and to wheel an easy-chair into the recess in which I was seated. Not a trace of the morning's vexation was visible on her countenance; and I, who could hardly believe in the existence of such a disposition as emanating from any other source than apathy and insensibility, sat gloomily pondering over the events of the day.

They haunted me when I had retired to my room, and mingled with my nocturnal visions. I could not help being inwardly annoyed to think I had fallen in Henry Mordaunt's opinion; for I knew that he possessed those qualifications which can alone make the judgment of any one valuable— a good heart and a good understanding.

Neither could I afford to "look down on the Mordaunts on the score of family; for I knew their's to be as ancient as my own. Then my thoughts turned to Arthur Mildmay, the admiration I had felt for him in his presence being undiminished when he was no longer before me; and I could not account to myself for the great pleasure with which I looked forward to his promised visit at Vernon Hall.

At length, but not till past three o'clock, I closed my weary eyes, and even then my sleep was restless and troubled. I dreamed that we stood once more on Lord Hartley's lawn, the sun as dazzling, the surrounding scene as beautiful, as on that morning; and all appeared the same, save that Agnes was with us. And I dreamed that I leant upon Arthur's arm, and talked to him of many things, though not of love; but I thought he looked kindly upon me, and I knew that he spoke well and wisely, and that his words showed his heart to be noble and generous, his mind to be polished, and conversant with truth and knowledge. And while I listened, Captain Spencer approached me with a glittering cup in his hand, and smiled as he offered it to me, bidding me to drink. While I hesitated a moment, Agnes sprang forward, snatched the cup from his hand, and dashed the contents on the ground, even to the last drop. I turned angrily upon her; but at that instant the thunder-cloud again burst over us, and where Captain Spencer had stood, I now saw Augusta, or rather an angry, hissing snake, with her beautiful face, and the body of the reptile. She was about to dart at Arthur and myself, and wreath her fatal coils around us, when I started from my horrid dream, to the waking reality of a bright summer morning. It was still early,

but I could not sleep again; so I rose, and wandered and sat in the garden, with my usual companion in the shape of a book, till breakfast-time.

On the following morning the post-bag was brought in, as usual, ere we had concluded the repast; and among other letters was one from Mrs. Bouverie, a cousin of my father, pressing me to go immediately to her house in Grosvenorstreet, to partake with her eldest daughter of the gaieties of a London season. Eleanor Bouverie, she said, had been prevented by a severe attack of the measles from going any where before this advanced period of the spring; and she added, that if I liked to bring my cousin, Agnes Bray, with me, she too would be heartily welcome. My father gave me the letter, desiring me to do as I pleased.

"If you have any curiosity to see something of the gay world, Caroline," he said, "you could scarcely enter it under better auspices than those of my cousin Katherine; a beauty in her day, and still a woman of fashion, and, I believe, sincerely attached to us all. Whose handwriting is this?" he continued, looking at the address of another letter.

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Perhaps," I suggested, "it is from Captain Mildmay." My father opened it, and read as follows—

"MY DEAR SIR-It is with great regret that I write to inform you of my unavoidable return to town this very day, and the consequent postponement of the pleasure I had promised myself in visiting Vernon Hall next week. The cause of my sudden recall to London, or rather Richmond, is the dangerous illness of my younger sister Geraldine. I have not a minute now to spare for giving further particulars, but I will write from home, as I know you will be interested in hearing of my sister. I rejoice that I can give an excellent report of Miss Sutherland, who is progressing most favourably. "With the hope of seeing you before many weeks are over, I remain, dear sir, most sincerely your's,

"ARTHUR G. MILDMAY."

My father and I were both disappointed at this intelligence, and felt grieved to think of his anxiety and distress. After some consultation, it was agreed that I should accept Mrs. Bouverie's invitation, and go to town early in the following week; Agnes being most sincere in her wish to

decline it. I knew I should be too late to be presented that year, but still I resolved to go.

ment.

the traces of great beauty.

Mrs. Bouverie and Eleanor received me very kindly, and were evidently desirous in all ways to promote my amuseMrs. Bouverie was a rich widow of forty, retaining Her daughter was barely pretty, but possessed of a graceful figure, and an air of fashion. I remained with them in town till the end of June, and accompanied them in a tour round the Isle of Wight, which lasted for about a fortnight. During my sojourn in London, my reputation as so large an heiress was alone sufficient to procure me many admirers of rank and station; and out of this number there were two or three who, I believe, really sought me for myself and my own attractions; but I was equally indifferent to all, and even the unwearying assiduities of Captain Spencer failed in producing any corresponding feeling on my part.

