many weeks. He was now at liberty, and begged permission to meet her at Clarens Court, and in hastening there the first moment of his freedom from duty, he ventured to hope that his long absence would be excused."

Poor Mrs de Romelie! The blow long dreaded-the blow long suspended over her-now fell heavily on her heart-and she would have sacrificed much to prevent the intended visit.

She imagined many objections to the visit of the Mortimers just then, and endeavoured to persuade her husband that the visit might be postponed on good grounds, and that even yet, perhaps, the affair could be prevented from making farther progress.

Holding the unwelcome letter in her hand, after her husband had returned it, she stood, pale and dejected, beside him. There was a silence of a few moments, and she hoped that he was framing a plausible excuse for not receiving the Mortimers.

Well, my dear, what answer shall I write?" said she, carefully closing the door.

"There is but one answer to be made,-that we shall be glad to see them here."

"I shall say what is far, far from the truth ;-no, I cannot be glad to see Colonel Mortimer here, coming, as I know he is, to take my dear child—or, at least, to secure his prize!"

"This is weakness, my dear, You would say the same in regard to any person who was to deprive us of this dear little girl;-and yet, surely-surely you would not insist on her remaining unmarried all her life!"

"No; I certainly should not insist on any such thing; but I am convinced she is just as happy unmarried, as it is possible to be certainly more so than she will be-with Colonel Mortimer."

Probably she would not agree with you in any part of that statement. But, seriously, my dear wife, why have you such an unjust dislike to this man? It is not like you to feel so harshly towards any one. I thought Miss Talbot had removed your prejudices—and in truth I think our Constance fortunate; he is cultivated, handsome, rich, and brave, and gentlemanlike. What is your objection?"

"I have an instinctive dislike of him, which revives again and again after I have tried to suppress it. I know he is

supercilious. I see in his countenance that he is a tyrantyes, remember I have said it-Colonel Mortimer is a tyrant. Besides, we know that he has already shewed himself inconsistent, and I have doubts of his temper."

"But you forget that Miss Talbot exonerates him from all blame that she urged you to forget all that you had heard of her history from some idle gossip, who loved talking more than justice !"

"Oh, as to poor Miss Talbot, all she says is very gentle, and mild, and generous; but it does not in the least exonerate him from the real fact of inconstancy to her. If he should hereafter forsake my child! He is so unsteady-so"

"But, after all, my dear, if every young man were to be forced to adhere rigorously to his first foolish fancy, what miseries might be the consequence! Now, just suppose my nephew were to attach himself to Miss Williams, our good vicar's daughter, what would you say hereafter about constancy? Some ten or twenty years hence, when he might be able to settle, would you insist on his marrying a woman old enough to be his grandmother, because he had promised it when a foolish boy? She looks much older than you, my love, even now."

"I ought at least to insist on it," said Mrs de Romelie, smiling at her husband's compliment, "though I might perhaps be wicked enough not to do so. But at all events there was not the same disparity;-Miss Talbot is still quite a young woman, comparatively; and as to Colonel Mortimer, he is a vast deal older than poor Constance !-there is no excuse to be made for him-there is nothing to be said, but that he became tired of loving Miss Talbot, and, I dare say, has had many loves since."

"I think we shall only waste our time in such mere surmise, my dear; would it not be better to write your letter, as it must be done at last?"

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Yes, I will go and write; but, after all, perhaps my daughter would like to postpone the visit. Her spirits are not very good; do you not think Constance would like a little delay?"

"Consult her," said Mr de Romelie, laughing at his wife's simplicity; "you can scarcely doubt her answer. You know that her choice is made; she thinks it for her happiness. They love each other; let us see them happy together."

"But can my Constance be happy with Colonel Mortimer ?"

