temptuous smile, saying, “One would imagine, but with your talents and your natural elevation Virginia, that you were going to the North Pole, of character it is utterly impossible that you and had lost every friend in the world. You are old enough now to be a reasonable being, and should reflect on the extreme irrationality and absurdity of such conduct."

should be willing to return like the flowers of the field to the dust from which you sprung, without one trace to mark to the passer-by that you ever existed a mute, inglorious Milton' sleeping in This rebuke had a better effect on Virginia's the church-yard with all the strains of immortal spirits than any attempt at soothing her could song which were in your soul hushed in eterhave produced, for she was piqued and ashamed nal silence, without ever having been called forth at perceiving that Reginald so far from regarding to awaken the admiration of after ages, when her with the least spark of sympathy, thought your name should be pronounced." she was acting like a downright simpleton. She Charles looked earnestly at Reginald as he gave him her hand to assist her out of the car- uttered these words; with a kindling eye and a riage, attempted to swallow a few mouthfuls, glowing cheek he then replied; "I can underand listened with a tolerable appearance of com- stand these feelings, Reginald, I have experienced posure to a long lecture which Reginald deliver- them, but that time is past and it is as impossible ed on the many bad effects which arose from liv- that I should feel thus again as that my taste for ing at home so much as she had done. tops and kites should revive."

Reginald cast on his brother a look of mingled surprise and pity as he indignantly replied, "I shall regret your choice of a profession deeply indeed, Charles, if it should lead you to entertain sentiments so unnatural and so unworthy of a mind like yours, sentiments which so far from

They did not arrive at The Rectory until twilight, and Virginia could not have answered a single question as to the state of the roads, or as to any object in the country through which she had passed. It was impossible, however, to listen to Charles' affectionate welcome, feel the kindly pressure of his hand and his kiss upon raising us above the level of humanity degrade her cheek without some pleasurable emotion and then Mrs. Mason and the children were so glad to see her that her drooping spirits revived somewhat under these kindly influences.

us beneath it; sentiments such as these are suited only to miserable monks who, renouncing all the noble aims of existence, drag on a half life in the cloister and think they are thus rendering homage to God."

Charles, who understood perfectly the state of Virginia's feelings, forbore with the utmost deli- "My views of the destiny of man are even cacy to make any allusion which could call up more exalted than your own, Reginald. When painful trains of thought, and contrived with much skill and tact to lead the conversation to subjects of general interest, which he discussed with so much variety and playfulness as to call forth a few languid smiles from his sister.

we view ourselves as immortal souls passing swiftly through a probationary state to a world where we may hope to become higher, nobler, beings than our feeble imaginations can conceive, with what dignity and importance are even the Charles was surprised on the following morn-humblest actions of life invested, as parts of the ing as he was taking an early ramble over the preparatory course of discipline to which it is grounds, as was his wont, to hear Reginald's necessary we should be subjected, to fit us for voice wishing him good morning and to find him this glorious immortality. Compared with hopes at his side. and aims such as these how do the uncertain, un"What a noble view you have around you, just and mutable rewards of fame amongst our Charles, this place really has great capabilities of fellow mortals sink into insignificance !" being made a fine country seat, it is a pity- The radiant expression which lit up Charles' "That it is a Rectory," said Charles smiling. face was not lost upon Reginald. Seizing his "Well, I must acknowledge some such thought hand he said with emotion, "I am glad to see, passed through my mind, but it would be worse Charles that you have not lost your enthusiasm, than useless now to attempt to dissatisfy you with and that it has only taken too lofty instead of your vocation, and after all it has some advan- too humble an aim. Yet the eagle cannot always tages, opportunities of literary leisure for exam- remain above the clouds, nor look continually at ple; many clergymen have won laurels in the fields of literature and science, and have occupied lofty niches in the Temple of Fame."

the sun, he must descend to the earth or perish. We are formed for this world and cannot look wholly or continually beyond it. The reward for noble actions, for climbing the rugged ascents of the Hill of Fame, the path to which is always marked with blood and tears, must be tangible, Impossible, utterly impossible! I believe most suited to our nature and apprehensions; few implicitly in the sincerity of your self-deception, "minds are capable of that metaphysical abstrac

