too-only," he added, in a tone between pleasantry and embarrassment, "there is company in the house who might take it amiss. Till yesterday Amelia was with me; but Miss Ravenshawe, the hag! found us out, and came here breathing fire and flames. She declared that, after having ruined her angel niece by my extravagance, I should not keep her here to endure the inconveniences attached to it, and carried off the poor little creature, in spite of her tears, in a whirlwind, to the North-ha, ha, ha!-I ruined Amelia! Excuse me, Julia and Lascelles, dear, pensive friends! but while I live I must laugh. The expression was excellent I the ruin of Amelia!ha, ha, ha! And yet," resumed Horatio, in a more feeling tone, " any expences which she incurred were, I am sure, rather the result of ignorance than thoughtlessness. In the first instance, I was certainly to blame; and very sorry she was to leave me. Poor thing! she is of a most affectionate disposition !"

66

Here

Here an expression of irrepressible scorn passed over the countenance of Lascelles; but Julia, with a sign, entreated him not to agitate that tender subject; and Julia found that, by Lascelles, her slightest sign was once again obeyed.

Unconscious of the silent bye-play of this mute dialogue, the too-generous, tooconfiding Somerville resumed-" It is as it should be; Mrs. Somerville's sharing my difficulties would greatly increase their poignancy. She was not formed to struggle with the world, and the greatest pain I endure is from the reflection"

Here the cough that tormented him obliged poor Somerville to pause. Lascelles understood him, and thought this a favourable opportunity to convey to him, with the delicacy he well knew how to use, the message from his father-in-law. The worldly peer, who had long given over his son-in-law, had changed his intention of soliciting a place for him to securing a provision for Amelia: this had

been,

been, on that very morning, happily accomplished. Aware that Horatio was of a gay and sanguine turn, Lascelles took care not to represent the motives and opinion of lord Lulworth in their fullest extent, but only said-" As Mr. Somerville's health did not allow him to think, at present, of fulfilling the duties of a new employment, it would be perhaps a satisfaction to him to know that lord Lulworth had transferred his solicitude to his daughter, Mrs. Somerville, and had secured to her an income which, he trusted, would put them both above the pressure of difficulty."

But Somerville saw into the whole at a glance, and it created in his feelings a fearful and instantaneous change." What, sir!" he exclaimed, in a voice tremulous from illness and emotion, " a provision secured for Mrs. Somerville, and no mention made of me! I am truly obliged to my lord Lulworth. His paternal solicitude is edifying! He treats his daughter already as

my

my widow. But I will shew my lord Lulworth, and I will shew the whole family yet, that my illness is not so great

as

Here he was obliged to stop, from excessive exhaustion; but still his eyes and lips moved, as if trying to express his indignation against lord Lulworth. Julia and Lascelles shuddered at contemplating a noble heart, round every fibre of which the world, like a poisonous weed, had so banefully twined itself.

The disappointment again made Somerville eloquent-"A hollow, smiling, heartless promiser!" he muttered, "what business had he to judge of the employments I was or was not equal to? Only yesterday, when I pressed and urged the doctor, he at length replied, that, while life remained, it was presumption to pronounce it an absolute impossibility a person could recover.' At all events," he continued, speaking more rapidly, "I might have been appointed. So near it too!" direct

ing his eye forwards, and stretching his feeble hand, as if to grasp some object of speedy and delightful attainment; " I might have had the appointment, sir, I say-if it had been but for an hour, I might have had it. I should have enjoyed the congratulations of my friends, their visits, their cheerful prognostics. Better be supposed, at least, likely to prosper and live-better be en-en-vied than--"

A sudden faintness that came over him inspired Julia and Lascelles for a moment with the dreadful idea that he touched upon the termination of his sufferings; and the unfortunate victim of worldly love and worldly ambition was unable to complete the sentiment that had been, through life, his rule and ruin.

CHAP.