Captain Cecil continued the struggle, between pride and circumstance, duty and integrity, high ambition for his children and self-reproach at his own conduct; until, with his mind harassed by the perpetual conflict, which imparted itself to his manners, he became absent, irritable, and morose.

The change in one usually so mild and tender, was too soon felt; and the wife's heart sickened within her, as for one minute the dark fancy passed over her, that perhaps it was her lot to deplore the loss of his loveof her husband's love-the father of her children! It was but a minute's pang; for, blessed in the knowledge of his pure and unerring affection, and conscious of the increased tenderness which each day of their married life had witnessed, her happy and well-grounded confidence returned. Loss of fortune, with his affection undiminished, she felt she could bear as a minor evil; and her thoughts then turned

to that; but in her complete ignorance of their affairs, and judging by the appearance of prosperity around her, she tried to believe that too was impossible. Still, that there was some secret discomfort became perfectly evident; and, though aware of a desire, on Captain Cecil's part, to avoid any very confidential conversation, she determined to seize the first opportunity of questioning him on the subject.

The occasion soon presented itself. After a morning of unusual excitement, Captain Cecil one day requested the dinner hour might be early, as he had business in the City which was to be transacted in the evening; and accordingly, he left the house immediately the cloth was removed. It was at the end of May, and the day had been one of more than common sweetness. The early dinner gave Evelyn and her brother the opportunity of an evening ride, which the warm weather made more desirable at that hour; and Julian and

Blanche gladly gave up one of the splendid banquets at Clairville House to join their cousins in this summer excursion. Mrs. Cecil watched their departure from the window; and, while her eye rested on their young and graceful figures, as they gaily moved from the door, and their merry laugh rung on her ears, she felt that she ought to be happy, in their happiness. Still, all failed to dispel the depression of her spirits; and, when she saw the younger children set out for their evening walk with their nurses, it seemed an inexpressible relief to her over-charged heart to feel herself thus alone, and to know that she might weep, without fear of interruption. She sought to shake off the weight which oppressed her; and, seating herself at the open window, she endeavoured to remove the vague sorrow at her heart, by properly appreciating the blessings around her. All was indeed luxury and elegance; on every side were the

marks of her husband's care for her enjoyment and pleasure. At her feet, even, blossomed the choicest and freshest flowers; and the balcony vied with the gayest of her parterres at Riversdale. Still, this fond tribute to her particular taste now failed to soothe; and the perfume of the mignonette, the Provence rose, the Persian violet, exhaled around her unheeded.

Mrs. Cecil was not the first who has experienced the inadequacy of exterior objects to cheat the mind of any inward grief; indeed, the perturbation Captain Cecil had evinced the whole morning had filled her with a dark dread of evil, which every minute increased; and at length retreating to a couch, in a corner of the apartment, she gave way to a burst of grief, which only seemed to save her heart from breaking. Long and fearful was the agitation that oppressed her; and her long pent-up feelings seemed to have gathered strength from the efforts she had used in controlling them.

By degrees, however, and as if soothed by the unwonted indulgence, a calm came over her troubled spirit; and she could think that, as her sorrow was still imaginary, it was scarcely justifiable. Breathing an ejaculatory prayer, to be spared the continued trial of seeing her husband's altered demeanour, she dried the still flowing tears; and taking up a book, sought to gain calmness in its perusal, for she was aware her little ones would soon enter to receive their kiss of "good night." They came as she expected; with feigned cheerfulness, she entered into all their prattling details of the pleasures of the walk; but still she felt it was a relief when they left her, and she found herself once more alone.

In a few minutes, however, the door again opened, and Captain Cecil entered. For the instant she felt embarrassed; and fearful there might still be traces of her late emotion visible, she bent her head to caress the little spaniel,