I can look back upon those few weeks as a period of uninterrupted enjoyment. I had parted kindly with Agnes, and I wrote to her several times; I was strong in the consciousness of youth, health, and beauty, and on all sides courted and admired to a degree to which few girls could have been indifferent. I had, however, no opportunity of becoming known to Arthur Mildmay; for, as I heard from home, he had reached Richmond only to find Geraldine already dead; and, after passing three weeks with his sorrowing mother and remaining sister, had gone at once to Vernon Hall, where, at this season of the year, he was sure of finding nothing in the shape of gaiety.

I constantly met Miss Sutherland, whose accident had not prevented her entering into the entertainments of the remainder of the London season. We all went one evening to a large ball given by Lady Sutherland; and Augusta, whose manner to me was always most cordial, seemed on that occasion to single me out as the object of her especial attention. Lord Tintern was constant at his post, and the affair was now spoken of as settled among their friends and acquaintances, although the engagement had not yet been formally announced.

That evening Miss Sutherland chose to dance but little; and leading me into a recess, where stood a most tempting ottoman, she said she observed I was rather tired, and, as that was her case likewise, she thought we could not do

better than rest awhile. For some little time, the spot chosen for our retreat was undiscovered, and we conversed without interruption. She spoke of Arthur Mildmay, whom she had known for years; and I thought I could detect a slight tremulousness in her voice, and a less joyous expression in her eye, as she dwelt upon his many excellent and attractive qualities, and regretted " for his own sake, and that of his mother and sister, that he had not more of that dross which men bow down to as to an idol. And women too," she added, "and truly one knows not how to blame them. Educated in the midst of grandeur and luxurytaught by precept, by example, and by their own experience to consider wealth as of paramount importance-surely we should not too harshly condemn a girl whose affections are not all-powerful enough to make her cast aside all such considerations, and give her hand, where her heart, perhaps, is already given, to one worthy of her in all ways, but with the fatal curse of poverty clinging to him, at once an insuperable barrier between them. What happiness," she continued, "to be rich like you, Caroline, and thus enabled to spurn all vile thoughts of pounds, shillings, and pence, save that of sharing them with the object of one's devoted love!" Here she checked herself, as though she had gone too far, adding in a quieter tone-" But happier still when that object combines this world's advantages with all that can command one's affection and esteem ;" and raising her eyes at this moment, she saw Lord Tintern by her side.

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Why have you and Miss Vernon been hiding yourselves, Augus-Miss Sutherland ?" he asked. "Every one has been looking for you."

There was a slight shade upon his brow, which was instantly dispelled by Augusta's bright smile and goodhumoured voice, as she said—

"Miss Vernon and I were both rather tired; so, in order not to lose the time altogether, we have been moralizing as we sat here upon the hollowness of worldly enjoyments, and the vanity of worldly pursuits. But I am already wearied, and so, I am sure, is Miss Vernon, of such hackneyed stuff; and now, Lord Tintern, I am quite refreshed and ready for our quadrille." So saying, she took his offered arm, adding, that she should inform my despairing partner in what quarter I was to be found.

I will pass over the remainder of my visit in London, as consisting of an unceasing round of gaiety, each succeeding day differed but little from its predecessor.

The morning before we departed for our tour round the island, I received two visiters in Mrs. Bouverie's drawingroom. The first was Captain Spencer, who sought me at that hour, knowing that, from my habit of rising earlier than the other ladies, he should probably find me alone. He came to offer me his hand; his heart I knew I had long possessed; but I at once refused the former, and said I trusted ere long he would meet with a worthier object on which to bestow the latter. He was a man of strong passions and feelings, of some high and generous impulses; but his vices were totally unchecked by principle, and his actions were uninfluenced by any motives of piety or religion. Perhaps these deficiencies did not at that time weigh with me as they ought to have done in my rejection of his suit; my reason was the simple, and to me the allsufficient one, that, though I had learnt to like him, and appreciate his society, I did not entertain for him any sentiment the least approaching to love. It was evident that he was quite unprepared for so decided a refusal; for his pale cheek became perfectly ghastly in its whiteness, his brow contracted, and his energies seemed paralysed for the moment. Recovering himself, he addressed me again in tones of strong emotion :

"Oh, Caroline!" he said, "is it thus coldly that you spurn one who has loved you devotedly for months, ay, for years? Truly, every thought of my mind, every feeling of my heart, is concentrated in you: my whole happiness is in your hands-to make it, or cast it away for ever! A kind word or smile from you has had the power to madden me with delight; a frown, or, worse still, a look of indifference, has plunged me in despair. Give me time-let me but hope," he continued, with increasing earnestness; "let me cling to the slightest straw-Oh, Heaven! you little dream of the misery you are inflicting!"

And the man of fashion, so proud, so uncaring, covered his face with both his hands, and threw himself at my feet, as though his life or death rested on my decision, subdued by the might of his love for me.

I could not remain unmoved, though my resolution faltered