ing to the result, which, we trust, our readers have expected from the integrity and purity of her character. "If I had remained ignorant of his faults," she thought, "I should have had some excuse; I might then have hoped for assistance and blessing in my attempts to reform him. It would be presumption to trust, now, in any efforts I could make; and what right have I, with my eyes open, to rush into a situation where my own weak virtues may be subdued by trials-must be assailed by temptation? Oh! when I heard him speak lightly of religion, how could I hope he would submit to its requisitions and restraints? I started at the first thought, that he was unprincipled; and yet I have always known there was no immoveable basis for principle, but religion. Selfish-vainhow could I love him! And yet-and she looked at the other side of the picture-his preference of me was purely disinterested-an orphan-destitute-almost an outcast-liable to degradationand he has exposed himself to all the obloquy I may suffer and does he not deserve the devotion of my life?" A moment before, she would have answered her self-interrogation in the negative; but now she seemed losing herself in a labyrinth of opposing duties. She thought that she ought not to place implicit reliance in John's statements. He might have exaggerated Erskine's faults. In his situation, it was natural he should; but he had such a calm, sober way with him, every word bore the impress of truth. The story of the gambling

club had turned the scale; but John might have been misinformed.

Thus, after all her deliberations, Jane re-entered her home, without having come to any decision. Though we believe the opinion of a great moralist is against us, we doubt if "decision of character" belongs to the most scrupulously virtuous.

CHAPTER XIII.

It is religion that doth make vows kept,
But thou hast sworn against religion;
Therefore, thy latter vow against thy first
Is in thyself rebellion to thyself:

And better conquest never canst thou make
Than arm thy constant and thy nobler parts
Against these busy loose suggestions.

KING JOHN.

As Jane entered Mrs. Harvey's door she met her kind hostess just returning from a walk, her face flushed with recent pleasure. "Where upon earth have you been?" she exclaimed. "Ah! if you had gone with me, you would not have come home with such a wo-begone face. Not a word! Well-nothing for nothing is my rule, my dear; and so you need not expect to hear where I have been, and what superb papers have come from New-York, for the front rooms; and beautiful china, and chairs, and carpets, and a fine worktable, for an industrious little lady, that shall be nameless; all quite too grand for a sullen, silent, deaf and dumb school-mistress." She added, playfully, "if our cousin Elvira had been out in such a shower of gold, we should have been favoured

with sweet smiles and sweet talk for one year at least. But there comes he that will make the bird sing, when it won't sing to any one else; and so, my dear, to escape chilling a lover's atmosphere, or being melted in it, I shall make my escape."

Jane would gladly have followed her, but she sat still, after hastily throwing aside her hat, and seizing the first book that she could lay her hands upon, to shelter her embarrassment. She sat with her back to the door.

Edward entered, and walking up to her, looked over her shoulder as if to see what book had so riveted her attention. It chanced to be Penn's "Fruits of Solitude." "Curse on all quakers and quakerism !" said he, seizing the book rudely and throwing it across the room; "wherever I go, I am crossed by them."

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He walked about, perturbed and angry. Jane rose to leave him, for now, she thought, was not the time to come to an explanation; but Erskine, was not in a humour to be opposed in any thing. He placed his back against the door, and said, No, Jane, you shall not leave me now. I have much to tell you. Forgive my violence. There is a point beyond which no rational creature can keep his temper. I have been urged to that point; and, thank Heaven, I have not learnt that smoothfaced hypocrisy that can seem what it is not."

Jane trembled excessively. Erskine had touched the electric chain ;' she sunk into a chair, and burst into tears.

"I was right," he exclaimed, "it is by your authority, and at your instigation, that I am dogged from place to place by that impertinent fellow; you have entered into a holy league; but know, Miss Elton, there is a tradition in our family, that no Erskine was ever ruled by his wife; and the sooner the lady who is destined to be mine learns not to interfere in my affairs, the more agreeable it will be to me, and the more safe for herself."

Jane's indignation was roused by this strange attack; and resuming her composure, she said, "If you mean that I shall understand you, you must explain yourself, for I am ignorant and innocent of any thing you may suspect me of."

"Thank heaven!" replied Erskine, "I believe you, Jane; you know in the worst of times I have believed you; and it was natural to be offended that you should distrust me. You shall know the ' head and front of my offending.' The sins that have stirred up such a missionary zeal in that body of quakerism, will weigh very light in the scales of love."

"Perhaps," said Jane gravely, "I hold a more impartial balance than you expect."

"Then you do not love me, Jane, for love is, and ought to be, blind; but I am willing to make the trial, I will never have it repeated to me, that ' if you knew all, you would withdraw your affections from me.' No one shall say that you have not loved me, with all my youthful follies on my head. I know you are a little puritanical; but that is natural to one who has had so much to