"She thinks so, and we have really no reason to think otherwise. There is no rational objection to Mortimer; let us not embitter whatever happiness may be her lot, by unreasonable dissatisfaction on our part; and if it be the will of God that she is not happy when Mortimer's wife, oh! let not her misery be increased by the pain of having displeased you ;

'Tis approbation strikes the string of joy!'

Your approbation has hitherto encouraged, or rewarded, her actions; let us not change now, my love; and where, after all, could you find a perfect husband for Constance ?"

"Albert Neville. His temper was so equable-so yielding and kind; I have seldom seen so engaging a young man-he was the mildest, most amiable young man

"Well, he might have suited you, though I am sure he is very unlike me; but you see he did not suit Constance's fancy. Come, my dearest wife, we have thought and acted in unison during the happy-the many blessed years we have lived together; let us not disagree now, on the most important event of our daughter's life. Trust to my knowledge of mankind-trust to me, my love. The Mortimers must come: let us do our part well, and with kindness."

"So we are actually entering the Vale of Usk," said Camilla to her mother, as they descended the hill down which the road wound into the vale. "I began to fear we should never pay this visit. Constance has often described this scenery to me, and made me so wish to see it; but, after all, I cannot think it equal to Pool Basset."

"That is a very rational partiality to the place where you have passed a happy youth; but now, Camilla, you must try to love it less. After Ferdinand is married, I shall not

continue to reside there."

"Dear mamma, I know that Ferdinand wishes above all things that we should stay with them; how much you will disappoint him! and, besides, Constance loves us so much, I am sure she wishes it-and we love her, and should be so happy with dear, charming, nice Constance !"

"Probably we should be very happy with her; she is everything I could wish as a daughter, and most undoubtedly, were I to relinquish my own independence, I would reside with my son; but I assure you, my possessing a home will not diminish our attachment; on the contrary, a prudent degree of separation often preserves it. As a guest, you are warmly welcomed, and the hurry of business, or the languor of idleness, is dispersed by the joy of your arrival. But when you are set down together without idea of change, the enthusiasm of affection quickly subsides; and, instead of a mutual sacrifice of peculiarities, or petty interests, there is often a want of unanimity about trifles or

opinions, or a daily discontent about the most insignificant whims or wishes; which, alas! but too frequently cloud the happiness, of which, on a distant view, we have formed a high and captivating idea."

"But you have always loved Pool Basset so much, and have lived there such a number of years, that it must be a severe trial, mamma, to leave it."

"Not by any means so severe a trial as being unhappy in my son's house would be-not that I would imply the least doubt of the amiable disposition of our dear Constance-but I know what human nature is, and how frequently trifles blight our fairest hopes."

"And you have been mistress at Pool Basset so long!"

"Yes, that is another strong argument for my removal. Habit, which is unchangeable amongst the lower orders, would cause them still to refer to me as their mistress. Ferdinand would, I know, be well pleased it should be so, but it would be very injurious to his disposition. After we lost your two elder brothers, your dear father's spirits sunk so much that he became almost indifferent about Pool Basset. He imagined there was no hope that Ferdinand could ever return to enjoy it. I was therefore forced to exert myself for the improvement of the place, for the one dear son that remained, and thus became the chief director of all that was done there; I should be still considered so, if residing at Pool Basset ; for this reason, it appears wiser and kinder to withdraw."

"I wonder whether Ferdinand will find much to do there; it seems to me, mamma, to be perfect in beauty and neatness." "So much the worse for Ferdinand: I dread inactivity for him. He has led such an active life, so full of enterprise and of vicissitude, that the effect of ennui might be injurious to him. He has been so much occupied by great objects, that he will find it difficult to bend his mind to the affairs of common life, however important they may be. His father's health was first undermined by indolence, but that was caused by affliction, which is, I hope, far from Ferdinand. He very like your father in many respects, but he has not the same placid temper; I hope idleness may not injure it."

is

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My dear mamma! Ferdinand's temper is a most delightful one. How well he has always borne the provocations I have given him, and many they were, with the most enduring patience!"