immediately-Louisa Stanhope loves you -lose no time; but oh, tell my father to come and see me; you can do every thing else afterwards."

Her rambling way of speaking convinced lord Burton that his cousin was in a degree delirious; and though the surgeon, whom captain Malcolm kept in constant attendance upon her, did not seem to consider it as a lost case, Frederic took leave of her, scarcely expecting to see her again, though he promised to return immediately from London.

No time was to be lost, and sending on outriders, he had the horses put to the carriage; and with the baron de S, who did not at all object to their accelerated mode of travelling, proceeded towards London as rapidly as possible. He paused not a moment on the road, and about the middle of the next day he arrived in town, equally distressed and fatigued. Having left the baron at his own house, without alighting himself, he went

on to that of lord Ainsfield, where he was immediately admitted, and found his uncle in the library, with lady Cecilia."You seem much fatigued, lord Burton," said he, after the first civilities.

"I am rather worn out, indeed," replied Frederic, "as I have been travelling a night and day under considerable distress of mind."

"Indeed!" said lord Ainsfield; " may I ask what is the occasion? I do not know any thing that can particularly affect you. You have no daughters."

"True, my lord," replied his nephew; "but one of yours has been the cause in the present instance-lady Jane."

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Yes, sir," interrupted the other hastily; lady Jane Malcolm-give her all her names I beg. What of her, sir? I suppose she is very contrite, &c. is she not?"

"Let me beg you, sir," replied lord Burton, "to prepare yourself to hear with fortitude what I have to tell you."

"Pshaw, Burton!" exclaimed lord Ains

field-" what has lady Jane desired you to say? it is ridiculous to talk of bearing with fortitude the behaviour of an undutiful girl.—What does she want?”

"She begs, sir," replied lord Burton, rather hurt," that she may see her father, and receive his pardon, before”

"Before what?" cried he, alarmed"before what, Burton? for Heaven's sake tell me what you mean!"

"Before it is impossible," continued Frederic, "for her to receive it in this world."

Lord Ainsfield caught at the arm of a chair for support. All the fond feelings of a father, all his affection for his favourite daughter, returned as soon as he heard she was ill, and almost overpowered him. It was now hardly possible to follow the rapidity of his questions; but as well as he could, lord Burton explained what had taken place, and did all in his power to calm his uncle's agitation, which was far greater than he had expected. Lord Ains field

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field immediately ordered post horses, and pressed his nephew to accompany him; but independent of his fatigue, which rendered some rest necessary, lord Burton had promised to join the baron as soon as possible: he, however, assured his uncle that he would follow him early the next morning; for though he could be of but little service in other respects, yet if the event proved according to his fears, he felt that his presence might be some consolation to lord Ainsfield, to whom lady Cecilia would afford none.

On arriving at his own house, the porter informed him that a gentleman had called the evening before, and again that morning, who seemed most anxious to see him, and in great affliction. The servant went on to describe him as very much agitated, saying that he wrote for some time in the library, as if wishing to leave a letter; but after considering for a time, he tore what he had written, and said he would call again in the evening.

"Did he leave his name, or a card?" demanded lord Burton.

"He said his name was Travers, I think, my lord," replied the man; "but he seemed very anxious to see you."

"At last, then, my search for Mr. Travers is ended," thought lord Burton; but at the same time, from the agitation the servant described, he felt convinced that it was some new sorrow that had driven that gentleman to seek him.-" Admit that gentleman whenever he comes," said lord Burton: "was he an old or a young man?"

"He was an elderly man, my lord," replied the porter-" a very fine-looking man-near sixty-five, I should think, or somewhere thereabouts."

While he was speaking, a carriage drove up to the house; in a moment after, the library door opened, and lady Mary was in her brother's arms. Charles and lady Anne Milsome followed; nor was there one of them that was not glad to find K 6 themselves