liquid, or to trace in characters sufficiently dainty, the romantic historiettes connected with my charming sylph.

Amongst all the slaves at her feet, no one in particular seemed to excite her interest, or move her compassion, and I often wondered how she could be so insensible, and like to wound so many hearts, without healing one; but she would only laugh and say:

"Dear Isola! do you imagine those men possess hearts ? I'll admit that their animal economy requires an article of the kind, and, of course, I don't speak in a literal sense; but it strikes me, that men of the world dispense with it generally in its moral signification, or it becomes so warped, or so callous with usage, that it loses all its soft, spongy, nice qualities, and for all the good it is to them, they may as well be without it; now look at Mr. St. Leger, can you fancy him really in love ?"

I laughed to myself as a slight suspicion crossed my mind that I could, and that if I had not seen the "veritable" passion displayed, I had witnessed a very fair semblance of it.

"You forget, dear Leila," I said, "that the fiery, sanguine youth, changes in time to the

cool and sobered man, and much intercourse with the world, acts like time, and ages one with marvellous rapidity. I feel older now, since I commenced this London season, older by years, than I did before. Do you remember those lines in "Festus."

"We live in deeds, not years-in thoughts, not breaths, In feelings-not in figures on a dial,

We should count time by heart throbs.""

"Just so," exclaimed Leila, "and they illustrate mine, too; anything, whether it be one's dress, or one's muscles, or one's feelings by constant use, must get worn out in time, or if not exactly used up' (to express myself in a term of Charles's) they lose their freshness."

6

I thought I knew an instance to the contrary; of one who had mixed as largely with the world as most men, and who yet retained, pure and unsullied, the feelings of early youth.

"As a general rule, I think you're right," I answered, "but it is yet possible, I am sure, to meet with many exceptions to that; and when you do meet with men who have had every worldly experience, and yet carry with them'airs from Heaven,' which Wordsworth

will tell you come into the world with us at our birth, but fall from us one by one like 'snow flakes' as we come in contact with the things of earth-I cannot remember the lines exactly just now, but that is the idea they express-those men are to me much more interesting than others; their feelings are not chilled, nor withered, nor callous, they are only more matured, like wine by careful keeping, and their hearts are a rich treasury of thought and feeling. Yes, I am persuaded that it is the abuse, not the use of the heart which wears it out; if it preserve its healthy tone, and no violent sweep of sorrow cracks the strings of that most delicate of instruments; it will throb on with varying pulsations, wakening sweet music to the last."

"How long, Isola, have you made the heart your study? it strikes me that you have been diving into the subject with all the desperate energy of your character."

The horses are at the door, Ma'am," interrupted our conversation.

Come, Isola, dear! do have a ride to day. Hassan will fret himself to death if his mistress neglects him so long."

I shook my head; I could not have mounted him in my then state of mind, had it been ever so; the indulgence of any personal enjoyment seemed almost wrong-selfish-so I took my leave, promising to call the next day.

I did so-but oh! the instability of all earthly things, for once that sunny region where my bright Leila held sway, was clouded.

On entering the drawing-room, I immediately perceived that there was "something wrong." Mrs. Compton was looking frightened and sad, while Leila's counteance wore a thoughtful expression, very unusual with her.

Charles was standing at the window, but turned to welcome me, when I noticed that he was pale, and looking strangely grave for him; immediately afterwards he left the room.

"Poor Charles! poor boy!" exclaimed his aunt as the door closed upon him, "we have had bad news this morning, Miss Brand." Mrs. Compton never would depart from her custom of addressing me by my surname.

I expressed my sympathy in a few words, of course, though unable to imagine the

CHAPTER IX.

"His years but young, but his experience old;
His head unmellowed, but his judgment ripe;
And in a word (for far behind his worth
Come all the praises that I now bestow),

He is complete in feature, and in mind,
With all good grace to grace a gentleman.”

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.

THE crisis had come-" the worst was over, he would do well now."

very

Oh! the tearful joy of that intelligence! the hope, brightening day by day as a better and still better report was given, till at length I heard that the poor patient could sit up; "and I think," said Lady Ravensden as she communicated to me the pleasing intelligence, "I think you might go with me and see him, poor fellow, it is the least you can do."