for I found out, no matter how, as there has been un premier amour between him and you know who; and, as you are his second, you could not stop. Nothing else could do. We was on very uncertain ground, Major. If I had wounded him instead of me, and he been here like meBah! I believe truly as he should have gained the preference after all. She is so bizarre! What think you of her playing the part of a sister of charity? Ha, ha! You see I was so very dan gerous ill, and like to lose my life, which I hazarded on her account; so she must be interested, and I send her word, as I am content if I can but see her once before I die. She come directly, and when I see the tears in her eyes, as she sat at my bedside, I take her hand and press it. Bah! you may guess what pass then; and after, as we are under the same roof, (ah! that was

the master-stroke!) she come again and again, and sat with my hand in hers during some hours. And we are not silent all that time, je vous en repond, Major, particularly as I got worse and worse-andat last, father Isidore, a bijou of a padre, who comprehend me as well as the medico, came one night with the viaticum; and all that night she remained at my bedside till the morning, when the old people find it out, and papa played "le dicble à quatre." Ha, ha! He was too late! They forbid her to come again, but 'tis no use. She is entêtée, and come nevertheless, which soon made the crisis of my danger go by; and then the old people themselves are glad to come to, as it is gone too far for retreat, as all the world in this great hotel know every thing, and there is some other English families as will take the news home if they refuse their consent."

"My poor dear mother never got the better of it, I fear!" said the Comtesse de Marberg; "she had been very unwell for some time previous. She lived only three months after my unfortunate marriage. It is now as many years since that event, and you are the first bosom friend to whom I have ventured to confide the secret of my griefs. We were children and playfellows together, Mary. Our prospects were the same, but how different has been our lot! You are returning to happy England, to the society of old friends, and your own quiet, domestic home. For me there is no such place-none! and the only chance of our being at all settled, even for a time, is the Comte's obtaining some diplomatic situation, which, with his habits, is scarcely probable. In the mean while, we are wanderers upon the face of the earth, going from one gay place to another, living in the strangest manner, I know not how, and endeavour not to think, for I have every reason to suppose that my little fortune has been dissipated long since. And then the strange, coarse people of both sexes with whom I am obliged sometimes to associate!" "We married women cannot always choose our own society," observed Mrs Lea, hardly knowing in what way to comfort her once almost inseparable friend, "nor indeed can the men, particularly at such places as this. No doubt,

the Comte has his motives for associating with such persons as you allude to: with some from family connexions, and, as he is seeking a diplomatic office, with others, perhaps, from interested motives."

"Ah! Mary, you are but too correct!" sighed the Comtesse.

"Well, then, Jane, let us hope he will be successful. I assure you that my goodman thinks highly of the Comte's talents, and has expressed regret that they should be wasted in the frivolous sort of life that people lead here. If his time were but usefully employed, he would find relaxation at home, instead of seeking it elsewhere from mere ennui. Nay, do not shake your head, and look so incredulous! He would, indeed, Jane; and your kind attentions would then be appreciated, and your purity of mind would form a contrast that must ".

"Oh, spare me!" exclaimed the Comtesse," I cannot bear to hear you talk so. You know not what you say. But, tell me, is Mr Lea intimate with the Comte? I have not been out much lately, and acquaintances are formed here so suddenly; besides, he never mentioned his name before me. Tell me, do they play together?'

"If you mean gambling, my dear, certainly not. My husband has an utter detestation of every thing of the

sort; but they have passed an hour or so together latterly at écarte."

"Ah! I thought so! He must not do so again. Warn him, but do not let him know who told you. Tell him never to play with the Comte again, particularly if I should be present, or else I cannot say more. Oh, Mary Mary! do not despise me! I cannot help myself. I have told you much-but, if you knew all! Shocked as Mrs Lea was, she had sufficient presence of mind to pass unnoticed the scarcely equivocal confession of the gamester's wife, and referring to her last words, replied, "I shall often think of you when absent, Jane, and of what you have told me; but we must never abandon hope, and if the Comte can but obtain his appointment, I don't despair. Idle folks are always getting into mischief. There's my goodman, for instance, because he has nothing to occupy his time here, seems to have taken it into his simple head that he understands écarte, and so must needs try his luck with an experienced player, as I suppose you mean to say the Comte is; so, of course, I shall lecture him on the subject, and really feel greatly obliged to you for your friendly warning."