"You still find it impossible to believe, Reginald, that I do not aspire to win laurels, or to fill a niche in the Temple of Fame."

tion which will enable them to realize the future, of fame to which it is noble to aspire; is it not, the immaterial, the intangible, to live in a world according to your belief, the admiration of the of ideas and shadows." noble and enlightened few of all ages and coun"My dear fellow, what could be more immate-tries, but first and most intoxicating the applause rial, intangible, ideal than what you call fame? of those of that lofty band who are our cotemIt is the most airy of all the gorgeous fabrics poraries? But you have studied enough of hisraised by imagination; the injustice and fickle- tory and of the nature of human opinion to know ness of popular applause have been proverbial that the awards even of the great and wise of our in every age and nation of which we have any cotemporaries scarcely ever coincide with those record. No one despises more than yourself the of posterity. And it is rare indeed that any man opinions of the individuals that compose the mass was ever in his own time the hero of the few and of mankind; you would be surprised to count up, the hero of the many. If we toil for the plaufor I am sure they could easily be enumerated, dits of thousands and millions, we must not exthe few whose admiration could produce a thrill pect to occupy one of those exalted niches in the of pride in your heart, or exalt you one degree in Temple of Fame, dim from their very elevation your own estimation. " to those who gaze on them from the depths of “True, but think with what rapture you would ignorance and prejudice beneath. To win the listen to the verdict of the noble and enlightened crowns assigned by the lofty few, placed above few, the few who alone deserve to be called men, the thick and many colored mists of passion and assigning to you a name and station above your ignorance, we must be content to endure the misfellow mortals, holding you up for the admira- understanding and brave the obloquy and taunts tion and imitation of all your cotemporaries; of the crowd below. If this is really the only think, too, for ages after the grave had closed over sort of fame to which you aspire, you could meet you, and all that was mortal of you had returned popular censure with unmoved mind." to the dust from whence it was taken, that your name would fill a proud page in history, that it would be a watchword to noble and ardent spirits striving for the honors of immortality, continually producing glorious deeds, and as the empire of letters extends, spreading its influence for the elevation of our race to countries undiscovered. What a reflection it would be, this magic name is mine, my efforts have achieved this glorious destiny! Would it be too dearly bought by days of toil, by nights of watching, by the most severe intellectual labor, by the heart's best blood itself? Do not the common every day aims of existence sink into contemptible insignificance with such a price as this within the possibility of attainment? Did not all the master spirits of past ages, even with the dim lights of antiquity, feel and act for these noble rewards, and shall their aims be more elevated than our own?"

“You must allow me, Reginald," said Charles smiling, the privilege of transgressing Dean Swift's rule for the time to which a speech should be limited,—a minute and a half he said should on no account be exceeded. I shall have, too. to avail myself of my professional privileges and view the subject somewhat systematically, that we may understand each other and arrive at any right conclusions on the subject."

"No, I cannot deceive myself so far, I feel that I could not incur popular blame and scorn without the loss of happiness, pride might and would support me under it; but one great incentive to action, one strong sustaining and animating influence would be lost. No, to fulfil the glorious destiny which haunts my waking and sleeping hours, I must feel my power, I must be able to sway the minds of men as trees are moved by the hurricane, then I shall feel the Divinity within me, shall know that I have not mistaken my high vocation, shall be saved from the withering curse of consciousness that I had mistaken high aspirations for high capabilities. Yet I admit this sort of fame to be inferior to that lofty and imperishable kind which is the voice of the great and good who shall come after us in succeeding ages. However, the two kinds of fame have been united in some rare instances, and what has once been done by man may be done again."

"Ah, my dear Reginald, what an ignis fatuus do you pursue, impossible to grasp, an ever changing and perishable exhalation! how unlike the steady light of the luminaries of Heaven! We are told that the righteous shall shine like stars in the firmament of Heaven, when all the monuments of man shall have perished, and this very earth shall have shrivelled like a parched scroll; is not this a certain and glorious reward, if we believe the Scriptures to be the revealed word of God, as I know you do. Must we not acknowledge promises such as these to offer to us a more real and glorious immortality than that which “We will then ascertain first what is the sort may have a barely possible existence in the minds

