"Now, dearest Geraldine!" said Ferdinand, trying to smile away her tears, "there is something in your manner of mentioning me that never exactly pleases me!":

-"And what is that?" said she, making an effort to recompose herself..e og a

66

Why you always name me in company with your father, or some venerable friend, as you respectfully call me, and talk as if the affection you felt for both were somewhat similar. Now that I do not wish to believe; I would not be loved for duty's sake alone; I would "grb temptro

"In short, you would and you would not," interrupted Geraldine, gaily." No one can be a severer censor than you on female manners, and yet no one is more fastidiously alive to apprehensions of not being valued with sufficient fervency."

"My own meaning better expressed," replied lord Beaudesert, laughing; "but such as I am, Geraldine, you must endure I am what the united powers of nature,

me.

nature, and a defective, desultory education, made me."

"You are," thought Geraldine, "the dear, dangerous being destined to please, and therefore to control me."

With such sentiments, it is not to be supposed that she extended his probation beyond the time decorum required. As soon as it was expired, Geraldine FitzClare and Matilda Southwell' were united, on the same day, to Ferdinand, now marquis of Beaudesert, and lord Templemore.

Sir Charles Southwell had a third bride to give away, to whose affairs we have not lately been able, on account of more important matter, to attend.

Mr. Stratford Gore, long plagued with a fanciful, nervous, poetical wife, had often admired the perfect elegance with which the establishment at Meadowscourt was conducted, and learnt that it was almost entirely owing to the skilful administration of our good-humoured friend, Miss O'Reilly. On being deprived of his first partner,

E-5

partner, he thought she would make an admirable successor; not being of the opinion of those who "never tell their love," he confided to Miss O'Reilly his sentiments on the subject, even before the family left Meadowscourt for town the preceding winter; and the same auspicious day that gave Geraldine to her adoring Beaudesert, Mr. Stratford Gore (having gone through all proper forms of widowership) made Miss Dora O'Reilly the happy and respectable mistress of Mount Amaranth.

This bustle, though very delightful to the parties concerned, was a little too much for sir Charles, in his present state of health, which had been, for some time past, very fluctuating. Lady Louisa was anxious for him to try the effects of strict regimen and perfect tranquillity in vain. An attack upon his chest and lungs, more severe than any he yet had suffered, brought him to the brink of the grave. He did recover, however, impaired indeed

in those personal graces which, even in advancing years, had given him such a dangerous superiority over most of his sex, but as much benefited in mind as his frame was injured. The faithful, fond devotion with which lady Louisa had attended on him, made an impression on a heart not naturally callous. One expression she had used, when he was at the worst, by convincing him of what he had long doubted that he was still beloved, had roused all that was good or praiseworthy in his disposition to incite him to deserve such persevering attachment.

One day that sir Charles was believed insensible, a friend, who witnessed the close attendance and excessive grief of lady Louisa, remonstrated with her upon its too great indulgence, and, alluding to her husband's past conduct, remarked, that, even supposing the worst to happen which her agonizing fears anticipated, that consideration must, in some measure, diE 6 minish

minish the poignancy of her regret.“ "Talk not to me of losing him," the af flicted wife replied," in an accent of the wildest anguish; “have you known påssion yourself, and are you yet to learn that it is not the deserts of the object, but the tenderness the fondness, with which he is cherished, that render the apprehension of his loss insupportable?"

3

In that trying hour she forgot all his frailties, and only saw in him the dear being who had gained her earliest affec tions, and

and ever preserved a powerful, though latent hold over her heart. Je

Sir Charles Southwell determined, by his future conduct, to make amends för the former wrongs of this most estimable

woman.

During the tedious period of his con valescence, that happy temper, which las dy Louisa had allowed him, even when unable to give him any other praise, prevented sir Charles from sinking into a que

rulous