that such fair and honourable conduct demanded, and should be met, by an equal degree of candour on my part.".

Julia directed towards her brother an inquiring and penetrating glance, which seemed to say" What does all this tend to?"

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I therefore," resumed Horatio, with an unembarrassed brow, "apprised him of the simple truth."

Julia waited to hear what this " simple truth" was, with a presentiment of some dreadful misrepresentation.

"I frankly confessed," continued Somerville," that his patron, the young earl of Rothbury, was desirous of wearing your chains; and on his asking if you gave him any encouragement, replied, that it was difficult to say what was termed encou ragement by young ladies, but that you seemed to prefer his assiduities to those of any other visitor at the house."

All this, from the reasons formerly related, was, literally speaking, no more than

the

the truth; yet Somerville had managed to convey in it a falsehood, that had poisoned the mind of Lascelles, and for ever destroyed the happiness of Julia. In the first emotion of indignation, she could not conceal her abhorrence of this disingenuous this treacherous conduct; and her looks reproached her really well-meaning, but now worldly-minded brother, more eloquently than any words could have done.

"I could not do less," resumed Somerville, answering her silence. "Would you have had me conceal a conquest that half your sex are dying to win from you? No, Julia," he continued, attempting to soothe and flatter, "it would have been wronging your charms, my lovely girl. It is always better to be envied"

"It is better to speak the truth, nor let any motive alter or disguise it!" exclaimed Julia, unable to keep silence any longer, on once more hearing an allusion to the maxim she detested.

H 3

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Oh, Somerville!

into

into what a labyrinth of guilt and error have you plunged me! how you have injured us both, by not comprehending such a character as Lascelles !"

Somerville comprehended the proud, jealous, and sensitive character of Adolphus but too well, and had artfully brought forward every suggestion and every motive, that, with his peculiar feelings, heightened and confirmed as they had been by the untoward circumstances of his life, could induce Lascelles to renounce his sister. Horatio saw that the time for feigned good-humour was over, and, addressing her in a more serious tone, continued "Hear me, Julia. I am in difficulties, which your marriage with Lascelles would only increase, while I should have the additional mortification of not being able to do you that justice which is, every way, so much your due. How these difficulties have been incurred-how much your imprudent brother is to blame, is a question upon which we now need not

enter.

enter. Believe me, the remembrance of it haunts all my waking thoughts, and drives sleep from my pillow."

Julia was softened-she offered Somerville her hand; and Horatio, flattering himself she would adopt his ideas, continued -"To lord Rothbury your fortune is no consideration-a mere trifle, which, as my friend, he would apply for, or forbear, as he saw the state of my circumstances. No, dear girl! it is your virtues, your talents, your very uncommon beauty, that have irresistibly enthralled him. He has communicated his wishes to me, and I freely confess that, by complying with them, you would insure the happiness and peace of mind of a brother you once professed to love, while you rendered yourself the envy of the most accomplished of your sex."

Though he had thrown in the seasoning of a little romantic flattery, proper, as he supposed, to influence a young beauty like H 4 Julia,

Julia, Horatio spoke with an energy which had its rise in conviction; for he was seriously persuaded, that, when the recollection of this slight misunderstanding was over, his sister would feel grateful to him for his attention to her real interests. But neither flattery nor interest could root from her mind a passion so fixed, so pure, as Julia's. To all his arguments in favour of lord Rothbury, she could only reply— "Dear Horatio! why could you not have acted with real openness by Lascelles? You have formed a strange idea of him— oh, how different from the reality! Believe me, and I know him well, had you unbosomed yourself to him, not even from your poor Julia could you have met with more considerate friendship and pity than

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'Pity!" repeated Horatio, in a terrifying voice, that formed the most shocking contrast with the gay, careless good-humour of his usual manner" it is the sen