rectory," he we will not discuss that point! but I will said. He gave them to her and quitted make a bargain with you. Let Mademoithe room, taking his own letters with him. selle alone! cease spying into her hours of Agnes proposed to read her letters aloud privacy, and reporting all she does or says, to her aunt, but Mrs. Elmsworth opened as you know you do." Antonio looked her languid eyes and begged she would steadily at her, Fanchon's eyes fell," and defer reading them to her until the next I will not only make it worth your while morning, she was so very weary and tired. by doubling the amount you now receive "Go, my dear," she said, "to your own from--you know who! but I will also room, Fanchon can sit here till you return, promise to forget all I know concerning I think I can sleep, go and enjoy your let-Mademoiselle Rosette Marie Fanchon ters." Agnes was glad to obey the mande"date. Two hours afterwards, Fanchon stole gently from the bed of the sleeping invalid, softly opened the door of Agnes' chamber and peeped in, Agnes was not conscious of her presence; she was lying prostrate upon the floor, deep sobs shaking her whole form almost convulsively, her hands clasped and flung over her head in agony of grief; the great tears rolling like drops of lead from her closed eyes. Fanchon closed the door and stole away as softly as she had come. She met Frascati in the narrow passage

"Ah, Monsieur, Mademoiselle est tellement affligée ! Je n'ai jamais vue une telle desespoir," and she lifted her hands and shrugged her shoulders. "Je pense qu doit être a cause d'un amant," continued she.

'il

Antonie seized her by the shoulders with his powerful hands and whirled her around

until she stood face to face with him.

"Look here, Fanchon, if you go about spying and intruding on Mademoiselle, I will inform Monsieur what I know about" he stooped and whispered a word in her

ear.

Fanchon bit her lip and stamped her foot with vexation.

Fanchon put her hand over his lips. It was a pretty hand,-Antonio gallantly kissed it.

Enough, enough, Monsieur Frascati ! your reasoning is convincing, I accept your propositions."

How many francs is it now, Mademoiselle, per month?"

Fanchon counted on her fingers. hundred," she replied.

"One

"Ah, well! Mademoiselle! receive two hundred." Antonio pulled out his pocket book, and gravely counted out the money. Fanchon's grey eyes glistened; she took it eagerly.

Now," continued Antonio, "this amount every month, and perhaps more if you are faithful, and obey me implicitly."

"But Monsieur," said Fanchon, "Hemy employer-he will discover-then what shall I do?"

"You shall continue to report to him; you have imagination under those pretty temples, my charming Fanchon, only you must swear by the Holy Virgin to bring me a written account of every word you or he may say."

“Ah,” said Fanchon, "that is very easy, quite delightful it is to have so sensible "Mon Dieu! that is only slander, and and amiable a person as you to deal with,

you know it, Monsieur Frascati !"

"Slander or no, my pretty Fanchon! it

Monsieur Frascati !"

"And remember, beautiful Fanchon, I

have means of ascertaining whether you bath room this morning she will find it deal truly or not with me!" very refreshing."

"Assuredly, Monsieur need not distrust me! Two hundred francs and perhaps more.' Monsieur may rely on my honor." Fanchon, bowing gracefully, retraced ber

steps and tripped lightly into Mrs. Elms

worth's room; she was sleeping calmly.

Agnes Graham's head touched no pillow that night. Fanchon came in the morning and found her sleeping the sleep of exhaustion where she had seen her lying the night before, upon the floor, the traces of blistering tears plainly marked upon her cheeks, in her clasped hands were clench

ed the letters of Mr. Danvers and Dr. Leonard.

"Poor thing," muttered Fauchon, as she threw a shawl over her feet, without, disturbing her. "Poor young lady! she is suffering much! it would indeed be a shame to betray her! and then two hundred francs! it is much!"

Fanchon stept out lightly and calling Frascati, asked him to have a warm bath prepared in her own room, which opened into Agnes' by a communicating door.

"So as to have it ready against Mademoiselle's waking; she will need it, Monsieur! for she has lain all night weeping on the floor, where she has just fallen asleep! It is some great trouble, apparently."

Fanchon took Mrs. Elmsworth her breakfast, told her Agnes was suffering with severe headache, and had fallen asleep, and she thought it best not to waken her. Mrs. Elmsworth commended her discretion. Fanchon was so dextrous and attentive, and showed so much hearty good will, that Mrs. Elmsworth begun to think she had done the girl great injustice in her prejudices against her.