"Dean Swift's rule is just what might have been expected from such a man as Dean Swift: speak away an hour and a half if you like it, I should think a day and a half well spent in the discussion if it could aid you in arriving at what I think true views of the subject."

of imperfect, short-sighted, mutable mortals? nied. But we will continue our discussion anoThe very word immortality in this sense implies ther time, for I hear the breakfast bell."

a contradiction in terms. Then the inspiring freedom from all bondage to man, to live as in our great Task Master's eye' animated and sustained by the consciousness that we are actuated by a purifying principle which is gradually transforming us into higher, nobler beings, how much does the happiness of knowing that we are becoming all that is great and noble exceed that of being thought so! The last is indeed but a phantom, the pursuit of which makes us feverish, restless, unhappy, leading us often into inextricable labyrinths, the other, a glorious reality, for whose attainment the very efforts are not only happiness but are continually bringing us nearer to the object of pursuit."

Reginald smiled. "Well, we will defer it though I by no means acknowledge myself vanquished, and at a suitable opportunity may perhaps convince you that I have more reason on my side than you are at present willing to acknowledge. At the same time I will be candid enough to agree that you have placed your own views in a very strong light. But by way of digression, for whom is that little bouquet you have been selecting so carefully whilst we were discoursing on such high themes?

"For Virginia. I am sorry to see her looking so pale and dejected, I am afraid she is not well."

"And I am only afraid she is silly. You may Reginald regarded his brother with a sad earn- depend upon it if any thing is the matter it is estness as he replied, "I do not deny the truth of only some notion she has picked up from roRevelation, Charles, though I must confess I mances that heroines ought to be unhappy. I have never examined the subject very closely, am surprised that a woman of my mother's but things relating to another state of existence strong practical sense should have allowed Virseem dim, distant, and uncertain. We must be-ginia to indulge herself in such pernicious readlieve that an Omnipotent and Omniscient Being ing."

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"Pshaw," replied Reginald.

delights in the exercise of power and intelligence And yet I can well imagine how the same in his creatures, the wider their scope of action, feeling which makes a man wish to be a hero, the worthier their efforts seem of his approba- differently directed, may make a woman wish to tion; can we suppose that he who rules senates be a heroine." and commands armies is not a nobler being in the eye of The Eternal than the hind who earns his daily bread by the sweat of his brow, the only end of his being to procure the means of an existence of scarcely higher dignity in creation than that of the animals who live but for the same purpose."

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They had by this time arrived at the house and found the family assembled for prayers. Reginald thought that Charles would manifest some embarrassment and considerately turned his eyes away, nor did he imagine it possible that he should be impressed with a sense of reverence at The God of your imagination is not the God hearing his own brother Charles, with whom he of Scripture, Reginald; you ascribe unconscious- had ate, drank and slept ever since his earliest ly to Him the character of a Grecian or Roman recollection, perform the venerable offices of a hero. The God whom we adore weighs actions clergyman. But his attention was soon rivetted not in the balance of short-sighted man; the ut- and his respect awakened by the earnest yet simmost exercise of the power and intelligence of ple solemnity of Charles' manner, the excellence beings such as we are, even supposing these qual- of his enunciation, and his deep and melodious ities to have in us an inherent and independent voice. What an orator has been lost to the world! existence, must so far from exciting his admira- he mentally exclaimed, as he regarded his brother tion appear infinitely small in his eyes, but when with a pensive yet respectful glance.

we reflect that all power and intelligence are gifts which He has himself bestowed upon his creatures, that they may use them for his service and the good of mankind, (for Scripture assures us that these are the purposes for which all the talents of man were bestowed,) how can we suppose that He will approve of the being of His own creation who uses His own gifts only that he may gain a name among his fellow men? The noblest even of the Grecian and Roman heroes, to whom fame was the breath of life, had dim visions of the true glory which consists in loving virtue for her own sake, even though the reward and applause due to her should be de

CHAPTER XVIII.

I hate the face, however fuir,
That carries an affected air;
The lisping tone, the shape constrain'd
The studied look, the passion feigned,
And fopperies which only tend

To injure what they strive to mend.-Gay.