"Hush!" exclaimed the Comtesse, "that is his voice! He is angry at something, I know by his tone. Let us talk of something else-anything! You said you were going to see the castle at Eberstein, I think. Do seem cheerful!"

There was a scowl on the brow of Comte Henri de Marberg as he opened the door; but it disappeared the moment he beheld his wife's visiter; and during her stay he endeavoured to make himself particularly agreeable an endeavour in which he was seldom unsuccessful.

"Accept my thanks for kind your attention to my dear Jane," said he, when Mrs Lea was about to take leave; "she is sadly too much alone. I often urge her to mix more in society, particularly as your country families are so many here; but I cannot persuade her as I would, and I fear she is very dull at sometimes, though her amiable disposition is such as she always says it is not so."

Having dismissed their visiter, the Comte strode back to the table, and throwing down a letter, said, in an angry tone,

"There! Read that! It's from your father-a cursed old miser! He refuses a paltry single thousandcurse him! What for do you sit gaping there, like a fool? Can't you take and read?-Eh?" and he threw himself upon a sofa, and, uttering low imprecations, scowled upon his wife as she tremblingly unfolded, and, with tearful eyes, ran over the contents of the letter; and, when she had finished, looked up imploringly, and murmured,

"I am very sorry-but what more can I do, Henri ?"

"What more? Why, write again, and again, and again! I will have it. Say as the wine crop is nothing; tell him as some tenant have failed; or as it must come and secure my appointment; or what you like. Bah!"

"But, listen, Henri! How can I say any thing about the appointment, when he insists upon knowing what it is, and you will not tell me?"

"Bah, you fool! You know as I know no more as yourself."

"And then your estate, Henri? This is the third time he has enquired where it is precisely, and I cannot tell him more than it is near the Rhine. He says it may be mortgaged, and money raised so. I don't understand such matters, but "

"Oh, you don't, don't you? But you understand them so well as I understand your fortune being in three per cent instead of sterling, what I expected. You could keep that back to deceive me when you would be Comtesse, and you must do something now."

"Indeed, indeed, Henri, I never meant to deceive you! You know I did not. All that I knew was that my aunt left me"

"Curse your aunt and all the fa

mily!"

"Oh, Henri! Could I ever have believed!"

"Well, well, then don't be a fool. Do as I tell you, and write and coax him. Come, come, don't cry like a child-so stupid. I don't mean no harm, only, besides this letter, I am provoked as I lost more than I intended with that lady's husband to-day, because there was somebody looking on as I am afraid knows too much; but I shall get my revenge to-morrow, when he will come here. You see I do all I can, and you must help and do something too."

Two elderly gentlemen were sitting over their wine in the dining-room of Hartwell Hall. In their earlier days they had spent many a social confidential evening together; but duty had called one to the East Indies, where he had resided many years, and this was his first visit to his friend since his return.

"I see you don't think much of my second choice, Cowdrey," said squire Hartwell.

"My dear fellow !" exclaimed Mr Cowdrey, "what can you mean? Surely I have not committed any breach of politeness, or failed in paying Mrs Hartwell proper attention at dinner?"

"No, no, not at all, my old friend. You East Indians cut us plain country gentlemen quite out in that respect; but I know, by your look and manner, a certain something that I can't describe, but which puts me in mind of old times, and I like you all the better for it. Come, speak out plainly, and tell me what you think of her.'

"In the old times you allude to, I might have been foolish enough to decide upon the character of a person at first sight; but since then, I have been deceived rather too often to venture such random shots. Moreover, if I had seen more of your good lady, methinks that my opinion would be of little importance. If you are happy and content, that's quite enough never mind what other people think." "Very true, very true, my good friend. That's the main thing; and after all, perhaps, I might have done worse, for I must say that she keeps all household matters in capital order, though, sometimes, she's a confounded deal too particular and straitlaced. That is, according to my fancy, for I always liked a cheerful house. I believe I was rather too much in a hurry; but I married her out of spite, and the end is answered, that's some comfort."

