I thought you required a bait to lure you, I might declare, in newspaper style, that

you will hear of something to your advantage;' but I know your disposition too well to imagine such a bribe necessary to induce you to hasten to

"Your earliest, latest friend,

"LOUISA SOUTHWELL."

Trembling, blushing, and flurried with joyful agitation, Geraldine put the billet into the hands of lord O'Melvyl. The lovers were equally at a loss to guess to what it might allude, but read in each other's eyes that each hoped it might be something to the interest of their love.

O'Melvyl was vehement in urging her to go. Not a word more was said on the subject of their preceding conversation; and in a quarter of an hour after the receipt of this billet, Geraldine was in the arms of her restored friend and protec

tress.

So many mingled motives forced tears both from the eyes of Geraldine and lady Louisa at this meeting, that she did not at first remark the improved air of cheerfulness which pervaded the countenances of the rest of the family. Matilda welcomed her almost with cordiality, and looked, as she always did when in good-humour, extremely handsome. Miss O'Reilly was all radiant with joy.

After the first greetings were over, lady Louisa, taking Geraldine with her into her dressing-room, and locking the door, to prevent any other intruder, said, with a mysterious smile-"It is no longer a secret-of course the day is fixed. My messenger has been telling Dillon, that, ere you could attend to my note, you were obliged to be summoned from a conference with lord O'Melvyl."

"It is true, dear madam," answered Géraldine, blushing, yet reassured, by observing that in these gay reproaches there lurked none of that latent displeasure with

which lady Louisa had formerly observed lord O'Melvyl's attention." It is true that I was engaged conversing with O'Melvyl, but on a far different subject from that you imagine.”

She then related to lady Louisa the circumstances of her present situation, and the embarrassment in which she found herself, from the impetuosity of lord O'Melvyl.

"Why this, my dearest Geraldine," observed her ladyship, laughing, "is a pretty little entanglement a delicate distress and embarrassment, entirely of your own seeking. I have long acknowledged the futility of opposing the bent of inclination. Matilda, as you see, is tolerably reconciled to her lot; for, to let you into a secret that every body knows, O'Melvyl has at length found a successor in your rejected swain, lord Templemore; so what upon earth retards your coming to a conclusion also?” "Lord Beaudesert's determined oppo sition," answered Geraldine.

"Of

"Of that I warned you long ago, and you made but light of it," resumed her ladyship.

"Oh, madam, I confess my error !" Geraldine replied. "Young, presumptuous, inexperienced, I judged all hearts by my own and yours. I was even vain enough to imagine that the interest I had already made with lord Beaudesert upon my own account"

"Would outweigh all the political delinquencies of your unfortunate father. So, child, you are come at last, like all people who begin life in the clouds, to see the world as it is, and to acknowledge the advantage of experience."

Geraldine thought this cruel; but, so lately quite restored to her ladyship's favour, determined not to recommence a quarrel.

66

"No," resumed lady Louisa, thoughtfully-"no talents, no graces, no charms in the daughter, could reconcile a man like lord Beaudesert to such an alliance."

Geraldine

Geraldine sighed, in mournful' acquies

cence.

"But if," continued lady Louisa, “that bar could be removed___"

“Ah, madam,” interrupted Geraldine, earnestly, "do not imagine me so far gone as to wish impossibilities!”

"Pardon me-nothing is impossible to well-directed talent and spirit. Other misguided gentlemen have been pardoned, and why should not Gerald Fitz-Clare? and if no longer proscribed▬▬

"

"Dear-dearest lady Louisa! I conjure you, tempt me no more with the idea; I cannot-indeed I cannot bear the sad reverse-the-"

"You cannot bear even the idea of your father's being recalled to society! then how would you endure the reality? How would you endure the possibility that he might be at length restored to friends, to fame, and fortune-nay, that within a short time he might actually hold his ever-loved daughter in his arms?" Though