and I should certainly have been undeserving of his attention, if I had ceased to remember its generous display on such an emergency. But you did not permit me to finish my story," she continued: glad to escape from the embarrassmenther remark had occasioned.

"Just as the storm began, my mother, who had observed us descending the avenue, and was not aware that Mr. L. was with us, enquired if we had returned. When it was understood that we had not, the household were instantly in motion, and the alarm became general. Some were sure we had fallen over the rocks, and been killed: others thought they had seen a thunderbolt strike the spot which we frequently visited : others dreaded lest the heavy rain should give us our death of cold in a word, the whole family, joining in the search, ran here and there looking for us with much uneasiness, though their anxiety was considerably diminished on finding that we were not alone. Our names resounded from glen to glen, and startled many a lonely bird in her recess. The scattered flocks ran

together, as if for mutual security; and even the distant herds ceased to ruminate, attracted by the unwonted shouts. It was long, however, before the storm abated, and longer still before we were relieved from our unpleasant situation; as Mr. L. was afraid to let us leave our retreat, until further assistance arrived, the ground having become exceedingly slippery, and dangerous from the heavy rain.

At length we heard my father's voice, and, uniting ours, we called as loud as we could, "Where are you?" was his answer. "In the grotto," we replied, again collecting our strength, while the deep tore of Mr. L. resounded far above our shriller notes; and in a moment we were both folded in his arms. Though he had recognized the tutor's voice, and now saw us under his protection, so much was my dear father overcome, that he could at first only weep upon our cheeks, as we hung sobbing Just at that moment,

round his neck.

as if to reanimate our drooping spirits, the setting sun broke forth from the dark

and watery clouds that had concealed it, like a parent's countenance brightening through tears; and, if I may conclude my story with another quotation from the bard, to whom I have already been indebted for a description of this sweet spot;

"Heaven his wonted face renewed,

And with fresh flow'rets hill and valley smiled." We were afterwards, as you may suppose, more cautious in our rambles."

"Possibly," said Mrs. Villaret with an insinuating smile, which did not escape the quick eye, or agitated heart, of Emily, "you could take better care of yourselves now, if these rocks and woods were again to become the scenes of your solitary hours."

Oh, that is more than you could expect. The young lord of Mertenburg could not have had any passes so formidable to encounter in his travels, as those he would meet with in the extensive domains of Major Villaret," replied Emily; smiling, and blushing, as she courteously retorted.

في

At that instant, the trees rustled behind them. Simultaneously attracted towards the sound with a curiosity, not unmixed

with alarm at this unbidden intrusion on their retirement, they turned and Alphonzo stood beside them. Agreeably to the manners of the politer school in which he had received his education, he was uncovered. His long brown hair, as generally worn by the students of the German universities, separated on his forehead, hung gracefully on his neck. His countenance denoted emotion of no common kind: his colour going and coming, as he looked alternately at Mrs. Villaret and Emily; while a moisture, as if arising from suppressed agitation, dimmed his expressive eye. At length, after a pauses of mingled and deep sensations; "Is it possible?" exclaimed Emily- "Alphonzo de Mertenburg!? and, turning away her face, as if to conceal the feelings which she could not restrain, sunk pale and trembling upon the seat from which she had risen.

“It is, indeed, Alphonzo!" answered young de Mertenburg, unconsciously are! peating her words" returned after so long an absence from all he held dear in life."

Mrs. Villaret, in the mean time, perceiving Emily's painful embarrassment, and sensible that, unless she was immediately relieved from the view of him, whose présence had so surprisingly affected her, some serious consequences might result, mentioned to Alphonzo Major Villaret's intention of fol lowing them; adding, that he would perhaps have the goodness to inform him where they

were.

Alphonzó, conscious of Mrs. Villaret's motive, and not less anxious than herself to leave Emily to the care of so kind and intélligent a friend, replied, that he, thought, indeed, that he had seen the Major in his accustomed walk of meditation, and would willingly undertake to conduct him to their retreat. Then, bidding them a polite adieu, and with as unconstrained an air as he could assume, with the same agility, but with other emotions than those with which he had mounted it, he descended the eminence, and bent his way to the Major's retirement.

The walk, which was so frequently the scene of this venerable soldier's heavenly