I have noticed with the greatest pain and uneasiness her declining health. Physicians -change of air-amusement, all were useless. No one could account for her depression; and it was only by putting a number of small circumstances together, and by accidentally glancing into her cabinet and her portfolio, that I gained a knowledge of the truth."

His listener moved uneasily, and for a moment there was a nervous twitching of his features. Mr. Laneton perceived he had made some impression, and as he had now fairly launched the subject, he went on with confidence and volubility—

"Una is a girl of very peculiar feeling. Her mother died in her infancy, and she has since had no one on whom she could rely with confidence. Hence she has been led to trust wholly to herself, and she has formed her mind from books, and lived, I believe, in a world of her own; for I own I had neither time nor patience to attend to her. Till she knew you I am quite sure she had no idea of love, nor of any thing of the sort. When removed from the school-room to take her place at the head of my house, it happened that you were the first person she

encountered; and within the last few days I have positively ascertained that you have made an indelible impression on her heart, or her imagination, or whatever faculty it is that is supposed to be affected in young people before they become reasonable beings. I have also learned that, despairing of ever attracting your notice, she has become weary of life, and I really fear that she is sinking. into a state of dejection from which it will soon be impossible to rouse her.”

"You are aware I never gave encouragement to any such feeling?"

"Oh, perfectly! You naturally treated her as a child. But you first opened her mind to the comprehension of a new world. You taught her both to think and to feel; and, for my own part, I am not at all surprised that she should have been completely charmed and fascinated by eloquence, wit”.

"Stay. I will be frank with you. When I first saw Miss Laneton I was attracted by her perfect innocence and her ingenuous manner. Her mind seemed to me a fair tablet, fresh from the hand of God, to be inscribed with the purest characters humanity could trace on it. I will not deny that I sought to guide her tastes, to elevate her

VOL. I.

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fancies, or that I found some degree of pleasure in the task. But," he added, and a cloud gathered on his brow, "how could I ever imagine that I should raise in her breast feelings it would be impossible for me to gratify ?"

He paused an instant in earnest thought, and then exclaimed

"I cannot believe it! You must be deceived. Her mind is not yet sufficiently opened to comprehend the passion of which you speak!"

"Indeed you are mistaken in that. Una, though not yet eighteen, has a singularly decided temper, quiet as her manner is. I cannot now relate to you all the proofs which have convinced me of the strength of her passion; but I solemnly assure you I believe that, if it be destined to disappointment, she will never survive the shock."

"And how," said Cavendish, calmly, "if her affection, instead of lighting on me, had fallen on some poor wretch of an author or artist, whose talents procured him but scanty bread?"

"In that case," said the wealth-worshipper, assuming a look of rigid virtue, "I should have felt bound to comply with her inclina

tions. Una will have a fine fortune should she marry a man without a shilling."

Sincere as his manner seemed, he overshot his mark in this declaration. Cavendish pierced through the thin disguise, and spoke with decision.

"I have been to blame. I was attracted by the originality of your daughter's mind; and, to speak frankly, the intercourse which began on my side in curiosity, has ended in admiration and regard. She is a superior being, worthy all happiness, higher happiness than she will find in this world. In endeavouring to guide her tastes, and find employment for that active intellect, which, without exercise, would have preyed on itself, I did but comply with her own request, and with yours. Yet, if I had thought my motives liable to misconstruction, or if I had imagined it possible she could have regarded me with any sentiment of tenderness, I would have avoided her society. I will now make her all the reparation I can. I will leave England. She shall not see me again until her sentiments are changed."

Mr Laneton was equally astonished and mortified.

"It may be generous," he said, “in you

you

to take this resolution. But, surely, you cannot say that thus make all the reparation in your power to my daughter for the pain she suffers."

"Yes," answered Cavendish firmly, "all; if, indeed, she really suffers pain on my account. It is impossible that I can ever be more to Miss Laneton than a friend. thought it was well known that I am vowed to single life."

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"Yet, surely, you have some wish to preserve your name?"

"Oh! do not fear, my fortune will not want heirs. I have made provision for that. Excuse me; minutes more than worthless to me half an hour back, are precious now. When you hear of me next, it will be that I have quitted England."

With a moody air Mr Laneton quitted the mansion. But he did not the less resolve that the purpose on which he had set his mind should be accomplished.

"He is half mad-or more!" he exclaimed, as he threw himself into his brougham; and a very impracticable fellow. Who the devil is to be his heir, I wonder? find that out."

I must