Agnes felt that she would, and therefore accepted Fanchon's offer. Her limbs tremled so she could scarcely stand, but she was forced to exert herself, she knew, for

her aunt's sake, but the pallid cheek and

knitted brow, showed what a violent constraint she was putting upon herself; Fanchon threw open the door between the rooms, assisted Agnes to undress and left her. She returned after she heard Agnes re-enter her own chamber, bearing a small waiter, with a tiny cup of strong coffee

and a thin slice of toasted bread.

"If Mademoiselle will drink this coffee, which Monsieur Frascati has made himself for her, and eat a mouthful of toast, Mademoiselle will feel better able to attend to Madame, who has already asked for her!"

Agnes swallowed the coffee but refused the bread. Tears rushed again to her eyes, as she thought of the sad intelligence she would have to communicate to her aunt. She covered her face with her hands and groaned aloud.

Fanchon stood respectfully behind her; Agnes' long black hair hung in dishevelled

masses over her shoulders. Fanchon touched it with her hands.

"If Mademoiselle will permit, I could quickly arrange Mademoiselle's coiffure, and relieve Mademoiselle of that trouble."

Agnes sat down mechanically; Fanchon dexterously disentangled the heavy plaits, and in a very little time Agnes' hair was folded around her head as she usually wore it. Fanchon was an artiste in hair Aressing; Agnes thanked her, finished her toilet, and grasping her letters in her hand, passed into the salon, where she found Mr. Elmsworth and Count Serimia just preparing to set out on a tour of inspection. Agnes scarcely heard Serimia's gallant salutation, returned it by a hasty bow, and walking up to her uncle requested to have a few moments private conversation with him "Mademoiselle, you were so weary last before he went out. Mr. Elmsworth looknight that you fell asleep on the floor with-ed at Serimia, who taking up his hat, out undressing; so I have had a hot bath bowed and quitted the salon. Agnes reprepared for you in my own room, if Ma-quested her uncle to be seated, and handed demoiselle will condescend to use it as a him Mr. Danvers' letter. He was as much

So Agnes thought also, when she woke up finding the shawl carefully thrown over her, and after she had risen aching and tired from her hard couch, trying to collect her scattered thoughts, Fanchon stood before her, saying

startled as it was possible for him to be, at are times when conscience will awake the intelligence it contained. even in the most evil of men, and Mr.

"Poor Selman! poor Eleanor! It is very Elmsworth did not care to witness the sudden !"

Agnes made no reply, but folding Dr. Leonard's letter, so as to show only the description of the burning of the hall, she gave him that to read also.

last struggles of the life of the woman he had so cruelly neglected. So they went off, and Agnes was left with her dying relative in this strange city, with only Fanchon and Frascati to attend her in this

"Good God! this is dreadful!" exclaimed dark hour of trial. Frascati wrote to Mr. he, this will kill Emeline."

"I fear it will," said Agnes, "for that reason I thought it best to consult you as to what it was best to do."

I think it best to say nothing about it, it can do no good! she will never return alive to America, at any rate! Our letters are so uncertain she will never be alarmed even if she receives none for some time." "Aunt is certainly very much prostrated by this travel," replied Agnes, "You think the end not far off, in that case it would be humane to conceal this from her, and spare her suffering. I can say the letters concerned my own affairs principally, as they certainly do, as she will so soon be beyond the reach of mortal suffering!"

Murray to come, but there were storms on the Mediterranean, and the letter was de-. layed. A few days of complete exhaus. tion-a severe coughing spell-a hemorrhage-and Emeline Elmsworth's worn and weary spirit fled to the peaceful haven "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest!"

Frascati attended to every thing, sent an express for Mr. Elmsworth, who soon returned, when he found it was all over.

Agnes begged that her aunt's remains might be sent to Davenant Hall, to be buried with the rest of the family.

"No," Mr. Elmsworth said, "it was nonsense! it made no difference where people were buried; it would be great trouble and expense." So the poor creature who had been so long the slave of his whims and

"I should think that the best course to pursue," said Mr. Elmsworth, taking up his hat and walking out of the room to caprices-who had loved him to the lastjoin Count Serimia, who was waiting for was laid among strangers in the Protestant him in the passage, where they could hear Cemetery at Rome. him humming the air of the Duke's song in Rigoletto.

CHAPTER XXIX.

