CHAPTER LVIII.

"Oh! thou art the cause of this anguish, my mother!" HAYNES BAYLY.

When Julian quitted Augusta, he felt too excited, too restless, to return to the Rectory; he wanted to be alone, to arrange his thoughts, to muse over his solitary fate.

He must leave, and that promptly, the Rose-garden of Epicurus; he must quit the Eden of the heart, to toil in the wilderness, and make the barren land fruitful-more desolate than our first father, for he is alone; no weeping Eve beguiles his lonely way. Alas! alas in the first moment of astonishment and indignation, he had found some solace in the

violent outpouring of his wrath; but that bitter satisfaction soon passed away - and a void, a deep sadness, and a sickening sense of loneliness, weighed upon his heart.

The wrench had been so sudden, every fibre bled. He knew not, till he lost her, how dear she had been to him, how entire had been his faith; and this hollow worldling he had known......he could scarce remember the time when he knew her not!

Whom could

he trust, when she proved false ? whom could he believe, when she had so deceived him?

He wandered on, he knew not, he cared not, whither. Wander where he would, he could meet nought like this he had known the worst!......He determined that very night to repair to London: he could not remain in her house; he could not be a burthen on his ruined father. No; he would rather toil to support him. Yes; he had a duty yet to bind him to life....and she-she was not worth one thought, one tear!..... No, that was

true; yet twilight found him thinking of the False one still; and on his cheeks, livid with passion, were the traces of the bitter tears of slighted love.

Meanwhile, an animated scene had been going on at the Rectory. Grunter, Miss Tibby, and Annie, had preferred their several complaints in the presence of Mr. Lindsay, the Reverend Gregory, and his offending wife.

“Kinsmon,” said Miss Tibby, as if conferring a great favour, "I've shared your wealth, and I'll nae shrink fra sharing your poverty. But Mistress Lindsay has reproached Annie and mysel with being incumbrances on her, and that I canna and I wunna be sae ony langer.

"Mrs. Lindsay," said the Reverend Gregory, addressing his wife, his usually mild eyes flashing fire, "what is this?-have you dared, under my roof, to insult the friends of my brother, in his hour of sorrow? speak, for, by

Heaven, if you have, the same roof covers us no longer! I would not dwell with one so basely ungrateful-no, not......"

"You haven't heard both sides," sobbed Mrs. Lindsay. "You're always so ready to side against me!"

"Let me hear what you can urge in your defence," said her husband.

Mrs. Lindsay told her story so meekly, and so exaggerating the wounds and evils she had received, that Mr. Lindsay said :

66

Brother, urge this no further. Your wife regrets her hasty expressions, and Miss Tibby and Annie will, I am sure, forgive."

"I think, sir," said Grunter, "it is I who am the injured party; it is I who have been abused, reviled, and insulted, by Mrs. Lindsay....

........

"You! what you, in whom she recognizes a near relation ?"

"No longer now, sir; now that my fortunes fall with the ruin of yours."

“What have you to say to this?" asked Gregory, sternly.

66

"I will make any apology," sobbed Mrs. Lindsay; "I am sure I meant nothing. I was always of a quick temper-too ready to speak my mind."

"I never knew that before," said Mr. Lindsay.

"Nor I," growled Grunter.

"Nor I," echoed Miss Tibby and Annie. At this moment a note was brought to Mr. Lindsay; he read it, and turned pale.

"Julian has left us suddenly," he said; "he is gone to London." He looked sternly at the Matchmaker, who trembled. 66 I wish to speak with Augusta; let her be summoned."

Some minutes elapsed, and then Augusta came, pale, her eyes red and downcast, and her head bowed upon her breast.

66

'Augusta," he said, "Julian is gone!"