And oh ! knows not your highness that she who has Venus and Leo in her horoscope is, when the Moon and Virgo be mutually aspected?"

"Hold, hold thee there, good Nell, in very mercy! Oh, what a dolt I was to lead thee on to rhymes or star-learning !"

As Glocester thus exclaimed, he loosed his embrace of Elinor, and giving way to his passionate temper he paced the room impatiently, volubly running on as follows

"Thou art not just towards me, Nell.Thou'st no corival in my love—I merit not this. Were I some lazy loiterer, some hedgecreeper, some dreaming dizard, who, like a decrepit, gnarled old man with shaking joints, a continuous cough and sap dried up, stands aloof from her he loves-Were I as a log or stone-had I a gourd for my head or a pepon for my heart-then indeed thou might'st assail my faith with doubts. But I, who have all given up and nought lamented for thy sake-I, who have eschewed tempta

tions, braved reproaches-ay, Nell, and smothered conscience for thee, is it meet I should be doubted? But what have we here ?-a silkenwrapped scroll to my address, with a broad seal.-Hey! stamped with the pontiff's own sacred signet! Virtu Dieu! I had quite forgotten Bolingbroke and his missive. Ah, Nell, is this no sign of my love for thee? I'll not yet open this rescript; and here again lies a parchment leaf unclosed,- To Humphrey of Glocester !' Blunt enough! This is private matter-rhyme again!-

'Humphry, who faine would rede
Must fuste need to spel;

Three B's would sting thee ded,

Thy balm lies in an L.

No deth-knell, but a Nell for life

One is the grave's deep voice, t'other says make me wife !"

Ha! here is no trick of tergitour, no necromantic spell-this speaks plain English. Three B's? Why, Burgundy, Britanny, and Bedford are the three who would pierce me with

their stings-and a Nell for life,' and 'make me wife,' needs no book-learning methinks to understand. Is this thy precious scribbling, Elinor? 'Tis an open asking of the banns, i' faith!"

While Glocester waited for a reply to this question, somewhat sternly put, all his softer emotions were revived by hearing loud sobs from Elinor's couch-the only answer she either could or would give. But we must not stop to analyse what portion of art mixed with the reality of her apparent distress. The latelychecked tenderness of the protector revived at this irresistible appeal of female distress, and he immediately flew to Elinor's side and stiffled her sobs and sighs in amorous caresses.

It was then that he perceived, standing on a high-legged tripod, placed beside the reredost or fire-place, a parcel-gilt goblet of rare workmanship, which he instantly recognised as one he himself had given to Elinor.

"Ah, Nell! but it was kind and like thyself,"

said he, "to bring this token of old times and happy hours to greet me in this wild spot! Well do I remember me the night when I tracked the snow-covered pathway across the meadows from Westminster to Charing, with this cup under my doublet, bought for thee at Pioli's, the Lombard, in Eastcheap. Oft have I drained it ere now from thine own filling, Nell, and I warrant me thou hast bethought thee of my drowthiness this chilly night.-Let's see !"

With these words he took up the goblet, and was going to quaff off the contents, when Elinor started forward and caught his arm, exclaiming

"Not so, not so, my lord-I must give it you-'tis from my hand alone you must take the draught."

"Good wench!" cried Glocester, with a glowing glance of gratitude at this new proof of his mistress's amiable solicitude; while she, holding out to him the goblet in her left hand, muttered the whilesome set form of rude verses,

the charm required to give the philter full effect.

"What say'st thou, precious one?" asked the thirsty and love-sick duke.

"But a short respondel, good my gracious lord, and most sweet lover," replied Elinor, at the same time handing the cup towards his longing lips. He took it eagerly, and never loosed his hold or drew his breath till he had swallowed the last drop of the potation.

Having never ourselves drank of a lovephilter, we cannot undertake to tell precisely the effect internally produced on Glocester by this momentous draught. But its consequence on his conduct and bearing were of a nature most alarming to the terror-stricken girl who had administered the dose. It was not madness that suddenly developed the mind's disease-it was not idiotism that spoke its overthrow. Glocester neither raved or foamed at the mouth, nor exhibited any other sign of actual phrenzy ; but there was an instant and undefinable evi