terested affection; but, indeed, I have but little, or rather no apprehension, that she will not, for never yet has she disappointed any expectation I formed of her. Take her, Captain Delacour,' resigning her hand into that of her lover, take her with my blessing....my best wishes....my prayers for your mutual happiness: should I not live to witness your union, I shall nevertheless die, rejoicing in the idea of it.'

Of this scene enough ;....suffice it to add, that, for a few hours, a happier set of beings, than were now collected under the roof of Munro, could not have been found; but then the idea of Delacour's approaching departure recurring to their recollection, threw a damp on their spirits.

The interest which Delacour had excited in the minds of Mr. and Mrs. Munro, was not inferior to that which they had given birth to in his. Although care for years had pressed heavy upon both, and, for a considerable period, they had withdrawn from the haunts of fashion, neither anxiety nor seclusion had impaired their powers of pleasing....the polish of high life was still discernible in both, now united with a pleasing familiarity, and simplicity of manners, perfectly according with, and appearing, indeed, to be the result of their present situation.

Munro could still at times exercise that playful humour, which in the days of his youth and prosperity, had often enabled him to set the table in a roar; and Mrs. Munro could still laugh at, and take pleasure in listening to, anecdotes of the great world. To the abhorrence in which Delacour had always held the inhuman conduct of old Mr. Munro, was now added astonishment at his being capable of discarding such a son.... so every way calculated to render him happy, and do honour to his name, as was the father of his Elizabeth ; and still further, if possible, was his wish for a union with her heightened, by the amiable relatives he saw he should acquire by it. He anticipated the delight he should experience, if ever in his power, to compensate them in any degree for the injustice of fortune; and, in his solicitude to do this, found a new stimulus for his adherence to prudence in future.

A party of young people were invited for the evening, and again Munro and his wife had the exquisite felicity of beholding their Elizabeth participating in their amusements, with that cheerfulness which was natural to her.

'Oh, joy, how magical is thy influence!' silently exclaimed the delighted father, as he contemplated the al teration which a few short hours had made in the beloved of his heart....the rich glow which again suffused the cheek that had so lately worn the sickly hue of melancholy, and the liquid lustre that darted from the eyes, but a few minutes back heavy and dejected.

Munro recollected how he had felt when a lover, and in consequence of this recollection, left the lovers to themselves a considerable part of the ensuing day. How supreme would have been the happiness of Delacour during these hours, in which he was thus allowed to engross exclusively to himself the attentions of his gentle mistress, but for the thoughts of the separation that was to take place that night! He verified, by his feelings on this occasion, the remark, that

Of all the creatures that exist,

Man only clogs his happiness with care,
And while he should enjoy his part of bliss

With thoughts of what may be, destroys what is.'

The morning was fine, and great part of it was spent in rambling about the environs of the house, through those haunts, endeared by the recollection of having been the scenes where they first met.

On returning from this, it is presumed needless to say delightful ramble, they passed through the chapel, fitted up in the house for the accommodation of Mrs. Munro ; it was of spacious dimensions, its form octagon, and covered with a soft thick matting; in a deep recess at the farthest end stood the altar, between two gothic windows, chiefly composed of stained glass, and which from the shadow of intermingled cypresses and willows, nourished by a murmuring rill that crept round their feet, cast on them, only admitted a softened light; all around were vases of rich flowers, shedding an exquisite per

fume, and forming a beautiful contrast to the sombre hue of the grey walls.

Delacour involuntarily paused to look about him, remarking as he did, that he had no where seen a place better adapted for the purposes to which it was devoted, namely, prayer and meditation.

'Here,' cried Elizabeth, resting her hand upon the low railing which enclosed the altar.... here,' turning a look of ineffable tenderness upon him, will the safety of Delacour often be prayed for.'

And here,' returned he, rapturously seizing her hand, and dropping on one knee, let him pray that he may never cease to merit your supplications to Heaven for him; but with your image, my Elizabeth, enshrined in his heart, it is impossible he should....for, like the angels that attend, we are told, the couch of innocence and virtue, it is calculated to keep far off all thoughts of harm and sin.'