"Not the most amiable motive possible. How was that?"

"I remained a widower for three years, and, during that time, the scoundrel who married my daughter, spent or gambled away the whole of her fortune, and swindled me out of

The

five thousand pounds besides, under various pretences, all of which I at last found, on enquiry, were false. And that was not the worst. She had deceived me too. I thought I should have gone mad when I discovered that. Oh, Cowdrey! If you had but known her when we left England! She was all goodness and purity, and, though young, we considered her lot in life settled, as an attachment had sprung up between her and a young man who was all we could wish. Poor Edward Drayton! He has never held up his head like a man since! He took to the church afterward, and I had the pleasure of presenting him to a small living last autumn-a poor compensation! Ah! if Jane had but married him, how happily might we all have lived together here!-here, where our forefathers have lived for so many generations. But, to think that this fine estate would pass away at my death to a foreign swindler, was more than I could endure. idea haunted me continually. By night I was tormented with dreams of executions in the house, and sales by auction of every familiar object; and by day, especially at twilight, all the family portraits seemed to look at me imploringly, as though they tried to speak, and beseech me to save them from coming degradation. Then, if I rode out, or took my gun, or strove in any way to amuse myself in the open air, it was all the same. The woods, the river, the very ground beneath appeared to reproach me, and I fancied that the fine old trees, as their branches waved aloft, cast a darker shade around, and groaned as though the axe were already at work to hew them down to supply the wants of a gamester and a stranger. More than once I was tempted, since all must go, to turn gamester myself; for, in our unfortunate tour, I had been betrayed into that vice, and suffered some temporary inconvenience in consequence; but, luckily, I had then made a vow never to play for above a certain stake, or, I have frequently thought since, I might have given way to the temptation, for I was reckless, and longed for some strong excitement that might prevent me from thinking.

However, I did escape that danger, and then, to cut the matter short-for I fear that I am wearying you-I resolved to marry again, and marry I did, and have now a son and heir; and, between ourselves, it is more than probable that there may be a farther increase in our family. I allow Jane so much a-year, in quarterly payments, and have taken care that the same shall be continued after my death. I know that she is not what she was, and have great reason to suspect that I don't know all. Be that as it may, I shall never forget that I am her father, though, thank God! she is no longer my only child. No, no. There's a pretty fair chance now that the Hartwells will hold the property for another generation or two, at least. So I can look round me with comfort; and, though of course it's fancy, I can really imagine, at this moment, that yonder grim old cavalier in the corner has got his eye upon us, and looks as though he would like to step down from his frame and join us in a cheerful glass. Well, here's a bumper to your memory, old gallant heart and strong i' th'arm! He was at the battle of Worcester, and-but I won't get into family stories. I've tired your patience already, I fear; but I feel as

though a load were taken off my mind, by thus unbosoming myself to a trus ty old friend. I don't know when I have passed a half hour so agreeably."

Here a servant entered and aunounced that tea was ready, and thereby caused no small alteration in the worthy squire's countenance. He bit his lips for a second or two in silence then a flush o'erspread his cheeks-and then, as though conscious that his appearance was somewhat ludicrous, and it behoved him to assert his independence, he summoned resolution, just as the man had reached the door, to say, in an authoritative tone, "Tell your mistress!" There he stopped, and the footman stopped likewise. It was an awkward pause; but presently the squire resumed the same tone, and said, "Tell

tell Jones to bring us a bottle of the old old. He'll know what I mean.What do you stand gaping there for? Do as I tell you, sir!"

"That's always the way whenever I have any visiters," he continued, when the man was gone ; " but, now! with so old a friend! when we have not met for so many years! Hang me, if I will submit! It's hard indeed, if, in my own house, I may not be allowed to enjoy myself for once!"