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shake off the weight which oppressed her; and, seating herself at the open window, she endeavored 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 fershest 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 purfume 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 demeanor, 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 em

barrassed; and fearful there might still be traces of her late emotion visible, she bent her head to caress the little spaniel, which, entering with his master, bounded on the sofa beside her. For the same reason, although Captain Cecil seated himself on a chair near her, she avoided speaking, lest the tones of her voice should also betray her. He was the first to break silence, by at length remarking querulously

"Mary—you seem happier to see my dog, than you are to welcome your husband."

"Oh! no," she replied, extending her hand, "I am indeed glad you are returned from your troublesome expedition."

As she spoke, in spite of her best efforts, a tear fell from her eye. This, with the pallid hue of her cheeks, seemed to alarm his awakened attention; and starting from his seat, he for a moment folded her to his bosom, as he asked if any thing had occurred to make her unhappy.

"Oh! nothing, nothing," she exclaimed, a faint smile breaking through her tears. "I have everything this world can give for happiness. Your love, dear Herbert, and my sweet darlings, but still-you must forgive me I have indeed been weeping." She drew him to the sofa as she spoke; and then added,"Herbert, I have one petition to make-one serious prayer," she continued more earnestly: "you are keeping some secret from your wife, who never concealed one thought from you; but, if my affection has value in your eyes, if my unfailing tenderness gives me any claim, I beseech you, tell me the meaning of your present sadness and altered manner."

She looked into his eyes with an earnest sweetness, as though she would there read an answer, while her half open lips seemed to wait in breathless expectance for his reply. A deep blush mounted to his temples, and an air of irresolution passed over his countenance, which somewhat encouraged her. He rose from the

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couch, and for a few moments paced the apartment rapidly, as if to gain calmness for his answer; then suddenly stopping before her, he said in tones of deep tenderness, struggling with emotion

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Mary, not now-I cannot now;-give me until tomorrow, and you shall know all,-promise not to ask me until then, my own angel wife!"

At this moment the young equestrian party returned from their ride, and soon entered the room, in all the excitement to which their pleasant excursion had given rise. Captain Cecil, pleading headache, almost immediately retired to his room; and in the gaiety and happiness of the cousins, which seemed so perfect when together, the fond mother for the moment forgot her previous anxiety.

Could she have looked into her husband's heart, how different would have been her feelings! The unhappy man had that evening received the confirmed news of the bankruptcy of a house in the City, that had advanced large sums on mortgages, on the Riversdale property. This he knew must bring things to a climax, unless he could raise money elsewhere; and, deluded and sanguine as he was, he knew this would be an affair of difficulty. Scarcely able to repress the groans, which would burst from his fevered lips, as reflection came pressing on his now affrighted mind, he pressed his beating brow close to his pillow; and feigning sleep, avoided the questions which tenderness for his health would have prompted.

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CHAPTER IV.

"The fountain may not fail the less,
Whose sands are golden ore,
And a sister for her loveliness
May not be loved the more;
But as the fount's full heart beneath
Those golden sparkles shine,
My sister's beauty seem'd to breathe
Its brightness over mine!"

CAPTAIN CECIL rose early the next morning, dreading nearly as much the disclosure he had promised to make, as the involvement which now so fearfully threatened him. He passed his lovely Evelyn on the staircase; and even her sweet smile, accompanying the salutation of the morning, was a pang to his heart. He felt that her happy hours were perhaps now numbered; and he turned away to hide the tears which rose to his eyes. He did not calculate upon the buoyancy of spirit, and the real strength of mind, which indulgence and perfect happiness had hitherto concealed. He knew not, that, in common with her brother, she owned those blessed influences, which would enable her to endure meekly, and to struggle firmly, against the hardest trials of human nature. He thought only of the blight about to fall on their young hearts-on the dark reverse they were likely to sustain, when, just entering into life, all its bright ornaments were most to be prized; and feeling that it was his own misjudging tenderness and profusion, which had brought all this about, his mind was smitten with the keenest pangs of selfreproach. At this moment, when thought was becoming so painful, a note from his lawyer assumed almost the form of a relief, calling as it did for immediate ac

tion. Hastily swallowing a cup of coffee, he left the house, before the rest of the family had descended to breakfast.

- About twelve o'clock a note, written evidently in considerable haste, was brought to Mrs. Cecil. It was from her unfortunate husband, telling her that he was about to proceed immediately to Riversdale, on urgent business; and pleading the suddenness of his plans, as a reason for his not coming to say adieu. He also adde ed, that his absence would be but for a few days; and that the servant would only wait until a carpet bag could be packed, with which he was to meet his master at the coach-office. On hearing this, Herbert also proceeded thither, and arrived in time to bid his father farewell; but could not find a moment to inquire into the reason of his pale and haggard looks.

The next day a letter arrived, telling the now anxious wife, that his absence must be protracted to a fortnight; and Mrs. Cecil found she had still to wait the explanation she so desired, and yet dreaded.

"Evelyn," said Herbert to his sister, a few days after his father had left town, how very wretched I am at the idea of this expedition to Germany, and of leaving you all, just as my mother seems to require our united efforts to dispel the sadness which appears to hang over her! You, too, my sweet Eve, are not in your usual spirits, nay, even while I speak, tears are rising in your eyes. Why is all this?""

Evelyn could not reply; but leaning her head on her brother's shoulder, continued to weep in silence. Passing his arm round her youthful form, he pressed her fondly to his heart, but forebore to interrupt the gentle evidence of her grief; thinking this relief would better enable her to enter on the subject, on which he was about to speak.

After the lapse of a few minutes, Evelyn held up her beautiful face; and, looking anxiously to her brother, said, "I am unhappy, Herbert,-very, very unhappy,

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