As he knelt, Elizabeth drew from her pocket a long plait of her own hair, united with a small heart of agate, and with a smile threw it over his neck.

This goes with me to my grave,' cried Delacour, as, after holding it for some minutes to his lips, he concealed it in his bosom.

At ten o'clock at night the chaise, which was to convey Delacour away, drove to the door....till then the party within had, by struggling with their feelings, maintained an appearance of cheerfulness, but on its stopping each countenance was in a minute overcast.

Mrs. Munro was the first whom Delacour approached to take leave of; as he affectionately pressed his lips to her hand.... Remember,' she softly whispered whose happiness you have in your keeping, and let the recollection prevent you from needlessly exposing yourself.'

A look of eloquent gratitude was the only reply Delacour was able to make to this speech.

For once, for once, my Elizabeth,' he softly cried, after pressing her cold trembling hands for some minutes in silence to his heart, a silence, perhaps, more expressive than language could have been, let me be blest by hearing you call me your Delacour.'

T

My Delacour,' faintly articulated Elizabeth....then, after a short pause, Be....be careful of yourself, for should this be our last meeting, never, never will happiness again be known to Elizabeth.'

Delacour caught her to his bosom for an instant....he strained her to it....then relinquishing his hold....' Angels watch over you,' he cried, and darted from the room.

In the hall he found Munro, who, in order to be no restraint upon his feelings on this occasion, had repaired thither; he could only, however, wring his hand in silence....his heart was too full to permit him to speak, and to hide its emotions he hurried to the chaise, and in a few minutes lost sight of the habitation of his beloved. On reaching London he merely stopped there for the purpose of visiting Mr. Beerscroft, in order to inform him of the engagement between him and Elizabeth, and conjure him to keep a watchful eye over Lord O'Sinister. telling you she is now my betrothed bride,' added he, ' it cannot, I am sure, be necessary to expatiate, or even point out the consequences that must ensue from her being again annoyed by that villainous brother-in-law of yours.'

• After

Beerscroft gave him every assurance he could desire, on the subject....assurances which Delacour knew him too well to doubt his not attending to.

The tender attentions of her parents, and the corres pondence she carried on with Delacour till his ship had sailed, gradually softened the sorrow of Elizabeth for his departure. If at times the thoughts of the dangers he was exposed to became too powerful for her feelings, she always sought retirement until she had regained tranquillity, or at least the semblance of it, that thus her parents might be spared the pain of witnessing her unhappiness, and which, just at this juncture, she was well aware, from a pressure of domestic cares, they could ill have supported.

CHAP. X.

A sudden storm did from the south arise;
And horrid black began to hang the skies;
By slow advances loaded clouds ascend,
And cross the air their lowering front extend;
Heav'n's loud artillery began to play,

And wrath divine in dreadful peals convey;
Darkness and raging winds their terrors join,
And storms of rain with storms of fire combine;
Some run ashore upon the shoaly land,
Some perish by the rocks, some by the sand.'

DRYD. VIRG.

THE wound of Munro at length assumed so alarming an appearance, that he deemed it expedient to obtain the advice of a professional man of greater celebrity than the one who attended him at Heathwood, and accordingly, for the purpose of procuring this, took an excursion to while Elizabeth was at Glengary, when it was discovered that the bone of his leg was materially injured....a discovery which, destroying his hopes of speedily, if ever, recovering the entire use of it, reduced him to the necessity of relinquishing his adjutancy, as a situation requiring greater exertions than he was then capable of making.

His resignation of it afforded Lord O'Sinister no little pleasure, as it saved him the trouble of planning a scheme to induce him in one way or other, to give it up, in consequence of his determining not to allow him to retain a situation, calculated to enable him to free himself from the pecuniary obligations under which he had laid him, and thus put it out of his power to pursue the only measure by which he now thought there was a chance of succeeding with Elizabeth....namely, imprisoning him, and making her compliance with his wishes the price of his enlargement.

Munro was grievously disappointed at finding the resignation of his lately-obtained situation, on which he had built so much, accepted by his Lordship without any