from him-but then, he never had gone about the bush all his life, and he was rather at a loss how to set about it now. Before he could make up his mind, therefore, the time came for adjourning to the drawing-room; but, instead of repairing there, uncle Adam stole away to his own apartment, to try whether another chapter would not set the matter at rest.

CHAPTER XXXV.

But, all in vain, I bolt my sentences.

EURIPIDES.

MRS ST CLAIR's generalship was exerted so successfully throughout the evening, that, without any apparent design, the lovers were effectually precluded from exchanging words with each other, except in the way of common conversation. But this could not always continue; she felt she had committed herself with her daughter, and must now either act with decision and authority, or give up the attempt altogether. The first would be a dangerous experiment with one of the Countess's high spirit, and the other was too galling an alternative to be voluntarily embraced. Sooner or later, she saw it must end in guardians

being appointed for her daughter, and she, therefore, determined to put the best face she could upon it, and be the first to propose the measure herself; not without hopes that, while she thus appeared to throw up the reins, she might at the same time be enabled the more effectually to strengthen her own hands. When the party broke up for the night, she took Lady Rossville's arm and led her to her own dressing-room, when, dismissing her attendant, she thus began:"Gertrude, as this is perhaps the last time I may have an opportunity of addressing you under your own roof

"Oh, mama!" exclaimed the Countess, seizing her mother's hand, "do not, I beseech you, do not recur to what has passed on that subject! This house is yours-you must not leave it—I will not leave you"

"Gertrude, be calm, and hear me"

"No, mama, first hear me declare, that all remonstrance will prove unavailing-that no carthly consideration ever can change my resolutionI will not renounce my own free choice."

Lady Rossville spoke slowly, and she pronoun

ced the last words in a manner which showed that opposition would indeed be vain.

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My object is not to contend with you, Gertrude," said her mother, with a sigh; "for I am fully aware how little influence I now possess over you; but my wish is to see you placed under the protection and guardianship of those, who, if they want a mother's love, may soon possess more than a mother's influence.-Say who it is that you would choose for your guardian."

"I choose you, mama, for one, and my cousin. Lyndsay for another-if a third is necessary, do you and he appoint whom you please."

Mrs St Clair was thunderstruck at the promptitude and decision of this answer, and she could only repeat, in a tone of amazement—

"Mr Lyndsay your guardian! What an idea!"

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Surely there is nothing wrong in it, mama? -and who else could I name ?"

"It certainly is not customary to choose so very young a man for such an office."

"But Mr Lyndsay knows how I am situated -I consider myself as having been repeatedly obliged to him beyond the possibility of my ever repaying him; and although on one point we cer

tainly differ,”—Gertrude blushed as she spoke"yet that does not prevent my doing justice to his general character. I respect and esteem him as my friend-as the person who has twice saved me from insult, once from destruction; and I would fain prove to him, in perhaps the only way I may ever have in my power, the reliance I have on him, by placing myself under his control. After the scenes he has witnessed, I owe to myself to make Edward Lyndsay my guardian.”

Mrs St Clair was silent for some time, while, in her own mind, she balanced the pros and cons of this measure. In the first place, she disliked the thought of having to deal with a person of Edward Lyndsay's acute understanding, unbending principle, and high standard of rectitudeone who, besides, already knew too much of her private concerns, and, consequently, could not be impressed with a very favourable idea of her character. But, to balance these drawbacks, he was evidently no friend to Colonel Delmour, and she thought she might safely calculate on his assistance to further any scheme to preserve Gertrude from becoming the dupe of his artifices. She was aware that he took more than a common