of me, you will be a thousand times presented to my memory! We part-but perhaps," he added, in a lower tone, "it is best it should be so." Shortly afterwards, Somerville and his sister were informed that Lascelles had made arrangements with another clergyman to take his place at Rothbury, while he set out in search of the lost Celestina. Horatio was too much occupied with his approaching happiness to think long upon the subject; but the wanderer was followed by the fervent prayers and wishes of Julia. CHAPTER III. Yet to have doubted her well-painted truth, MISS SEWARD. THE marriage of Horatio Somerville with the honourable Amelia De Ross was celebrated soon afterwards, with a splendour which, to say the least, was unnecessary in his circumstances; and the happy pair set off for a villa at Richmond, which belonged to Amelia's sister, lady Claremont, and which the recently-made widow could no longer bear to inhabit. Thus Love lit his lamp in the mansion which had so lately been only irradiated by the melancholy funeral torch; and such is, in hu man man life, the swift succession of joy and sorrow. Julia accompanied the bridal party, but was not long in discovering that she had dwindled into a most unnecessary personage. Enchanted with the tenderness, the passion, the devotion of his bride, Horatio saw upon earth no object but his Amelia. He might literally be said to anticipate her slightest wish, and live but to oblige her; while, on her part, the soft eyes of Amelia reflected, in the universe, but one being, and that being was Horatio. Julia wandered through the enchanted solitudes of Clairville, sometimes accom panied by her brother and sister-in-law, but more frequently alone, and gave free scope to her naturally melancholy and musing disposition." I have ceased to be essential to my brother's happiness," she said. "Indeed I am necessary to the happiness of no one human being; yet do not murmur, Julia-let not the poisons of envy and jealousy add their stings to your former sources of sorrow. The time may come when Horatio will again be able to see an affectionate sister, as well as a youthful bride; in the meanwhile let me find comfort in thinking he is happy." From these pictures of felicity her thoughts reverted to Adolphus-to Adolphus, as she last had seen him, so young, so amiable, so solitary! and deprived, alas! by her, of the treasure which alone had imparted some value to his existence. She experienced the most lively desire to learn whether he had discovered any trace of Celestina; but neither this, nor any other agreeable occurrence, seemed likely to diversify the solitude of poor Julia. Attended by a servant, she sometimes extended her rambles, and visited, on horseback, the most beautiful objects in the vicinity. An illness, which she caught by imprudently prolonging her ride in the sun, put a stop, for some time, to these interesting excursions; but, by awakening in Horatio's heart some portion of its fra ternal ternal tenderness, amply recompensed the affectionate Julia for this trifling privation. As she began to approach towards convalescence, she one day spoke to Amelia, with enthusiasm, of a particular spot she had visited, and proposed, the first day she was strong enough, that her sister-in-law should accompany her thither. Julia was surprised to observe a cloud gather upon Amelia's lovely brow, and to receive from her a short, and, as she thought, disobliging answer. She looked towards her brother for an explanation of this phenomenon, but could only gather, from his countenance, that he was of the same opinion as Amelia. Finding him, in a fortunatel moment, alone, she at length learned the cause of this misunderstanding." My poor Amelia," said he, "would never forgive me for mentioning it; but, to say the truth, she was hurt at your behaviour about the little horse." Julia, amazed, waited for a farther insight into this unintelligible accusation. |