purchased of him many, many things I did not want, only because I might continue to hear Vincent praised. When I first recognised the likeness tears started into my eyes, but I would not have exchanged my feelings for those of the happiest being beneath the sun. * : * "We have been for a considerable period in Paris-the gayest of all gay cities but I find no gratification in its attractions. My father appears to have left England with a feeling of animosity. He talks of nothing but revolutionsthinks of nothing but republics. He has become acquainted with a young English nobleman, whom I never met with before, who is his constant companion. At first I thought our new friend a pleasant good-natured man, for he was always so obliging to me, so civil to papa, and so useful and agreeable upon all occasions; but since, besides listening with every appearance of the most profound respect to Lord Melcombe's long orations upon political subjects, he has ventured, with more than the animosity of the marchioness, to abuse Vincent, and has even dared to regard me with particular attention, I have felt certain that I had judged him. too favourably. My father has lately been much afflicted with the gout, and nothing can exceed the attention of his new friend. He will allow no one to apply the remedies, administer the medicines, and place the cushions for the affected foot but himself. He is always by my father's side, ever attempting to save him trouble, or to flatter his selflove; indeed, he has worked his way into my father's good graces so completely, that papa can do nothing without his assistance, and consequently he has become as much one of the family as myself. I do not wish to judge harshly of any one, but I have no very high opinion of this Lord Sponge. He appears to be too fond of using flatteries to be sincere. But perhaps I am illiberal. However, I never can like any one who speaks ill of Vincent. "A strange incident occurred here a few days since. While our family circle were quietly engaged at our usual occupations, Mrs. Thrift reading, I drawing, and Lord Sponge attending upon my father, Captain and Lady Mary Fitz-Grey were announced. I observed, as soon as the names were uttered, Lord Sponge suddenly drop the leg he was so carefully placing upon the cushion; and while my father screamed in agony, and I ran to his assistance, his lordship attempted to leave the room by another door. It was locked. At that moment the captain and his amiable lady entered. As soon as the former cast his eyes upon Lord Sponge, who seemed in an extraordinary state of confusion, he advanced towards him with a stern countenance, and, in a loud voice, demanded whether he preferred being thrown out the window or kicked down-stairs. We were all dreadfully alarmed. Lady Mary flung herself into her husband's arms, Mrs. Thrift screamed, my father bawled out to know the meaning of such behaviour, and I nearly fainted; when Lord Sponge, stammering and trembling and turning red and pale by turns, made a precipitate retreat; but not without a shower of epithets from Captain FitzGrey, which his lordship could not have considered either honourable or agreeable. "That Lord Sponge was such a shocking character, and my father is so much vexed that he should have been deceived into lending him a large sum of money. The cap tain I knew in England, as Vincent's schoolfellow and friend. He has lost most of that foppery of manner and language that used to distinguish him; and although I should always have felt inclined to welcome him as Vincent's friend, the improvement in his appearance, and my gratitude for having been freed by him from a disagreeable companion, made me regard him with far more than my former kindness. Lady Mary is one of the most pleasant creatures I have known. She also knew Vincent, and speaks of him with the most friendly admiration. Already I love her like a sister. I have been surprised to learn that Vincent has now become, in the consideration of the people, quite as much the general enemy as he was the general favourite. How very fickle the people must be! They persecute and abuse him whom so lately they honoured and esteemed. But I cannot think such a change could have taken place. Everybody must love Vincent Herbert, but none more sincerely than his grateful and devoted Dora. * * * We "My father has just received some intelligence that obliges him to be in London as soon as possible. are all in the bustle of departure: he is in excellent spirits, and I am all hope. Perhaps I shall soon see Vincent again -soon hear the kind voice that ever breathed to me words of gentleness and affection; and soon feel the presence of those smiles which have thrown around me a midsummerday's gladness in all seasons. Dear Vincent! How I tremble when I think that we may again meet as we met in Lord Brambleberry's library. I would endure an age of separation for such another meeting. Noble, generous, and gifted being! how much I feel honoured by only imagining that you can bestow a thought upon one so little worthy of you." CHAPTER IV. The effect produced on me by the perusal of my cousin's journal.-The unexpected arrival of Stillborn the Fatalist, and the manner in which he receives my confession of guilt.-The last visit of Mephistophiles; with an account of what follows.