"One would almost imagine Milton had been seated here," she exclaimed as she finished her quotation, "when he wrote these lines. Yon cascade that murmurs so gently down the mossy rock: those grots and caves umbrageous: these cool retreats: the vine mantling over them, and laying her grape about us on every side: this lake, holding its crystal mirror to the fringed bank, where the myrtle, lilach, and laburnum, vie with each other in decorating it: yonder linnet from the wood, and that sweet red breast, attuning his plaintive song, as if he would welcome us to his shades-Switzerland, dear Switzerland! and thou, too, fair but solitary Savoy! How I bless the Power which arrayed you in a garb so comely, and placed me where I could see and enjoy your loveliness! "

After a silence of considerable length, during which the thoughts of either were breathing prayer or praise, Mrs. Villaret, by a natural transition, introduced another subject.

"I was much pleased with an observation

of our amiable young friend from the castle, during his last visit. We were walking through the little plantation on the other side of the cottage, and coming to the opening from whence, as you will remember, that fine view of the Savoy hills presents itself; he suddenly stopped, and after pausing for a moment, as if in meditation, said, • When I look on the works of nature, I find myself involuntarily led to nature's God. Who laid the foundations of the round world so fast, that, no arm but his own can move them? Miserable, despicable, subterfuge; that in the attempt to escape his anger, would attribute all this to the wretched idol of their worship-chance!' Then, fixing his eyes on heaven, he ejaculated with a solemnity, which, interested as I cannot but feel in his welfare, made the tears rush to my eyes: Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou should visit him?" "

"Do you really hope that his mind is seriously disposed?" rejoined Emily, slightly colouring.

"I would fervently trust so. I have now had frequent opportunities of watching the latent seed, and I am not without an expectation, approaching to confidence, that the dews of the Divine benediction will yet water it, and that it will become a goodly and fruitful tree."

"I am truly rejoiced to hear you say so," replied Emily. "Some distant rumours only had reached me, that he had begun latterly to assume the exterior at least of religion; and I am indeed thankful to have them confirmed by your opinion. A person of his rank joining the little army of Zion would be calculated to produce a very beneficial effect on our adversaries. But it is all in higher hands, and the throne of grace is our best and surest reliance."

"I suppose," she continued after an interval, "I should scarcely know him again, so many years have elapsed since I saw him. He was at that time a pretty playful boy, and we used to run through these dells and woods together. But," she added with an involuntary sigh, "he must have forgotten

all these things. Time, and change of scene, must long ago have obliterated them from his recollection."

"Not entirely, perhaps, Emily," replied Mrs. Villaret. "On the contrary, he appears to me, if I may judge from his conversation, to have borne from them some tender remembrances. He seems to possess a most affectionate heart."

"Speaking of his tenderness, you remind me, " said Emily, "of a little incident which occurred to us one evening. It has sometimes awakened a smile, possibly a tear too, on the retrospect. His tutor had brought him to my father's to spend the day; and after dinner, he and 1, attended by Mr. L. who scarcely ever left him, went out to amuse ourselves. Forgetting how our childish recreations beguiled the distance, while even our pious companion was unconsciously led forward by us, so kindly and earnestly did he engage in our enquiries, explaining to us various phenomena in nature, and pointing out to us the peculiar properties and beauties of every flower we pulled, we

wandered beneath that projecting crag, which, you observe, overhangs the wood," inclining her hand to the right, and looking towards

the spot.

"While we were there, a dreadful storm came on. I think I have seldom witnessed a more awful scene. It reminds me of a passage in Tasso, though my apprehensions at the moment may have clothed it with additional terrors. The wind had died away into a breathless calm. On a sudden, the heavens overcast with clouds of a fiery red, that seemed to be flaming through the skies; and, reflected in the still-unagitated bosom of the lake, they had a peculiarly fearful appearance. It was this that first attracted our attention. Emily,' said Alphonzo, calling to me, and I recollect his words particularly, look at the lake: it seems to be on fire.'

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Scarcely had I run to where he was, for I was at the instant behind the copse, gathering blackberries, when the wind began to moan frightfully around. By degrees it rose to a hurricane, warring with wave and wood. The lake at first rolled in long