like, and what wasn't nat'ral to her disposition;" after which she went to sleep and passed a pretty comfortable night. On the following morning, about half an hour after a bill had been attached, by four red wafers, to the parlour window, announcing that there was "a second floor to let," a handsome carriage stopped at the door, out of which stepped a portly, middle-aged man, who inquired if Mr. or Mrs. Rivers were at home. 66 "They be gone from here," replied Harriett. They went away yesterday, and we don't know where they be gone; but, may be, we may find out, when they send for their boxes." CHAPTER XIX. "Non simul cuiquam conceditur, amare et sapere." "So like the chances are in love and war, "Je ne cherche qu'un." MOTTO OF THE EARL OF NORTHAMPTON. POOR Peggy Bland! How happy she felt when she awoke the morning after her last conversation with William! Not that she deceived herself, or believed for a moment that William's kindness had been prompted by love. She well understood that he had no love for her. He had repeatedly told her so-a very needless exercise of ungracious cruelty, because women who are in love themselves, are always quick enough to discern whether or not their attachment is returned, and are invariably more disposed to doubt affection, where it exists, than to imagine it where it does not. Vanity flatters and deceives itselfa real and devoted affection never. Vanity "puffeth itself up, and is proud"-true love is humble, even to the dust. It is a worshipper, and delights in abasing itself to exalt its idol. But men understand women so little, that they neither know how to feel for them, nor to deal with them; and, as women are bound by laws which they have not made, neither to explain nor to complain, but are condemned to suffer, to sigh, to weep, to pine, and to die, in silence, men will never be any wiser; nor will they ever learn, to the end of the chapter, the respect that is due to a real, devoted, irresistible, unbought affection-unbought because unsought, nor will they ever be able to distinguish betwixt the genuine love and the counterfeit the love that loves the man, and the love that loves his flatteries and his courtship; but will go on, to the end, preferring the last, because it has cost them the most trouble to attain. But to resume: Peggy, whose condition and mode of life had not taught her the restraints which a higher station imposes, knew William did not love her, not only because he had told her so, but also because an unerring instinct had told her so, and because she knew that he loved another. Nevertheless, she awoke happy and grateful-happy, that at last he had seemed to understand her affection, and to pity, though he could not return it; and grateful for the kind and gentle words he had spoken. The coldness and scorn with which he had treated her had long made her miserable, and kept her in a constant state of irritation. Sometimes, urged by the pangs he inflicted, she assailed him with complaints, which he only answered by questioning her right to complain, and reiterating that he did not love her, and had never led her to suppose he did-truths which she admitted without reserve; but without softening his heart by the admission, for he had no pity for a love he did not participate. Then, indignant at his unprovoked unkindness and want of feeling, she would make up her mind to love him no more at least, never to let him see that she did; she would appear cheerful and indifferent, return coldness for coldness, and scorn for scorn. But, alas, the love was stronger than the resolution! and, some day, when she least intended it, an unusually frigid salutation, or ungracious answer, would shatter her little fortification with a breath, the pent up tears would burst forth, and she was at his feet again, a humble supplicant for a little mercy-a little pity-a little forbearance. This had been the course of poor Peggy's life and suffering, for a considerable time-such was the cross she had to bear, without sympathy and without aid; and a heavy cross it was. But now William would help her to bear it; instead of aggravating her troubles, he would soothe them. She did not want much to live on-a kind word, now and then, or a pitying smile; to be permitted to love him, and to have her adoration and her homage gently and graciously accepted, was all she asked. It was not much, and it seemed hard that so little should have been so long withheld; but she was ready to forget all the past, the future was to be so happy. She would be his friend his sympathizing and consoling friend. His mistress was either faithless or indifferent how strange that appeared to Peggy! She would have been more or less than a wo |