sir Harry Morley's letter, conveying the tidings of Mary's illness, returned upon his mind every five minutes: he could not get rid of the idea, and often doubting the nature of some particular expression in it, he would refer to the letter again, and then when he had once began, he always went through the part where Mary was mentioned; and why should he not? he asked, when he found himself doing so; she was his cousin had been brought up with him like a sister; she was beautiful, amiable, and accomplished. It was impossible not to admire her, to regard her, to esteem her, to love her. Charles stopped there, and began to doubt; but still why should he not? There was no harm in thinking of her being anxious about her; and therefore he went on, and thought of her more, and was more anxious about her than she knew or he imagined. But at length he arrived at Milan, and the servant was sent with their passports to the post-office, from whence he returned

returned with two letters to Mr. Melville.

Sir Harry Morley had not failed him, and Charles eagerly tore open that which bore his hand-writing on the direction. The contents seemed to affect Charles deeply; the colour came and went in his cheek as he read, and as he concluded, he threw it down on the table, with an angry impetuous motion, which shewed him not very well pleased at the information it brought.

"May I ask what is the matter?" said Mr. Wilmot. "Your cousin is not worse, I hope?"

"Oh no," answered Charles. "But I am both surprised and disappointed, Wil mot. Morley here informs me that Mary is much better, but that she is coming to Italy for her health; and my lord Burton has pointed out for her the very contrary route from what he supposes me going to travel. His lordship will find himself mistaken though, if he thinks I will not see my cousin, after her being so ill, if all

the

the lord Burtons on earth stood in the

way."

"But what do you think of doing then?" demanded the other, regarding his emotion with a quiet kind of smile.

66

Oh," replied Charles, “it will be easily managed. I will meet her at Florence, taking that city in my way as I go, instead of returning. But let me see what my sister says. This letter is from her.-Not a word, by Heavens !" continued he, as he ran through Caroline's epistle. "She just touches upon Mary's illness, and then telling me she is better, drops the subject. But I suppose Caroline is schooled, or else is so much occupied with Mr. Malden, who, she says, has been paying a visit to my father, that she thinks of nothing else." "You seem very much interested about your cousin," observed Mr. Wilmot.

66

Certainly I am," answered Charles, with an affectation of frankness that he did not know himself guilty of: but he was deceiving himself, and might be

par

doned

am.

doned for deceiving others-" certainly I We have been brought up like brother and sister from childhood, and I should be very wrong not to feel interested when her health is concerned. Did you ever see her ?"

66

"I have often," replied Mr. Wilmot, very often."

"And may I ask what you think of her?" demanded Charles.

፡፡

Think of her!" said Mr. Wilmot, with that peculiar illumination of countenance which sometimes shewed itself in him, like the sun breaking through a cloud; "I think of her as of the most amiable of women; as of one who, though so young, combines the brightest talents with the purest of minds-the utmost energy of character with the utmost gentleness of heart."

Charles looked at him as if he would penetrate his very inmost thoughts."You are animated," said he at length; "I suspect your heart is touched, Wilmot."

"It is indeed, Charles," replied the other; "but not as you think, or I should not have expressed myself so openly." He paused a moment, and then added-" So far from it, that I hope the gentleman for whom lord Burton designs his sister may be, in every respect, worthy of her, and that they may love each other with all the sincerity of true affection-in a word, that they may be perfectly happy," and he quitted the room.

This

Charles Melville stood for a moment in astonishment."The gentleman for whom lord Burton designs his sister!" he repeated to himself. "Lord Burton then destines his sister for some one else! then is the cause of all his coldness-his holding aloof from our family-his removal of Mary from my father's house-his pointing out for her a route so different from that which he knew I was going to travel. It is nothing to me truly," continued Charles to himself; "lord Burton may give her, of course, to whom he

pleases;