his adored Emily; though Conrad's arguments, at length, prevailed upon him to forget the past in anticipation of the future, and to proceed immediately to the Grove; where, there being no farther objection to his marriage, his uncle, among his other friends, received him most warmly. Conrad prevailed on Mr. Camden to charge himself with the unpleasant disclosure to Frank Mason; whose self-sufficiency, love, and pride being deeply wounded, he immediately appealed to Mr. Yorke; and refused to credit the assertion, that Emily desired the union prevented, unless proclaimed from her own lips.

With this demand her friends were at length obliged to urge her to comply, as being the readiest means of settling the business; which she agreed to do, after a little hesitation. Every care had been taken by the affectionate Conrad in apprising her of Ernest's return, and of Mr. Yorke's consent to her marriage; and, therefore, she had not been so affected by these circumstances as might have been anticipated from her state of health; and she prepared to see Frank with more composure than her friends expected. She had not seen him from

the time of her brother's return, as she loathed the idea, after knowing Ernest lived. The urgent entreaties of the latter to be permitted to see her she also resisted. "No, dear brother," she said, whenever Conrad mentioned his friend's solicitude on this point; "no; tell Ernest to restrain his impatience, until I can pronounce my hand as entirely his, as he knows my heart has ever been."

She left her room for the first time when she descended to meet Mason; and the languor left by severe indisposition was still visible, and "her cheek was mellowed with a tenderer streak." Yet her beauty, if possible, was heightened by the extreme delicacy of her appearance; and as she entered the parlour, Mason thought he never saw her look so angelic; and for a moment his anger and offended dignity vanished. He took her hand, and pressing it to his lips, said, "Emily, I have requested you to grant me this interview for the purpose of ascertaining whether the communication I have had from your friends be true. Am I to be the most miserable of men? and do you desire the annihilation of my happiness, on the eve of its being formed permanently ?"

"Frank," replied Emily, mildly, "you know not how painfully I feel the fraud which has been imposed on you; yet it is most true, that I can never be yours. The commands of my foster-parent alone have enjoined so long a silence on my part. An insurmountable obstacle obliges me to request you will cease to think of one, who never has or can feel any thing but esteem for you."

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May I not hope your esteem may in time become love, Emily?"

"Never! You have been deceived, Frank. I love another. Oh, how deeply!" She spoke in a low and agitated voice. Frank started; anger flashed from his eyes, while he exclaimed, "Hah! you love another, do you? Then it is true, as I heard; this Bonner is the man! It is well to have two strings to your bow," he said, with a sneer; then, in a deeper tone, "What a fool, what a cursed fool I have been, not to have seen through your confounded coldness! It is all explained now had your red-coat found a gory grave, you would have sought a solace in the affluence and idolatry of the deceived Frank Mason! Ah! would you not?" While he spoke he walked up and

down the room, bending on Emily a look of indignation, which he did not relax during her answer, though he stood still to listen to it.

"You wrong me, Frank; I never willingly deceived you. When I yielded to Mr. Yorke's importunities, and consented to become your wife, I believed the grave had separated me for ever from one I loved in early years. Grieved as I am to declare it, it is yet most true; that, owing to Mr. Yorke's having from mistaken kindness concealed the circumstance on which my fate depended, I had nearly sealed my own and others' misery! I believed I only should suffer! That belief, that cloud is dispersed ! He lives! I hasten to dispel the deception practised upon you, and avoid the crime of perjury. Am I to blame? No, Frank, you cannot desire a hollow heart."

"No, Emily; I sought a beautiful wife; you are the only one I have beheld to equal my criterion, and you must be mine." He would again have taken her hand, but she hastily stepped back, saying, "Never! so help me Heaven! Excuse me, Mr. Mason, I will no longer continue a scene distressing to both; after this moment we meet only as strangers."

She moved towards the door, but Mason, who had appeared paralysed for an instant, by a couple of hasty strides preceded her, and passed out in a moment.

No sooner was he gone than the exhausted Emily sank on a seat, and pressing her hands over her eyes, sat motionless some minutes. When she looked up, Conrad stood beside her. "My brother! is he gone?" she enquired, timidly" did you see him?"

"No, Emily; I did not know you were alone until, passing, I saw this door partly open. How did he bear it?"

"He appeared, I think, more angry than grieved; indeed, he almost frightened me at first."

"You do, indeed, look pale, dear," said Conrad, kissing her; then offering her his arm, he continued," Come, let us join the party in the dining-room; there is one there I know you will be glad to see.”

She turned even paler than before, and said faintly, "No, dear Conrad! here—alone

"It shall be so, if you wish it, Emily." She signed in the affirmative, and Conrad left her. An universal tremor shook her frame, as she