"But the whole country," said he, "together with the freedom of life which it affords, are such as make most other modes of living contemptible."

De Vere looked at Wentworth, as much as to say he had at last found the man he was in quest of; and the mental employment of both, in applying the scene before them to the subject of their late conversations, produced pensiveness more remarkable from the alacrity and feeling of Mr. Rivers, in every thing he said and did.

His eye, indeed, was generally "in a fine phrensy rolling," which could scarcely escape the most obtuse observer. It certainly was not unheeded by either Wentworth or De Vere, to whom he became more and more a subject of examination. Of this, however, he was wholly unconscious; though, had he been the reverse, it would probably have made no difference; so much did he seem to throw his heart, or at least his imagination, into whatever subject he was upon.

In their walk to the town of St. Sauveur, Wentworth ventured to ask him, if he preferred these mountains to his own country; and if he were not curious to know what was passing there.

"Why, yes!" said Mr. Rivers; " though I have not been in England for some years, I am

still, and ever shall be, an Englishman. I love the soil, and the people; though they are slow, and not easily kindled to enjoy that taste for natural pleasures, which God has given to all of us, if we knew how to use it."

De Vere watched him, and was struck with the vivacity with which he said this. The contrast, too, between the vehemence of Mr. Rivers's manner, and the silent sensibility of his wife, did not escape observation. She seemed to hang on all her husband said, with a pleasure not the less visible, because not expressed in language. It had "an understanding but no tongue." In truth both Wentworth and De Vere were struck with the speaking expression of her countenance, and the elegant tourneur of her shape and mien, which forcibly, and with mixed feelings of melancholy and pleasure, reminded De Vere of one who was, under every speculation, seldom out of his thoughts.

"I would give something," whispered De Vere, "to know this man's history."

"We may, perhaps, obtain it in time," replied Wentworth. "Wilmot, you know, prescribed desultory loitering wherever we chose ; and I never felt so disposed to loiter."

In fact, the travellers were soon established

at the hotel magnifique of the French serjeant at Lourde, which was, in truth, a comfortable house. Mr. and Mrs. Rivers shewed them all attentions; and both Wentworth and De Vere, while studying the characters of their new acquaintance, forgot their late speculations on ambition, and even ambition itself, for many days.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE MAN OF IMAGINATION TELLS HIS STORY.

Never did young man fancy

With so eternal and so fixed a soul.

SHAKSPEARE.

THERE is no intimacy which grows so quickly as that contracted by fellow countrymen in a stranger land. Mr. Rivers soon found out, without being dazzled by it, the quality of Wentworth, with whose reputation he was familiar, and the high blood and connections of De Vere, with whose accomplishments and opinions he was much struck.

On the other hand, it was discovered, that Mr. Rivers had himself once been intended for public life; and was actually well known to the world as the author of some beautiful sonnets, which had charmed many readers. This awakened the curiosity of the travellers still

more; and as he was of a free, warm, imparting disposition, in a few days they obtained from him the history they wanted; if that can be called history, which relates rather to the workings of a strong imagination than to any activity or usefulness of life.

It was brought about one evening, after Mrs. Rivers had retired from the supper-table. Wentworth having learned that Mr. Rivers was the kinsman of a person of consequence in a former administration, under whom he had actually been initiated in business, expressed his astonishment that he had not continued to pursue that

career.

De Vere expressed no astonishment, but was, if possible, more earnest than Wentworth himself to know what had induced the change. The French and the English friends who had been of his party, when the travellers first met them, were also of this, and added their wishes to know something of a story which they concluded could not be without interest, though it might be without adventures.

Won by these united intreaties, Mr. Rivers complied, and thus continued the conversation which led to it :

"I have told you that I have not what is called