grasped her robe, and pointed to the sofa. Again she took her seat, and in eager trepidation awaited the solution. "Just so did she look," murmured the marquis, in a voice low and broken; "just so did she smile-the mouththe nose the eyes-the self-same image. Sweet shade! thou hast vengeance-ample vengeance. All-seeing heaven, who suffered the bruised reed to fall by the hand of treachery-who, in an angel's form, pictured virtue, and laid her mourning in the dust, look down on this her representative! andah! what have I uttered?" His He started. "I rave, MadamMiss Forrester-Antonia” voice faltered; his head sank upon the arm of the sofa; and the swoln tear, wrung by the pangs of memory from the heart of anguish, rolled down his check. My Lord," implored the wondering Antonia, "suffer me to call your attendants; another time will suf fice for explanation: you are ill, and exertion agitates you.' "No, no," repeated the marquis, quicklý, “ I am well-quite well: this is a mere nothing quite well, Miss Forrester. But to speak of friends whom death has removed from the world," he solemnly continued-" friends, dear, beloved, intimately connected---to speak of such with composure, requires not fortitude, but apathy." Antonia's eyes, in scrutinizing earnestness, rested on him. " I requested the present conference," he resumed. "to renew my offers of friendship and protection; to assure you, Miss Forrester, that my home, my family, shall be your home, your family, until such time as your heart may wish to exchange it for a more permanent establishment---until the being, who can justly estimate its virtues, shall have ensured its affection, and successfully have solicited the hand of my adopted daughter." Antonia, sighing, still attentively gazed on the marquis." Yet think not," he pursued, "that dependence is your lot. At the death of your saintlike mother, five thousand pounds was invested in my hands, as the portion of her orphan. That sum, from aceumulating interest, is doubled: ten thousand, therefore, is your own---the interest---the principal, all at your dise posal." Antonia exulted not in her newacquired possession. The whole would she have willingly exchanged for a knowledge of her origin. Disappointment shadowed her expressive features, and, in a voice indicating her feelings-- My parents!" she exclaimed; "wherefore this mystery? You knew my mother---ah! you start, you tremble! Hide not her sufferings from 34 for sur explanation: you Such composure, 1's eves in scrut |