humour; and by the time it was ended, he had almost forgot the origin of his elocution. Gertrude remained silent, struggling with contending feelings. On the one hand, was the fear of betraying her secret predilection for Colonel Delmour ;-on the other, her scorn and detestation of everything resembling duplicity and deceit. At length, her natural love of truth and candour prevailed, and, mustering courage, she said—

dear

"Much as it pains me to oppose you, my uncle, yet I should be still more unworthy of your affection, were I to leave you in an error :-Forgive me"-she paused-her heart throbbed, and her colour rose- forgive me, I will not deceive you. I cannot sanction the engagement you have formed for me-I never can be the wife of Mr Delmour."

This was something so far beyond what Lord Rossville could have anticipated, that it was some time ere the fact could find admittance to his brain, choked up as it always was with his own notions. While the process of conviction was carrying on, he, therefore, sat as if petrified. At length, the light began to penetrate the dim opaque of his understanding-but his Lordship had, as

usual, recourse to other people's words till he could muster his own forces.

"Never can be the wife of Mr Delmour!" repeated he, in the tone of one who was not quite sure whether he were asleep or awake-" Not sanction the engagement I have formed for you! What-what, in the name of Heaven, am I to understand from such language, Miss St Clair ?"

The understanding seemed so perfectly obvious, that Gertrude felt much at a loss how to make it clearer. The question was again repeated.

"Excuse me, my Lord, but Mr Delmour is not the person I-but, indeed, I do not know how to express myself in a manner less likely to offend. I would say, that I wish to be left free, that I might be allowed to choose in so import

ant

"You wish to be left free!You wish to be allowed to choose in so important!-hem!Really, Miss St Clair, I am too much astonished at the-the-the-the-the-the-what shall I call it? the unwarrantable levity of such a proposal, to answer it as it ought. You wish to be left free to choose! and that in a point of such

vast-such vital importance !-Are you aware in what capacity it is that a suitable alliance is formed for you?-That it is not as Miss St Clair, daughter of the Honourable Thomas St Clairbut as niece to the Earl of Rossville, and presumptive heiress to the title and estates thereof; with the exception of the Barony of Larchdale, which, by deed of entail of Alexander, first Earl of Rossville, devolves upon the heirs-male of the family; and, therefore, it is to consolidate these properties, that they may be again reunited in the persons of your mutual heir or heirs,—an arrangement which has Mr Delmour's entire approbation. I say, that, under these circumstances, there is not-there cannot be, a choice in the matter;-but, indeed, I am very much at a loss to know what to understand by such an expression. I certainly have not been accustomed to hear of young ladies of family, and fortune, and distinction, choosing for themselves in their matrimonial course. I can only say, for my own part, I-I-had no choice." Gertrude could scarcely restrain a smile at hearing Lord Rossville quote himself as a pattern to be followed, instead of a rock to be shunned;-but such is the

blindness of human nature, we are all but too apt to hold ourselves up as guides, when we ought to be satisfied to serve as beacons.

"Allowed to choose !-I-I-and pray, Miss St Clair, supposing, for one moment, it was so— where, I ask-where would you-where could you find such another gentleman as Mr Delmour -a gentleman of birth and fashion-of fine address of appearance-of accomplishments-possessing a first-rate understanding, of which he has already given undoubted proofs to the world, by having been appointed one of the Financial Committee, which, for so young a man, I consider as a very distinguished mark of pre-eminence? But who, notwithstanding all those advantages, submits himself, in this case, solely to my guidance and management; I ask again, where could you find such another perfect gentleman ?"

66

"I acknowledge Mr Delmour's good qualities, my Lord-so far as I can pretend to judge of them upon so slight an acquaintance," answered Gertrude, hesitatingly; "but-pray forgive me, if I still repeat, that I must be allowed to consider myself as perfectly disengaged."

"Miss St Clair," cried the Earl, now absolutely gasping—“ I can only say, that—that if you persist-if you presume to report yourself throughout the county as-as-as disengaged--I—" the pulse of life seemed to stand still, and “nature made a pause, an awful pause, prophetic of its end."-The clenched hand was slowly uplifted -then descended with a weight that shook the table," I cannot answer for the consequences !" This is a threat which always forms a happy climax to an argument from its vagueness, and consequently its sublimity.

At that moment the party in question entered -his hands full of open letters, and with an air of bustle and business, not at all calculated to fascinate a romantic imagination such as Gertrude's. He was beginning some rather formal and complimentary apology for his interruption, when she rose, and in some confusion stammered out a few words in reply, then bowing to the Earl, was retiring, when Mr Delmour begged to know whether she had any friends in the western extremity of the county, as he was afraid he should be under the necessity of setting off for that quarter imme