Albert Grey could but look upon her with tender pity. He saw that every topic, however lightly introduced, became gradually tinged with the colouring of the past. Constance ceased to be animated. The conversation fell; and she retired to seek, in nature's hours of rest, oblivion to the sorrows of her heart. CHAPTER XI. "Come, thou shalt be enlightened; but propound SHERIDAN KNOWLES. THE first thought of Grey, when he rose in the morning, was of Jennings. He resolved to seek the farmer's cottage, in order to discover whether the anxiety of Mary Jennings could be traced to any cause within his power to remove. He had not conceded to the fanciful views of Constance. He could not attribute the distress of the farmer's young wife to imaginary evils. That he himself enjoyed a life of secret romance, he delighted to acknowledge; but how few did he consider to have been privileged as Alice Windermere had privileged him! He experienced a throb of pleasure when, after breakfast, Constance entered the cedar parlour, and assumed her place on the sofa, in a state of a settled cheerfulness. "Do you know," said Constance, "I have determined to become an altered character. For the future, you will find me wedded to matter of fact. Our rambling chat last night has produced one good result. I could not sleep until the morning, for our conversation. haunted me. There must be a strange want of wisdom in indulging in those visions and speculations, those painted recollections and hopes, which prey upon the spirit. To live in dreams, has a charm, but, I fear, a most evil one. Before I slept, I resolved to cast all such follies from me for ever, and, when I awoke, my resolve was confirmed. I bid adieu to sentiment and poetry, and steadily determined to "To do what, my dear matter-of-fact Constance?" inquired Grey. "To study political economy, or the currency question, or the poor laws, or enrol myself member of some statistical society. Useful Facts' is henceforth my motto." "Your new tastes will have the merit of being, at least, fashionable," replied Grey, much amused; "and they will certainly rescue you from many ideal miseries. But happiness does not lie in extremes. Our imagination does well to plant bright flowers in the garden of life, if we select only such as leave fruit behind, that shall ripen and become sweet when the gay leaves have all withered and fallen." At this instant, a loud view-halloo, from the lawn, rang through the cedar parlour. No more specific an announcement was at all necessary to tell that Lord John Huron had arrived. He was on his way to the general rendezvous of the Byborough hunt, accompanied so far by Lord Percy, whose company, for a long morning's quiet ride, had been expected by Albert Grey. Lord John walked briskly towards the house, in advance of his brother. He bowed, on perceiving that Constance Grey witnessed his approach; and a loud crack of his huntingwhip was deemed, by him, a sufficient summons to the domestics within. Constance felt herself sufficiently convalescent to sit and receive her brother's friends. Her cheerfulness, rising from her strong purpose to conquer her tendency to brood over the past, had given her strength. "Is it not unpardonably unfeeling in me, Miss Grey," said Lord John, when the first greetings and inquiries were over, "to rush thus into the presence of an invalid, who needs all quietness, in a coat whose colour is said to sound of the trumpet-this noisy scarlet? But I really could not resist the unexpected pleasure of being allowed to congratulate you person on your convalescence." in "Oh! I can bear the noise of your hunting uniform's colour, without fear of a relapse,' replied Constance. "I am becoming quite strong again; and, to meet my brother's friends once more, so pleasantly reminds me of the days of my good health, that I hope it will assist in bringing them back. You do not wear the scarlet to-day," continued Miss Grey, addressing Lord Percy, who had stood before her in silence. 66 I never understood the excitement of the |