condescending to accept a supper and bed at his house! From that day, he bowed almost lower to me than to Danby, when we entered the office. He assured me, of course, that I had nothing to fear;-that people who, like the Crutchleys, could pay for the best advice, would be better advised than to make themselves ridiculous, not at my expense, but at their own. Mr. S. S. (who in spite of his initials was not a sower of sedition,) ventured indeed to insinuate something about the desirableness of re-considering the matter, before I rejected such prospects. But I silenced him by a look. It is amazing what looks one can put on, when one is refusing ten thousand a year!—

Meanwhile, the wedding day in Connaught Place was approaching; and Frank and Jane were as happy as happy could be. Walsingham had all but recovered from his wound. There remained only enough of illness to justify such care and thoughtfulness on the part of his young bride, as, but for the pretext of indis

position, she had not dared to avow. Lucky dog !—Instead of being forced to the petits soins of a lover, petits soins were forced upon him! -A place was prepared for him in the corner of the sofa, and a footstool placed at his feet, almost as assiduously as if for CECIL.

I do not suppose poor Jane fully appreciated the sacrifice her father was making, or she would have been more reserved in the manifestations of her attachment. But unused to disguise a thought or feeling, she seemed to take delight in rewarding herself for the two years of reserve she had undergone, by the free avowal of her present happiness. She evidently fancied that Walsingham was to be as much loved and cherished by her father, as by herself. -Infatuated by the influence of a first love, she never perceived the incompetency of Frank to become his companion. When Walsingham sometimes indulged in those ebullitions of youthful spirits which delighted Jane and amused me,-I have seen Danby struggle to

look pleased, anxious only lest the effort of his indulgence should be apparent.-No doubt, in his soul he thought the madcap insupportable, but bore with him for the sake of his child.

"Let her only be happy," whispered he to me one day, in a broken voice, taking my arm to hurry away from the house, where Frank, in the buoyant spirits of triumphant joy, had been trying upon his bride some tire or trinket presented to her as a wedding gift.-" But when I reflect upon the moment of disenchantment, when all this levity will appear to her in its true light!”

"Jane is young and gay," pleaded I.—" We must not expect her to feel and think with our thoughts and feelings."

"I do not-GOD forbid she should!-GOD forbid she should ever suffer from such distracting thoughts as mine are now,"-exclaimed Danby with an impetuosity very unusual to him. "But she would have found in young

Chippenham as much sprightliness and animation as in this man,-combined with intelligence to appreciate her talents, and steadiness to do her honour in life!-Oh! Cecil-what will be her destiny!-How will she bear the littleness of a mind like his, and the littleness of fortune from which such insignificance is inseparable. But why do I allow myself to be betrayed into the discussion !" faltered he, suddenly interrupting himself,-" I had hoped to have embraced the decree of Providence without a murmur."

A few days afterwards, when Frank had been committing himself by giving loose opinions in politics, in his presence, and worse still, in presence of my sister and Herries, in the sort of reckless, boyish manner in which

fools rush in where seraphs fear to tread,

Danby took me aside, and hinted his desire to accelerate the preparations for the marriage. At first, he had anxiously asked for time, as if to reconcile himself to the event. He now

wished the wedding to be hurried. He seemed to doubt whether his fortitude and patience would hold out to the end.

"As a son-in-law, perhaps I shall look upon him in a different light,” said he, in a despairing tone." But so long as the connection is not irrevocable, I permit myself to dwell upon it till my anxieties distract me.—I am often unreasonable, often peevish with that poor girl! -and since no longer the doating fond indulgent father I once was, let me at least supply the deficiency by a more affectionate companion!"

It was not very difficult, of course, to hasten the wedding. I almost agreed with Danby; for never had I seen Frank Walsingham so flighty as now, in the wildness of his joy.-The sobriety of domestic life might perhaps render him more rational.—

Already, I had pledged myself to Danby to accompany him on a tour to the Continent.— On his own account he felt an urgent necessity