"Where they

looking at me with an air of suspicion. ought to be, returned I," "Adeline is heiress of Colonel Sternbach." He threw himself into a chair, and

covered his face with both his hands. I exhorted him to

take courage, and to thank heaven which had prevented his committing a heavy crime. "Ah!" said he, striking his forehead, "Adeline is lost to me, as soon as she knows that she is independent, and may chuse for herself."

Why, what a pitiful fellow you must be, to wish to tread in the dust a noble heart in so base a manner." I spoke this loud and angrily, and was instantly sorry that I had suffered the words to escape me. The scene continued sometime longer, till I set the poor devil somewhat at ease, by promising that the whole transac tion should be confined to ourselves. "But is Adeline acquainted with it." "She is, but you must know her well enough to be satisfied, that she will not abuse the confidence which I have placed in her." "Yes, yes," muttered he between his teeth," she is much better than I-than my sisters-or than all the young women that I know she deserves a better lot than I can offer her." I now really pitied him. His natural roughness might have been softened by better education. With all his faults, his heart was not bad; and what was wrong him, arose more from perverted notions of things, than from vicious inclinations. I now attempted to rouse him on the score of pride. "You wished," said I," not to be under any obligation to your wife, and would rather

about

take her fortune from her by fraud, than receive it at her own hand; but it would be impossible for you ever to overcome the sense of injustice, which you had thus been guilty of, and you would in fact have become more dependent on her, than if she had brought you a million as a portion, for you could never have again looked her in the face as an honest man, even if she were to reciprocate your affection."> He stared at me earnestly, never having been accustomed to reflect on his actions, or to weigh the motives of his conduct, he knew nothing of life, except what he had learnt in taverns. An idea seemed instantly to have struck him, and with the words "you shall not at least assert that I am vicious," he hastily quitted the apartment. I was puzzling myself to find out what his meaning might be, when a boy came into the room with a message, to meet him instantly without the town gates. This sounded very like a challenge, still I could not think him mad enough to expose himself to a disclosure of circumstances which touched his character so nearly, and which would naturally be the consequence of a meeting between us. I did not delay attending his summons, however, but repaired instantly to the place appointed, which was a promenade that was little frequented. At the moment of my approach, I perceived him walking under the trees with Adeline in his arm. Adeline appeared much perplexed.

'My dear friend," said Seldorf, smiling, "I have assured Adeline that you have something to say to her;

and I will swear ten oaths, that my ci devant bride has also a word for you in private, that would not be so conveniently spoken before my sisters; I have therefore brought you together here, so make the most of your time, for I shall return for Adeline in a quarter of an hour." Saying this, he walked away, leaving us both not a little disconcerted. Adeline could not compose herself, and my presence of mind seemed to have for saken me altogether. At last, however, I found my voice, and said, "A singular accident, dear Adeline, has brought us together, I seek a companion for life,-could I but hope" A deep blush, which came direct from the heart, overspread her lovely face, and drawing from her work-bag a paper, she handed it to me, saying softly, "this letter has doubtless fallen by accident into the will, my name is mentioned in it." It was a letter from my mother, which had got amongst the folds of the will. I had written to her much about Adeline, and the good lady had, in her answer, said, "that this would indeed be a daughter after her own heart :" "and will you too call her mother, my Adeline." "Take me to her," whispered she, and the warm kiss which I impressed on her cheek, was the seal of our union. In a few weeks I carried Adeline home as my wife, and my mother is quite convinced that I have succeeded to a wish in 'getting myself suited."

THE STORY OF ARNAUT.

A FEW years ago, I was dismissed by my friends in London with several letters of introduction to families through whose neighbourhood I projected a summer tour. Among the rest, was one addressed to Francis Arnaut. He was a young man of whom I had heard much talk. Every body liked him, and every body spoke of his talents and virtues as something out of the common way. His history, indeed, made him rather an object of interest, even without this character. Hé was a being of ardent feelings and hasty impulse, and the very outset of his career had been blighted by an inconsiderate marriage. His wife had returned to her friends, and he was living in late repentance to stalk about a fine mansion and sigh over its solitude. His fortune had come to him by a series of untimely deaths. He had no brother, no sister, and no relation to share it with him; and a very short trial had convinced him that his domestic affections had unfitted him for the heartless bustle of the world beyond him. This was a vague outline, but it excited my curiosity, and I turned out of my road one sunshiny morning to pay him a visit.

VOL. III.

K

The country was a fine sweep of real English landscape; an ocean of undulating foliage, with here and there a little green island, dotted with cattle, and intersected with shining streams. On one of these, after winding through numerous shady lanes, and inquiring at divers rustic cottages, I discovered the white walls of Arnaut's abode. It was a beautiful Italian villa in the midst of a glorious amphitheatre of oaks, terminated by a blue distance which was mingling imperceptibly with the sky. A steeple and a few upright columns of smoke stole through the trees to shew that it was not altogether a solitude; and, presently I passed through an irregular romantic village, which presented several pretty white-washed cottages, giving good promise of something interesting. I looked up at the little church clock, and found it just eleven, but not thinking it necessary to observe town etiquette, I entered the long winding shrubbery, and announced my arrival.

Arnaut was a tall, handsome young man, though something too slender, and pale even to sickliness. His features too were marked with premature lines of re flection, which bespoke a troubled heart. I was introduced to him in his study, the open window of which admitted the soft breath of a July morning; and the carol of a thousand birds which were sporting in a wilThe freshness and derness of lilacs and laburnums. gaiety without, I thought, contrasted somewhat painfully with what I saw within. There was a look of