out contracting somewhat of affinity towards it; and he sighed in bitterness of spirit, when he thought how Gertrude's nature, even now, with all its faults, still so pure, so lofty, so generous, so amiable, would be debased and perverted by the baser alloy with which it mingled. What a different creature might she become under other guidance, so easily managed when her affections led the way!—what capacities of happiness for herself and others seemed now at stake!-But, alas! how misdirected, how useless, if not pernicious, might they become under such control! -and Lyndsay, unlike himself, became wavering and irresolute as to the part he ought to act. Every day seemed to increase the alienation betwixt Colonel Delmour and him; but on Lyndsay's part it was so calm and mild, so free from all wrath and bitterness, that it might have escaped notice altogether, but for the sort of repressed animosity which the other occasionally betrayed.

Why is it," said Lady Rossville one day to her lover," that Edward and you are not better friends?-Has any misunderstanding taken place betwixt you, for you are not even upon the same terms you were when I first saw you?

then you walked, rode, shot, conversed together, but now you seem carefully to avoid all intercourse-it is unpleasant to me to witness this."

""Tis you yourself are the cause of it, Gertrude," answered Colonel Delmour, warmly."How can you imagine I can endure the sight of a man who, knowing the terms we are upon, yet presuming upon the encouragement you give him, dares to love you, and is, at this moment, planning to undermine me in your affections ?— By Heaven, I think I am but too patient !"

"Lyndsay love me !" exclaimed the Countess ; "what a fancy!" but, at the same moment, a confused crowd of half-formed, half-forgotten thoughts rushed upon her mind, and raised a blush on her cheek, which did not escape Delmour's notice.

"Yes, in his own cold-blooded, methodistical way, not in the way I love you to madness-to idolatry:—his existence, his soul are not bound

up

in you as mine are; but he would supplant me if he could."

"His love must, indeed, be of a different nature from yours," said Lady Rossville, trying to laugh away Colonel Delmour's roused passion,

"for he has scarcely ever said a civil thing to me, and as for a compliment, I have sometimes tried whether I could not extort one from him, but never have succeeded. Nay, don't frown so, Delmour-if Lyndsay does not flatter, at least he never frowns.”

This remark did not dispel the cloud from her lover's brow; on the contrary, he bit his lip, as if to repress the rising of his anger: after a few moments he said, in a subdued voice," I have never flattered you, if by flattering you mean insincerity; but I had flattered myself that you had been above practising those paltry arts, by which so many women seek to enhance their value. I flattered myself, Gertrude, that you had been superior to coquetry; but when I see you encouraging the attentions of one, who presumes to love you, even in the face of him to whom you have given your vows-one, too, whom you must know to be my enemy, can you wonder that I am sometimes driven to hate him, and almost to doubt whether you really love me ?"

"Unjust, unkind!" said Lady Rossville, turning from him in displeasure.

"No, Gertrude, 'tis you who are unjust, un

kind; my heart is solely yours; its every thought and wish centre in you; but it must have yours -yours wholly and undivided in return; less will not satisfy love such as mine."

Lady Rossville remained silent, and Colonel Delmour's agitation increased.

"I see how it is," cried he, passionately; "his artful insinuations have prevailed;-but he shall answer for this."

Gertrude laid her hand upon his arm, while tears burst from her eyes.

"Ah! Delmour, if you love me as you say you do, why do you thus grieve me?—I would not for worlds willingly afflict you!"

66

"But you do," interrupted he; you torture me to agony, and when I dare to complain, you reproach me."

"Tell me what it is you require of me, since all I have done and suffered for your sake is insufficient."

"All that I require of you, Gertrude, is, that you will not at least ask me to become the bosomfriend of one who, I know, seeks to undermine me in your affections-I cannot be the friend of a hypocrite."

"Edward a hypocrite!-Ah! Delmour, how your passion misleads you !-He is all truth and openness he is, indeed" then, after a pause, "When I look back a few months, and think of the state of incertitude I was then in as to your faith and constancy-when at times my own was almost shaken by my doubts-at such a time had Lyndsay been what you suppose, had he sought to ingratiate himself with me-I do not knowI cannot tell-perhaps he might have gained an influence over me. But, indeed, he never tried, he never spoke to me as a lover; but, on every occasion, he proved himself my friend,—as such I must always consider him.-Do not, then, dear Delmour, embitter my peace with any of those idle jealousies; the time is past," added she, with a smile," for Lyndsay to think of loving

me now."

"But he does love you, Gertrude—I read it in the agitation he betrayed upon my arrival—he guessed his schemes would then be frustratedhe knew that I detested all underhand plots, and would come boldly forward, and bring matters to an issue. I did so you have promised to be mine he knows you have, and yet he would sup