Agnes was spared any questions about her letters. Mrs. Elm worth was dozing Agnes Graham sat on the grass. beside when she took Fanchon's seat by her aunt's the new made grave of her aunt. One bedside; when she woke she had a spasm week had elapsed since the pale form was of coughing, and was so weak and suffer given to its kindred clay. Agnes had asking she did not seem to remember any-ed Frascati to procure a carriage and acthing about Agnes' letters of the previous company her to the gate of the cemetery. hight. So it continued all that week; such Mrs. Elmsworth's grave was made not far a long-long week to the poor pale crea- from the entrance The grass was brown ture, racked with keen pain, growing and parched by the hot summer sunshine. weaker, weaker, hour by hour, with that The few trees, of sombre stone pine, spread pale girl watching every quiver of the like dark shields above the imaginative pallid lips as if her own life hung upon girl, as if they would hide from her stream that feeble respiration. Mr. Elmsworth ing eyes, the glorious, intense "blue fire," and Count Serimia went off on an excur like light of the Italian sky; not like their sion to Tivoli for a few days. Mr. Elms- stately pyramidal sisters of the Alpine · worth saw his wife was sinking fast, and cliffs, which appear so many indices to he wanted to escape the scene. He hated point the mourner to the stars and the "scenes," he said to Serimia. In truth, "better land," the land of beauty, the neither he nor his companion liked to be Paradise of the blessed ones "who depart much in the presence of death. There hence in the Lord!" The huge grey py

ramid of Caius Cestus, towered up near the which place only," she said, "she would wall, and flung its added depth of gloom trouble him to escort her. She could pro

to the shadow already over her, as she sat bably succeed in getting back to New there, weeping-alone and desolate. Ag-Orleans with some returning family, or she nes had brought her prayer book with her would ask him to place her under the proto read the burial service. The English tection of one of the captains of the direct chaplain being absent, Mr. Elmsworth did line of steamers from Havre to New Or not trouble himself to look for a clergy-leans, from whence she could readily get man among the many visitors who crowded to Davenant rectory." the city. So Emeline Elmsworth was laid Mr. Elmsworth listened with no appain an unblessed grave. Agnes had knelt rent surprise to Agnes' plans. He evidentby the grave this morning, and read in a ly had expected some such communication low voice the holy burial service of the from her.. He was fully aware of the force Protestant Episcopal Church. It comforted of her character, and therefore had no her-and it was with a softer feeling that hopes of attaining his and Serimia's ends, she laid upon the lowly mound a cross, by open resistance; but, hypocritically, woven of violets and passion flowers. disguising the anger excited by her quiet, All was done her pious duties ended, and determined manner, he said, "he was she still sat there weeping, now, over her- ready to leave Rome as soon as she pleasself-her own sad, desolate life-no drop ed. If she thought it best to withdraw of her blood flowed in the veins of any herself from his protection, he could not human being save Robert's! Separated oppose it, as her father's will gave her from him, as she must be, who was left to power to do so, at her present age." her? None, except the two men, no lon ger young, at the Davenant rectory! and life had once been so bright! Such a little while since the first dark cloud fell across her path! She laid her head down on the new-laid sods and felt that it would be merciful, could she rest there forever"God's ways are not our ways." Agnes could not see to the end.

At length she rose and returned to the carriage-the faithful Frascati aided her to mount its steps. They drove back to the hotel.

Agnes replied "That she would like to leave as soon as possible; by the next steamer for Marseilles !

"That will be the day after to-morrow, at 8 o'clock, P. M."

"I can be ready at that time."

Mr. Elmsworth quitted Agnes and went to discuss the matter with Serimia. If Agnes once got back to Paris, in her present mood, good by to all the Count's hopes of the heiress' hand, or his, or repossess ing himself of his notes of indebtedness to Serimia. Revolving these thoughts, he sought bis confederate! After a short discussion with him, he returned in high spirits to Agnes, telling her it was all arranged, and that he would himself tele

Count Serimia showed sufficient discretion not to intrude upon Agnes in her deep affliction. So she enjoyed peace and quiet in her own apartments. Fanchon was very kind. Frascati watched Agnes vigi-graph for rooms on the steamer. lantly, and tried to anticipate her every want. Agnes needed nothing that they could do for her, and it comforted her the respectful sympathy of these servants. She requested to see Mr. Elmsworth, thinking it best to communicate to him immediately her plans for her future. He came to the salon which he had almost entirely deserted since his wife's death. The rooms were distasteful to him! He spent his time with Serimia, and took his meals at a restaurant!

Agnes begged him to make arrangements to return immediately to Paris, "to

Agnes thanked him-called Fanchon to give her orders about packing the trunks, and, at the same time, presented her with a handsome sum of money, as a mark of gratitude, for her recent attention to her aunt, and herself-bidding her go out and make such purchases as she might like, before they quitted Rome. Fanchon kissed her hand very gratefully. She wondered how she could ever have been so blind to her own interest, as to have entered into a conspiracy against so charming and generous a young lady. Agnes told her if she preferred doing the packing of the trunks