THE MINIATURE PICTURE:

OR LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

PART II.

'His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles;
His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate;
His tears, pure messengers sent from the heart;
His heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth.'

Two Gentlemen of Verona.

ONE afternoon as they were all sitting together, Edmund reading a book of philosophy to Dr Seabrooke and his daughter, Thomas entered and presented his master with a letter which he announced as bearing the Cavan postmark. He looked at it for a moment, and then, as if it required a desperate effort to do so, broke the seal. Dr Seabrooke could not avoid observing the conduct of Hartley. He was for a few moments greatly agitated. At length, when he had read the letter through, he crushed it in his hand, thrust it rather haughtily into his pocket, and, with a half disdainful smile, but a determined expression of countenance, said aloud, forgetful of the presence of the Rector and his daughter, The tie is broken, my resolution is made, no power on earth shall shake me from my purpose.'

Alicia stole unperceived from the apartment, and followed by the sympathizing Banquo, went to the grotto on the banks of Lough Ern, and there seated herself in tearless sorrow. Banquo placed his head upon her lap fawningly, as if to ask her to caress him.

'Alas!' said she mentally, 'poor Edmund! he too is unfortunate in the object of his choice. I do pity him, and I pity myself.'-'O! love, love,' said she aloud, ' what a tyrant thou art.'

At this instant a rustling among the shrubbery and seared leaves, caused her to look up and Fitzclare stood before her.

'Mr Hartley!' said she in great surprise.

'I will retire, Miss Seabrooke, if my presence of fend you.'

'Oh no!' said she, 'you mistake me. I was at that moment thinking; that is,' said she, blushing and hesitating, 'I was just thinking that-that-,' and here she was so overwhelmed with the confusion of her thoughts, that she was about to rush from the grotto.

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Stay, Alicia,' said Fitzclare, in an imploring tone of voice, stay one moment longer. I have something I wish to say to you;' and taking her hand respectfully he requested her to be reseated. Without knowing what she did, Alicia obeyed.

'I want your advice, Miss Seabrooke,'

My advice?' said the astonished Alicia.

'Yes,' replied he, 'on a subject, at least to myself, one of deep and intense interest.'

'I will inform you as briefly as possible, as I have no right to intrude upon your time.'

Alicia bowed, and the better to conceal her emotion, bent her head and fixed her eyes upon the earth.

'You must know,' continued Fitzclare, 'I have long been ardently and devotedly attached to one whom I consider as little lower than the angels.' Here'a convulsive tremor shook Alicia's frame. 'My father will not permit me to declare my attachment to the object of my fondest and most inviolable regard, and unless I can persuade her to be mine without his consent, I am a lost and unhappy being for the rest of my days. Advise me, Miss Seabrooke, what line of conduct I ought to pursue under these circumstances.'

'Cruel Edmund!' thought Alicia, and for a moment she remained perfectly silent. At length her maiden pride and modesty came to her assistance, on hearing him thus openly declare his love for another, and summoning all her courage to her aid, she said, 'Surely, Mr Hartley, you cannot wish me to recommend disobedience to the will of a parent; me, who have had it impressed early on my mind that an ungrateful or disobedient child is a monster! Besides, Mr Hartley, does not the divine gospel you preach inculcate the duty of filial obedience?'

'Oh! most assuredly it does, my fair monitress. But there is no rule without an exception, and such I consider my own situation. If your heart, Alicia, had ever endured the pangs of a hopeless passion, you could not reason thus coolly.'

She sighed deeply. Alas!' said she, and then

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checked herself, continuing mentally, 'I am glad, however, that you do not think I love you.'

'My father,' resumed Edmund, is totally unlike yours. Mine would at any moment sacrifice me on the altar of the deity he worships, let it be Lucifer or Moloch.'

Is the lady you are attached to worthy of you?' 'O! yes, in every respect more than worthy of me. She is my earthly idol.'

'Does she return your affection?' said the timid girl.

Fitzclare hesitated a moment how to answer this question and then said, 'She does not hate me.'

And is that all!' exclaimed Alicia, in utter astonishment.

'I think,' said Edmund, she has a sentiment of friendship for me, and I know she has no attachment elsewhere. If therefore I had permission to address her, I think that perhaps, by unwearied and devoted attention, I might in time persuade her to listen to my suit.' 'I do not doubt it,' said Alicia feelingly; she could not be so very cruel as to reject you.'

'Cruel!' said Fitzclare' she is any thing but cruel; she is fair, lovely, amiable, in short, I have never in my life seen her superior, not even in yourself, Miss Seabrooke.'

For the first time in her life, Alicia felt a pang of envy shoot through her guileless bosom. 'Happy girl,' thought she, 'to be thus beloved, and by Edmund too!'

'I have a miniature picture of her here,' said he,

drawing it from his bosom; should you not like to look at it.'

'Yes,' replied the distressed maiden, and she struggled hard for resolution to gaze upon the heartrending sight. She turned slowly and fearfully to look at the picture of her rival, uttered a faint shriek, and fell insensible upon the shoulder of Fitzclare.

It was a resemblance of herself, taken by stealth just as he had first seen her, with her straw cottage bonnet, and patting the head of dear old Banquo!' He caught her in his arms, and ran towards the lake, followed by the faithful dog, who showed signs as if he understood his mistress's danger. Having sprinkled her face with water, Edmund had the happiness to see her speedily restored.

'How do you feel, my beloved Alicia ?'

'Better,' said she, turning her languid eyes upon him. 'O! Edmund, kind, yet cruel Edmund, how could you be so--'

Unfeeling, you would say; forgive me, my dear girl; pardon me this unkind trial of your feelings, and the rest of my life shall be devoted to the atonement of my fault.'

He raised her from the ground, supported her back to the grotto, and seating himself by her side, again implored her forgiveness.

Speak, dearest Alicia; say you pardon me, or I shall not speedily forgive myself.'

"I do, I do. Speak not of it again;' and, as a token of that and her love, she held out her hand, which Fitzclare pressed with tenderness to his lips.