-ungrateful fellow!-ever since you were born, you have done nothing but laugh at your mother.-And Danby,-asking me to see a clergyman,-ha! ha! ha!-as if I had not seen clergymen enough, years ago, at our public days at Ormington Hall!"

Presently, there followed more terrible exclamations. As the night advanced, Danby succeeded in persuading his father to retire to rest. We stationed the apothecary and waiting woman in the adjoining sitting room, on pretence that her ladyship might be able to sleep; but in reality, because we were so far brothers as to feel in common that the terrible lesson imparted by such a scene was for no ears but our own.

For, as the fever abated and depression ensued, came moments of terror and despair almost too terrible. Her mind was still wandering; for she fancied herself standing in the body on the edge of the dread abyss which morally she was approaching.-Icy hands seemed to drag her

down to the grave with their iron grasp. Her struggles were frightful. All the night long, stood Danby by her pillow; pale as death, but strong and courageous, whispering soothing words whenever there was a chance of their becoming audible,-wiping the dews from her disfigured brow, the foam from her lips,—and repressing the struggles of her agony.

A dim winter morning dawned at length; not upon that muffled chamber whence every ray but that of the watchlight was excluded, -but into the adjoining room, of which in their confusion they had forgotten to close the shutters; and the scene of piteous confusion became still more miserably manifest.All I feared was, that the light might rouse the man and woman who had luckily dropped off to sleep; for to poor Lady Ormington's distraction had succeeded a calm, still more. appalling, during which, in a hoarse, steady voice, she proclaimed as truths all we might have surmised to be the result of frenzy. Terri

ble was her despair,-terrible the throes of such a death-bed!

I have deliberated within myself whether I should advert to this, or whether the secrets of such a chamber ought not to be sacred. But having once made up my mind to read the world a lesson at my own expense, and the expense of all belonging to me, I will not tear away a page that addresses itself especially to those triflers of the day, who, absorbed by their Sir Lionels and their Bihiches, forget they will leave sons to tremble beside their couch while closing the staring eyes and smoothing the dishevelled white hairs, disordered by a repentant death-bed.

The most afflicting part of all I had to suffer, was my position with regard to Danby.

When I met him again, after a few hours' rest, I flung myself, for the first time, into his arms. For the first time, I seemed to feel that he was all the relative I had on earth. For Julia, who was absent with her husband in

Ireland, where Herries had just received a high appointment, had been always kept so properly in the dark with regard to her mother, that she knew nothing of the peculiarities of my position, and was consequently unaware of my peculiar claims on her sympathy.

With Danby, it was otherwise; and he felt them as so high-souled a man alone can feel.

"I know all you are about to say to me,

Cecil," said he, earnestly returning my embrace, but silencing the determination I was beginning to express, to abstain for the future. from all participation in Lord Ormington's fortune;" and I appreciate your sense of equity. But reflect that the resolution you announce would be fatal to the family honour, which Lord Ormington has made so many sacrifices to preserve untarnished. If, five-and-thirty years after the occurrence of an event, of which he then overlooked the bitterness of the injury, and passed over in silence for the sake of his legitimate children, he should be dragged forth

for public reprobation by the waywardness of one who had no share in the fault, and to whom the frailty of his mother should be sacred, how poor would be the consolation to your pride! For it is your pride only, my dearest Cecil, that suffers. You cannot bear the consciousness of pecuniary obligation to Lord Ormington!-Poor man!-do you suppose that the abstraction of a few thousand pounds from his property is the worst penalty he has had to undergo?-Do you think it nothing to afford the shelter of his roof, - the decency

of his name, to the woman who had so cruelly wronged him?-Do not add to his amount of injuries, Cecil, by frustrating his wishes!"—

"It is not alone Lord Ormington whom I am injuring by accepting a portion in his family to which I am unentitled," said I,-sullenly, "Julia and yourself are the sufferers by

"You are our brother!" replied Danby. "Upon us at least your claims are sacred. From the moment the family estates become