It was, indeed, with a heavy heart Margaret watched the carriage which bore Virginia away, until it was lost to her sight; she had scarcely ever been separated from Virginia for more than

garet.

a day until now, and Margaret felt as if it would opportunity occurred of paying her long talked be almost impossible for Virginia to do without of visit to our brother Charles, and Reginald and her, though her good sense shewed her the ex- herself left us this morning." treme necessity, that she should acquire some The beautiful features of Augustus were alresolution and independence of character. How most distorted with irrepressible vexation, and gladly, thought Margaret, would I bear her trials the color rose to his temples, for he had no doubt for her, were it possible that the discipline of that this sudden determination on Virginia's part one human being could benefit another, she is so was the result of some family manœuvre, and gentle, so dependent, so unfitted for the storms ascribed the planning of it chiefly to Margaret, of life! for whom he felt a strong and almost instinctive Mrs. Selden, though a very fond and indul- aversion; for though her manner had always gent mother, felt much more unmixed satisfac-been perfectly polite towards him, he felt that tion at Virginia's departure than Margaret did, she penetrated his real character, that all his senshe rejoiced that she was removed from the timentalities were ridiculous trash in her estimasphere of Augustus Vernon's influence; she felt tion, and, most unpardonable of all, that even too, as if there must be safety and peace with his beauty did not excite her admiration. Charles and her sister, and she had so often seen "Will Miss Selden be long absent," Augusthe sorrows of young hearts pass away, especial- tus asked, turning towards Mrs. Selden, for he ly when they arose from causes such as those felt an invincible reluctance to addressing Marwhich distressed Virginia, that she hoped a change of circumstances would soon impart another, and more healthy toue to her mind. But Margaret, to whom Virginia had confided every feeling of her heart, from infancy, feelings that she would have been ashamed to avow to her mother, or "Louis has entirely recovered I believe, but he would not have cared to express, knowing they is so hypochondriacal that I eschew his society would be deemed too childish or romantic to call as much as possible ;" an involuntary smile playforth her sympathy or attention, was not so ed around the lips of Augustus as he uttered sanguine. Knowing that Virginia lived mostly these words, for he was but too conscious that in an inward world, she did not hope so much the melancholy of Louis was to be ascribed to as Mrs. Selden from outward circumstances, the evident partiality with which Virginia reand she feared that she would not have the garded him; his last visits to Sherwood had been resolution to attempt the mental discipline of so painful from this cause, that he had of late changing her trains of thought and feeling, withdrawn himself almost entirely. by resolute employment of any kind, calculated to awaken a different tone of reflection and sentiment, from that in which she was now in- estimation; she said with a smile, "his spirits dulging. But though her hopes were so much will, I hope, soon return with his health, he is so fainter than those of Mrs. Selden, she liked to pleasant a companion, we cannot spare his solisten to her words of encouragement, and said ciety." nothing of her own fears.

When Augustus Vernon arrived as usual in the evening, of the day of Virginia's departure, Margaret felt for the first time real delight at her absence; an air of uncontrollable satisfaction played about her countenance, as she entered the drawing-room, where he was awaiting Virginia's arrival, seated in an elegant attitude on the sofa, holding a tasteful bouquet in a manner to set off his white hand, ornamented with rings, to peculiar advantage.

"Probably for some time," replied Mrs. Selden with an air of great indifference, she then added, "How is Louis this evening, has his indisposition worn off?"

Margaret saw the look and understood it, and if possible, Augustus sank many degrees in her

Do you think so?" languidly drawled out Augustus.

"Certainly, his manner is so kind, so natural, there is so much good sense and manliness about him."

"I would not presume to differ in opinion from Miss Selden, otherwise I would say, my admiration was never very particularly excited by every day characters, or common qualities."

"I have very plain tastes," said Margaret, “I believe I have not a spark of romance in my composition."

His countenance expressed much disappointment, when he looked up and saw no one enter "Romance is all that gives a charm to life," but Mrs. Selden and Margaret; after the first then suddenly recollecting himself, with the air greetings were over, and a few formal speeches of one who had been casting pearls before swine, had been exchanged, he said in a hesitating tone, he added, "but I am conscious that I have the "that he hoped Miss Virginia Selden was not misfortune to differ widely from Miss Selden." still indisposed." To pass a whole evening without either ad"Not at all," said Margaret, "an unexpected miring, or being admired, was too ennuyante to

be thought of, so after a few uninteresting and as he replied, "I can scarcely flatter myself that languid remarks, with long pauses between, dur- I have power to excite much regret at Sherwood; ing which, he was devising some probable ex- you are but too happy here without foreign aid." cuse to make his escape, Augustus Vernon arose, and pleading the necessity of keeping an appointment that had never been made, bowed with inimitable grace and withdrew.

