looked for is unwelcome," added she, as, even while she spoke, he seated himself, and smiled saucily.

Her indignation got the better of her fear.

"I know not who you are," said she, again approaching the bell-" and I receive no visitors who are unknown to me."

Again Mrs St Clair caught her-" Gertrude -dearest Gertrude, be quiet-all will be well."

"The Countess was going to order her servants to show me to the door, was she?" demanded Lewiston in the same insulting tone of irony; -" but her Ladyship may spare herself the trouble I have sent off the chaise-this will be my home for some time, will it not ?" to Mrs St Clair.

Lady Rossville disengaged herself from her mother, and rang the bell with violence.

"Gertrude, will you destroy me ?" exclaimed Mrs St Clair, in a voice of agony that thrilled to her daughter's heart, and made her pause. When the summons was answered, "Nothing—nothing Thompson," cried Mrs St Clair eagerly to the servant, "shut the door-that's all."

Gertrude's face was in a glow with the emotions

that struggled in her breast. To be thus braved in her own house-her resentment mocked-her power, as it were, annihilated-her mother trembling before a menial, or, at least, one whom she herself only recognized as the husband of a menial-her brain felt as on fire, and she stood speechless from excess of agitation.

"So you thought, I suppose, I had gone to Davy's Locker ?" said Lewiston, addressing Mrs St Clair. "I read the account of the shipwreck of the Dauntless-by-the-bye, it was in the same paper with the old gentleman's death, for these things are sometimes a long while of reaching us on t'other side the Atlantic-so, when I saw how the land lay, thinks I, 'tis time I was off to pay my respects to the Countess. She hasn't given me a very kind reception though. But wasn't it a luckiness that I had changed my ship? Some poor devil of a Jack Lapslie it was, I think, was in a hurry to be off, and I gave up my birth to him, and waited for the next, the Hebe-wasn't I good-natured? But I am very good-natured, and virtue, you know, is always its own reward-eh ?"

"If such are your friends," said Lady Rossville, addressing her mother, in a voice almost in

articulate, "this house is no longer a residence for me;" and again ringing the bell, which was instantly answered, (probably from Mr Thompson having stationed himself outside the door,) she desired her carriage to be got ready immediately; then rushing past the servant, she flew to her own apartment. There her exasperated spirit gave way to tears, and she wept in uncontrollable agony. In a few minutes she was followed by Mrs St Clair; but, on her entrance, Gertrude turned away her head from her, as if determined to listen to nothing she could say.

"Gertrude!" said her mother, in a deep and agitated voice; but she made no answer.

"Gertrude !” cried she again, as she would have taken her hand; but the Countess withdrew

it.

"Gertrude!" repeated she, and she sank on her knees at her daughter's feet.

Lady Rossville started up in horror; but her mother clung to her gown.

"Do not turn from me," cried she wildly ;"but tell me can I do more to soften you ?On my knees I beg of you to have mercy upon me!"

"Oh!" exclaimed Gertrude with a shudder, as she sought to raise her mother.

"No-I have to beg for my life-for my fame -at your hands

"This is too dreadful!" exclaimed the Countess.-"If you would not drive me to distraction, rise."

" Will you then hear me ?"

“I will—I will—-anything but this."

Mrs St Clair rose." Gertrude, you may bring me yet lower than you have now seen me -you may bring me to my grave.—Oh that I were already there!" cried she, with a burst of

tears.

"Tell me-only tell me the meaning of this horrid mystery," said Gertrude, trying to speak calmly ;- -"tell me why that man dares to treat me as he does ?"

"Oh do not-in mercy to yourself and me— do not ask me

Lady Rossville stood for some moments with her eyes bent upon the ground, while her colour gradually rose till her very brow was crimsoned; then, in a voice of assumed calmness, which only

spoke repressed agony, she said, speaking slowly,

"Am I the daughter of Thomas St Clair ?" Then raising her clasped hands to her forehead, she pressed them upon it, as if to still the throbbings of her brain.

Mrs St Clair looked upon her with a wild and ghastly stare-her very lips turned white, and she seemed as if bereft of all power of reply; but by a sudden revulsion, the blood flew to her face, and she said in a tone of bitterness

"Even this humiliation I will endure-as I hope to be saved, I was ever a true and faithful wifeso judge me Heaven!" There was a fervour and solemnity in the appeal which carried conviction.

Lady Rossville uncovered her eyes, and fetched her breath, and a pause ensued, which, after some minutes, Mrs St Clair gathered courage to break

"It is in vain that you would seek to penetrate the mysterious tie which links my fate with that of Lewiston, and which extends even to youand it will be no less vain to attempt to free yourself from his power.-Hear me, Gertrude-hear me-you promised you would-If it were possible,

if it were in human endeavour-can you, for a