-Sudden appearance of Dora. -The conclusion. It is scarcely possible to describe the different sensations I experienced as I read my cousin's journal. The truth became visible. She in the full power of steadfast love and ́unrivalled purity, remained innocent in thought and feeling, though tempted in every form in which vice might be made alluring, and a woman's heart subjected to its influence :—but I—I, in my superior wisdom and lofty ambition, had been deluded and betrayed into the commission of crimes which seemed sinking my soul into the deepest chasm of guilt. The same dark agency had led both into temptation, but Dora alone had stood the trial unharmed and unsullied. “Oh, Dora !—dear, confiding, devoted girl," I exclaimed, "how much have you been deceived in my character!How little you think me the monster I am! While you, with that sincerity and singleness of heart by which you have ever been distinguished, have been enduring persecu tion and suffering for my sake, I, acknowledging no other influence than my ambition and sinful passions, have thought of nothing but power I knew not how to exercise, and not only neglected the spirit that so truly worshipped meabused and despised it—but offered up my love to another to whom it was a dishonour and a pollution. You, I have unworthily abandoned-myself I have irretrievably lost!" My crimes appeared so numerous, and rose in such formidable array before my mind, that Hope seemed to have fled affrighted. I looked back upon the retrospect of my past life. What a gloomy vista! Onward I traced my progress, as the enemy of God and the shedder of human blood. The infernal orgies in which I had mingled at the witches' jubilee reappeared in all their horrors: then, in the terrible majesty of the grave, arose the victims of my treachery and revenge. Visibly before my throbbing eyeballs came the gentle Francisca looking more gentle and her brave old father regarding me more sternly than either had done when living; after them came that noble enthusiast, whose generous spirit I had crushed in the enjoyment of my selfish purposes. She looked even more beautiful than in life, and in the wildness of her glance there was an adoration more exalted than that which had created her fond idolatry. Last of all, I beheld the deadly and determined hatred of my rival. There was an expression of triumph in his bloodless visage that seemed to foretel my approaching punishment. The evening of the Sabbath had long commenced, and I paced my solitary chamber with no other light than the dim moon sent through the Gothic window. All around me was obscure and indistinct. The antique furniture threw long shadows upon the floor and on the wainscot, that seemed to resemble figures strange and inhuman. The suit of armour and the formidable weapons my heroic ancestors wore appeared in motion; and a stern countenance, as I fancied, frowned at me from under the helmet. I smiled at these phantasies. My mind, if it could not boast the power it possessed, was free from common weaknesses. Tired of pacing the long and gloomy apartments, I sat down. I continued reflecting on my desperate situation, without any hope of improving it, or of avoiding that dreadful fate, I now saw was speedy and inevitable. To Heaven I felt there was no reconciliation, and yet I sometimes thought of unburdening my breast of its fearful secrets to the good curate; but my guilt appeared so enormous that I imagined he would shrink from my confession with horror. Wherever I looked for aid, there I beheld despair. The evil things I had done rose against me in multitudes, struggling with my better thoughts, my feeble hopes, my contrite feelings; and like a swarm of locusts they devoured all that was springing up fresh and green before them. My restlessness was too great to allow me to sit still. I started up. I strode over the floor. Now I stopped, fixed in anxious meditation. I saw no help. I seemed clinging to a rotten branch that hung over an unfathomable gulf, and the branch was cracking and bending beneath my weight: there was no support for my foot-there was no rest for my arms: if the branch did not break my strength would be exhausted the sky frowned above-the chasm yawned beneath. I still held on-the branch still cracked, and every moment appeared rushing forward to plunge me into the frightful gulf. I tried to conquer the feeling of dread that was taking possession of all my faculties; and the contest became so violent, that I could feel big drops of perspiration starting from every pore in my body. Every nerve seemed writhing in torture. My blood rushed through its narrow channels like a stream of lava-my heart heaved like a boiling maelstrom: all within me was scorching and consuming all without darkness and dread. It was a struggle of intellectual with physical nature. I brought forward those mighty energies of the mind which had procured for me my high supremacy, and then the fears of the body crouched before them like stricken slaves: but the mental powers kept losing their superiority, as the corporal fears increased in number and boldness; and it became doubtful whether that vast intelligence which had given me command over the immortal spirits, would not speedily sink into subjection beneath the natural weaknesses of poor humanity. Exhausted, and nearly subdued, I sunk down upon a seat. From this position I was roused by a knocking at my chamber door. It was a servant, who came to inform me that a stranger, having lost his way to the neighbouring town, requested shelter, as the night was too far advanced to enable him to reach the nearest inn before the inmates had retired to rest. At first I objected to the application, but upon second thoughts I altered my mind. I was tired of communing with myself. I desired that the stranger might |