A lengthened pause succeeded; during which the rain poured in torrents, and the mutability of the weather was several times ineffectually lamented.

"Truly," said the personage whose comments these observations were intended to excite, "I confess myself surprised by it; having lately resided beneath the pure azure of an Italian sky, where these irruptions of the climate are less frequent: nor did I this evening perceive the change of atmosphere, until I felt the drops descend upon my features."

Mr. Elrington replied not: the subject was uninteresting and the conversation again dropped. The stranger's eyes were turned towards the window-still riveted on the adjacent mansion, which now reared its lofty sides, diminished by the distance, directly before him: the silence continued for some minutes: he appeared rather embarrassed, and at length in half-determined accents, requested to be informed of the name of its owner.

"The marchion-" had already escaped from the lips of Emily, when a reproving smile from her father immediately silenced her.

"It belonged, sir," said he gravely, "to the late marquis of Grandeville."

The stranger hemm'd, and affected to use his handkerchief; then turning again towards the window, evidently to conceal his emotion, remained silent for some time: at length, endeavouring to cough, and changing the position of his chair, he applied again to his friendly communicator.

"Pardon my curiosity," he rejoined," I think I have heard

the name of Grandeville mentioned abroad-I cannot be mistaken; are you acquainted with the circumstances of his domestic history? could you relate-that is inform me-of the present situation of his offspring-I mean of his af fairs ?"

"I have heard, and witnessed, many of his domestic foibles," replied Mr. Elrington, "they do not reflect much honour on his memory; yet I confess to give a sketch of them gratifies me, as there is one personage connected with them, whom I am never weary of eulogizing."

His auditor bowed, but checking himself in confusion, sipped the remainder of the beverage with which Emily had presented him.

"He was married," resumed Mr. Elrington, "when very young, to a female whom he had seduced: she presented him shortly with a son, who though born in the lawful bands of wedlock, was begotten in the rosy fetters of love; for which unnatural cause, it is alleged, the inhuman father could never endure to even hear him named. Some time after, they were blessed by the birth of a daughter. Lord Grandeville now insisted that his son, about fourteen years of age, should give place in his household to the second pledge of their affection: this the marchioness objected to, who though fond of Melissa, was also tenderly attached, to her son. The dispute grew warm, and the infant Melissa was, by order of the marquis, privately conveyed from the family mansion, to be restored to her distracted mother only on condition of the dismissal from Europe of its rightful heir."

Here the stranger hemm'd twice, and bent his head seen ingly much affected: Mr. Elrington continued.

The marchioness, infinitely hurt at this proposal, yet doubly grieved for the loss of her daughter, whose fate was uncertain, consented, on condition of his not being disinberited, should he survive, to send her son to India: Arthur was accordingly despatched across the seas-but Melissa was never heard of more. The marquis had given her in charge to a victim of his treachery, whom he had deceived and abandoned, and she in revenge had absconded with his child! This circumstance served only to increase his hatred to the boy, and he was never permitted to return. Report adds lately that he perished some years since on his passage to Italy, where, in obedience to his mother, he had promised to reside, until some change should take place in his father's sentiments towards him. This never happened; for he suffered a premature death in consequence of a fall from his horse while hunting. The marchioness, deprived of all consolation, survived him only three weeks: she died of a broken heart : unlike the marquis, in disposition she was mild, generous, and humane; she was fond of my daughter Emily whom she frequently noticed, saying her society consoled her for the loss of her own, who would in age have much resembled Emily. She resided at the villa opposite, which lord Grandeville built for her retirement, while he revelled in licentious and dissipated pleasures; and died, for her condescending manners and affable demeanour, respected and lamented by all around her."

Mr. Elrington had ceased-but his visiter remained silent his eyes beamed with a peculiar expression at the latter part of his recital, but it shone not on him, for they fixed on Emily, who was toying with her lap-dog: anon he turned them once more to the window, but his sight was now grown misty, and he could distinguish objects no longer: again he hemm'd -again applied his handkerchief-but as if ashamed of the impulse, immediately removed it: he altered his attitude

his demeanour to a close observer would have spoken more than volumes, but his voice was mute, and his lips motionless the wealth of kingdoms-the sovereignty of empirescould not at that moment have unchained his tongue; affluence-felicity-life itself, depending on the utterance of a single syllable, and poised with the strong feelings that overpowered him, would have shrunk to an atom in the balance; he felt that it was absurd, nay, even ungrateful, to remain silent, after so minute a relation of the story with which he had wished and solicited to be made acquainted, but he could not have spoken for worlds!

Mr. Elrington, perceiving his abstraction, humanely left the room when Caroline, who had not yet forgotten her pique, immediately addressed Emily, who was still amusing herself with her little favourite

"Pray Emily," said she pettishly, "leave romping with that tiresome creature; I protest I am weary of witnessing such foolery."

"Carlo is mine," said Emily faintly, "and does not disturb you, Caroline: besides, Mr. Fitzharland would not have given him to me, had he thought I should treat him otherwise than kindly."

"Emily's notion of the species," observed Ethelia, pointedly, glad also of this opportunity of venting her spleen," is in unison with her ideas of grandeur: I acknowledge, for her sentiment of this evening, I sincerely pity her."

"I said nothing this evening," retorted Emily with some warmth, and as if regardless or unconscious of the presence of any save those to whom she spoke," that I am ashamed to repeat: I only said that I could be as happy in my present

obscurity, as my sister Caroline though surrounded by splendour and covered with jewels; which as often serve to veil unhappiness, as the guise of fair words is courted to conceal the specious aim of a malicious purpose.

The stranger's 'gaze had glanced on Emily at the commencement of this speech; the succeeding sentence aroused bim from his reverie; and its conclusion again settled his attention on the lovely speaker: her face was flushed, and her whole appearance partook of the warmth with which she had asserted her sentiment-a sentiment so congenial to his own. The dispute had now been inflamed by Caroline; Mrs. Elrington had interposed, and commanded Emily to retire to her chamber; distressed and mortified at this mark of humiliation, she burst into tears. As she arose to leave the room, it was entered by her father; he appeared displeased, but suppressing his vexation, apparently from motives of delicacy, kissed her cheek, and led her to the door; she curt'sied, sobbed, and disappeared. The stranger sate uneasy after her departure, alternately discontented with his own conduct, as well as incensed at that of others: he had seen her distressed and not interfered to her assistance; it was the first female he had ever beheld afflicted, without offering her his protection from insult or his consolation in distress; but his faculties had been suspended-he had done neither; and if he was before inclined to taciturnity, he now seemed doubly so.

The rain had now ceased, and the evening again was bright and beautiful. As the unknown arose to depart, Mr. Elrington extended his invitation, and invited him to partake of their evening meal; he consented, to appearance highly gratified with this civility, though in reality with the expectation of again beholding the attractive absentee, and lights were introduced, but Emily appeared no more. Little passed during supper worthy of recital, except his informing them