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nute and fallible senses cannot see the

fection of every part?"

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per

No, Charles, no," answered lord Burton firmly; " my reliance on him has been my consolation in all that has hitherto befallen me, and the last, the most dreadful sorrow, the only one which could overwhelm me with despair, would be the loss of that confidence, without which the cares of the world are cares indeed, but under whose bright influence life and all its wo becomes the transient passing of an uneasy dream, from which we shall wake to never-failing happiness, and eternal peace. But come, we have dwelt too much upon this painful subject. I must not let Mary see the effect it has had."

At breakfast the baron de S― paid them a visit; and lord Burton took advantage of his presence to announce his intention of leaving Naples that day; on which Mary immediately proposed to accompany him. She was seconded by Charles and lady Anne, all of whom as

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sured him that it would put them to no inconvenience, for that the luggage and servants could easily follow them to Rome. But lord Burton would not hear of it.

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Nay, Frederic, dear Frederic," said lady Mary, "I cannot think, with any comfort, of your travelling to England entirely alone, after what has happened. It will make me very wretched indeed."

There was a struggle in Charles's breast for a moment, which made the blood come and go rapidly in his cheek.-" Frederic," said he, at last, "you shall let me go with you;" and he gave a glance at Mary, whose society he was about to sacrifice for her approbation.

"Said like yourself, dear Charles,” said Mary, holding out her hand to him; while a drop glittered in her eye, that told she entered into all he felt, and well repaid the effort he had made.

The baron de S, who had become almost like one of the family, perceived that something unpleasant had happened,

though

though he did not know what.-" I am vain enough," said he, "to flatter myself that perhaps my company may be as agreeable to lord Burton as yours, Melville, and therefore, as I have no one thing to detain me at Naples, I do not see why I should not enjoy his society on my journey to England.-What say you, Burton ?"

Lord Burton made some objections, on account of the inconvenience to which such a sudden departure would put his friend; but the baron overruled all opposition." I am a soldier," said he, "and accustomed to move at short notice. There is only one stipulation I will make-that is, that we do not take Paris in our route."

Lord Burton assured him that he had no such intention; and all being arranged satisfactorily, he was not at all averse to take advantage of the baron's friendly proposal.

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CHAPTER IV.

In this dim cave a Druid sleeps,
Where stops the passing gale to moan;
The rock he hollowed o'er him weeps,
And cold drops wear the fretted stone.

LANGHORNE.

The Cave.

FRIENDSHIP is perhaps the rarest sentiment to be met with, in any degree of purity, that the world affords. Instances of it do sometimes occur, but with the interval of centuries or ages between them.

The common every-day connexion that passes by that name, is in general as selfish a passion as any to which human nature is subject; it commences in convenience, and ends with it; it arises from no principle but our own gratification, and lasts

no

no longer than we gain pleasure by it. There are indeed people who raise it above its ordinary level; and the man who sacrifices some part of his fortune, his time, or his comfort, for another, fancies himself a friend of the antique mould, and inscribes his name with those of Damon and Pythias.

How far the friendship of the baron de S went for lord Burton is of little consequence. It is sufficient that he put himself to some inconvenience to accompany him; but let it also be said, that the society of lord Burton was more agreeable to the baron than that of most other men; and in the state of his own mind, he found change of scene quite as necessary as his companion.

However, lord Burton was very well contented-all the necessary arrangements were soon made, and they quitted Naples that very evening.

Mary was much grieved at her brother's departure; she loved him with the fondest

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