hands; he seemed to fear to look upon her; he heard her prayer, yet he answered not; he dared not trust himself to speak, lest he should betray more than he intended. At length, in a "Your voice of convulsive agitation, father was a villain," he exclaimed:

66

you have heard the imprecation, yet de you

not curse him," "Curse him!

curse my father

articulated Antonia,

in accents of horror.

Ah God! how

Tell me, my

If

I have a fa

little do you know me! Lord, does he live?

ther, let me see him; let me kneel at his feet, and show him that my heart is full of compassion, full of tenderness. 1 said not so," replied the marquis, fearfully: "Come, Miss Forrester, let us return: the night is dark, and this place is replete with horror. We have staid too long already; banish these vain conjectures, and know yourself an orphan.ties eod He snatched ber hand, led her weep

8

ing from the grave, reclosed the gate, and hurried through the wood. "Remember," he said, pausing at the entrance of the park," this discovery, together with my gift of the miniature, must remain a secret. I have sufficient reason for the desire. The time may, nay, will come, when from you the veil of mystery shall be withdrawnwhen you shall learn how the sorrows of your mother and mine have been united. Till then, rest satisfied: borrow before the marchioness an air of cheerfulness; for she, of all others, must be kept in ignorance. See, the carriages are returning: Antonia, for the sake of heaven, recall your spirits ; for know that peace, that life, that honour, dépends on your exertion."" diss We have had a delightful ride," said the Duchess of Delaware, springing from the barouche: Carberry has driven us in high style."

He was

content with the prospect from the

に

1

road," observed Lady Geraldine," and sought not to mend it by an excursion over a quick-set hedge." "I hope you have been entertained, Miss Forrester," inquired the marchioness. "As to you, my Lord," addressing the marquis, ironically, there can be no doubt." "I have been gratified, if not entertained, Caroline," he replied; and turned aside his head to conceal the traces of sorrow." And for Miss Forrester, her highest pleasure arises in giving satisfaction to her friends." The marchioness smiled contemptuously. "Then is her gratification unlimited and endless,” said Lord Carberry;" for few are blessed with such extensive powers of giving happiness." Dauverne spoke not: he saw a secret uneasiness - pervade the countenance of Antonia: he longed to know, yet he dared not ask the cause: he saw that she was unhappy; he often heard her sigh; he often saw her lost in thought,

t

a greater curse cannot the malice of fate denounce against me.". "But, my dear marchioness," playfully resumed the duchess, you look quite serious. I have been a bond-woman six years, and I vow nothing upon earth would be so desirable, as Delaware fancying he could find amusement independent of my society. Depend upon it, they have only been in search of the ghost of innocence."

Perhaps we might have been more successful, had we sought it nearer}” said the marquis, with marked remphasis." "Tis a strange fancy, to have a tête-à-tête with a man old enough to be one's father, to be sure," resumed the duchess, looking as if she wished to repay the marquise for the irony of his last remark; but there's no accounting for taste; is there, Miss For rester ?"

J

Antonia felt an emotion of anger she could not restrain, and, with an

air of native dignity replied-“ The insinuation your grace would convey is illiberal and unjustifiable: my guar dian and myself know the motive of our walk; further explanation we judge unnecessary. Yet one thing more I must add-in my short visit to England I have learnt that innocence and circumspection cannot always escape the shaft of malignancy." "Colonel," said the duchess, turning with assumed indifference to Arkerman," what character do you take the night of our masquerade? a warrior, a prince, a scaramouch, or a demigod?" "Nay," replied the colonel, laughing, that must be a secret; the greatest pleasure in a mask, you know, lies in the disguise." "I'll bet a hundred I discover you," rejoined her grace. "Done," said Arkerman. "I suppose we shall have a censor in the company, and she glanced indignantly at Antonia. doubt the power of a censor will be

"No