from its obnoxious sound: he smothered his vexation, however, and, simply telling the honest farmer, "Mr. Blessington was well, he believed,” he hurried onwards, fearful of further importunity on the subject. Yet he concealed his hatred, and in proportion as his purposes darkened, his affection and interest in the absent Conrad, as far as words went, appeared to increase.

Being a great walker, he was in the frequent habit of fetching the letters from the post-office, which was two miles distant. One day a letter bearing the foreign post-mark, and directed in Conrad's handwriting, was delivered to him. As he proceeded to the village with it in his hand, he felt very reluctant to witness the delight he was well assured the letter would communicate; and, for an instant, the idea occurred to him of destroying it, but he only suffered it to glance across his mind, for he was not as yet conversant with crime. He stopped, and contemplated the little document some minutes; and, if we permit ourselves to have access to his thoughts, we shall perceive the struggle between revenge and rectitude, while he thus argued :"Why should I be destined to be the bearer of this vile paper? I, who dislike the author so

much! To doom myself to hear his name repeated more than usual. No! I cannot bear it! Yet, what shall I do with it?" He paused an instant: "Shall I destroy it? Ah! shall I? Yet hold! will it not be cruel and wicked? But by following it up, I may ruin his hold here, and perhaps eventually win Agnes." What a triumph would it be to gain her at last! He walked hastily forward a few paces — again stopped looked savagely at the letter, then put it in his pocket, and once more essayed to proceed to the village; but he had not advanced many yards when the demon of hatred repossessed him. The unfortunate letter was drawn from its temporary resting place, and after a moment's hesitation, and ascertaining by a hurried glance around, that he was unobserved, he tore the letter into shreds, throwing the fragments into a ditch with wild energy. From that time he suffered no communication from his victim to reach either the Grove or the Parsonage. The boy who at times was employed to go to the post was corrupted by him, and, by means of rewards and promises, induced to deliver the letters to him, and to maintain secrecy on a subject which it was as much his own interest

as Edward's to conceal, after he had once coincided in his young master's scheme; for his character and place would both be forfeited, did the least intimation of his villany transpire.

For some time, every excuse which affection could suggest was made for Conrad's unaccountable silence by his friends; but when they found that no notice was taken of their affectionate letters, by degrees they became less frequent, and more severe; they at length ceased altogether; for Mr. Camden, justly incensed, refused to permit Agnes to write, hoping by that means to induce Conrad to attend to the demand of duty and affection but months elapsed, and still they were ignorant of his welfare; except by one of Ernest's letters, which spoke of his high military character. But this source of information failed in the course of the next year, for Ernest's name appeared among those in the list of missing, and from that time no intelligence from either of the young men was received for many months.

Agnes deeply felt Conrad's supposed neglect, both on her own and her father's account, and many and bitter were the tears she dropped in private; but she was ever ready to find excuses

for him when condemned by others. She had several opportunities of forming other alliances; for it was only known to her own family that Conrad's attentions had been crowned with success but she turned a deaf ear to all admiration, and resolved to adhere firmly to the faith of her absent lover; for she felt sure that, however dark his horoscope might now appear, time would restore its effulgence.

CHAP. VII.

I have a tale of private life to tell,

'Tis all of self and home, I know it well;
In love and honour's cause I would be strong,—
Mine is a father's tale, perhaps too long.

BLOOMFIELD.

THE fate of our hero in the Peninsula again claims our attention. His arrival at headquarters was opportune for his fame, as the reduction of Ciudad Rodrigo soon took place, and it was there that Conrad obtained all the reward of his dauntless courage; the commendation of his superiors, and the company for which he had bled and striven. His communication with Ernest Bonner from this period was but slight; for the infantry and cavalry rarely commingle, and their corps seldom came in contact. In one of their cursory meetings, however, Ernest communicated to Conrad the situation in which he saw himself placed by his love for Emily and his uncle's opposition. He endeavoured to engage Conrad to forward his wishes by his sanction; but in vain. With every