Margaret drew a long breath as the door closed after him, and said, turning to her mother, "now I breathe freely and lightly, what an oppressive man! I am glad we possess such powers of making ourselves disagreeable, without violating the rules of politeness."

Mrs. Selden smiled assentingly, and they congratulated themselves again and again on Virginia's absence.

He paused for a moment, but before Margaret could frame what appeared to her to be a suitable reply, he continued in a more cheerful, though constrained manner: "Augustus Vernon and I have indeed taken literally Mr. Selden's kind invitation to make his house our home; whatever may be said in prose or verse of a Highland, would apply as justly to a Virginia welcome : bards and tourists, however, are wanting to celebrate it as it deserves."

"Some virtues bring their own reward, so that we have scarcely a right to claim any merit for them."

The next morning Gerald Devereux called Margaret saw that Gerald Devereux was hurt. alone and at an unusual hour, the gentlemen were He had expected something less complimentary out on a morning ride, Mrs. Selden was engaged from her-less, of course, on such an occasion in attending to domestic arrangements, and Mar- as this; he bowed slightly in reply to her remark. garet felt her heart beat quick as she went into "I am mortified, Miss Selden, at my own want the parlor to receive him. She felt a foreboding of address; I know no agreeable way of saying that he wished to make some communication to disagreeable things; and yet they must be said, her respecting his attachment to Virginia, and perforce, sometimes. You can not but be aware she dreaded the disclosure more than she liked of the fascination which draws Augustus Vernon to acknowledge to herself, then she thought too, to Sherwood. You must have marked the adthat when the present delusions had passed from miration with which he regards your sister: nothVirginia's mind, it might become possible for her ing could be more natural than that he should do to return his affection, and she feared to discour- so." age him entirely, while on the other hand justice to Gerald Devereux demanded that she should not encourage false hopes. But the very consciousness of her own repugnance to the idea of an union, between Gerald Devereux and her sister, to a heart such as Margaret's, would have predisposed her to act in contradiction to her own feelings.

Margaret, almost for the first time, found some difficulty in preserving her natural manner, as she advanced to meet Mr. Devereux. He looked unusually grave, and had the air of a person, who in the common and expressive phrase, "has something on his mind."

"You are no doubt surprised, Miss Selden," he said, after a pause, "to see me at so early an hour, but as I received letters by yesterday's mail, which will compel me to leave Virginia in the course of a few days, you see I am determined to make the most of my remaining time."

Margaret endeavored to look more unconcerned than she felt, as she replied, though kindly, with much less appearance of emotion than Gerald Devereux had expected, Your friends here will regret this sudden and unexpected absence very much I am sure."

46

The reply, though kind, was exactly such a one, and made in such a manner, that Gerald Devereux felt it to be most unsatisfactory. His eye rested sadly and almost reproachfully on her

Margaret's heart beat thick and fast, and her color came and went, as she prepared herself to listen to an avowal of his own love for Virginia; yet she replied in a steady tone, "It would be useless affectation to pretend that I have not observed that Mr. Vernon fancies himself in love with Virginia."

"You do not then believe in the reality of his attachment?"

"Certainly not," replied Margaret, while the indignant blood mounted to her temples; "Mr. Vernon loves no one but himself."

"He has been the idol of his family, and the spoiled child of fortune ever since his birth, and is therefore less to be blamed for vanity and selfishness than most persons; but I agree with you, for self-idolatry and true love cannot grow in the same soil: one will extirpate the other. Though I have never entertained or proposed any sentiment of friendship for Augustus Vernon, still as we have been thrown into such frequent companionship, I find it a painful, and it appears almost an insidious and indelicate task to enter upon a subject on which I cannot speak without criminating him; and it requires a constant exertion of reason to prevent me from feeling as if I was acting disgracefully towards him. My conscience, however, fully acquits me, for I have warned him unless he desisted from any farther attempt to gain your sister's affections, I