to plunge the dart deeper into poor Annie's heart; and to talk of Zelie's début, as if to him alone, of all the world, it was an unimportant event, while he adroitly answered all allusions to his desertion of the Lindsays, and devotion to the rising sun, by pointing out to them that poor Zelie was a timid, foreign girl, who knew no one but himself and Julianwho had fainted at her first effort to appear, and to whom the support and society, at such a time, of one who could be of no importance to any one else (and he sighed) was a solace, inconceivable, to the happy members of a happy home.

"I have sacrificed," he said mournfully, "one of the few evenings that, in my sad, blighted life, I might have delighted in at the time, and looked back upon with melancholy rapture when I am again alone. If, in your sweet society, dear friends, I had not grown better, and less selfish, I could not have made that sacrifice; having made it, I own I did

expect approbation, not reproach!"

"We do approve-we do admire your con

duct," said Ellen, almost instinctively offering her frank hand. De Villeneuve took Annie's also, and pressed them both; but Annie held down her head—a tear fell on De Villeneuve's hand, and, ashamed, Annie burst from him, and rushed out of the room.

"Annie is nervous and dispirited," said Ellen, not aware that De Villeneuve had fixed his phosphoric eyes upon her that, to him, a tête-à-tête with Ellen was an era in life. As he did not reply, she proceeded, still engaged in netting a purse for Mr. Grunter"These late hours do not suit a wild Scotch lassie; Augusta, too, is not well; I shall be glad when we leave town."

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Glad, Ellen!-Miss Ellen, I mean; I beg pardon; I spoke, for once, as I think of you everas Ellen' a name which bears, to my mind, what Mary' does to a Roman Catholic devotee-all that is loveliest, holiest, best! an humble maid of earth, but fit to be a queen in heaven." Ellen blushed at the earnestness of his voice and manner, and, afraid to prolong their tête-à-tête begged him to

excuse her while she sought some more silk for her purse. As she rose, De Villeneuve rose too, struck by the mingled reserve and sweetness of her manner-passionately in love with her for herself, and anxious, for other reasons, to win her, he was about to hazard all-to fling himself at her feet, and try the effect of love-prompted eloquence upon her heart. She had turned away-she did not see that he had thrown himself on one knee-that he had caught hold of her scarf, and that there were tears on his pale cheeks. He had ejaculated, "Hear me ! oh, Heaven!" when, to his unspeakable dismay, Miss Tibby bustled in, and, before Ellen perceived his emotion, arrested as her attention was, by a look of unwonted care on Tibby's face, he had started to his feet he had dropped the scarf, had turned for a moment to the window to dry his tears, and, before Miss Tibby even perceived him, he was again all smiling calm, and self-possession.

"What is the matter?" asked Ellen, anxiously, of Tibby.

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Naething, my dear!" answered Tibby, with a look of importance which belied her words.

"Oh, yes, there is something the matter! tell me at once.

Where are they all? has any thing happened?-mamma! Augusta! my uncle!....Julian!"

"I know nothing of ony o' them. No, dear, since ye must know a'-I've been to the Douglases; Grizzy's vary unweel, and would na see me, puir body!— But I saw Babie for a moment, and she said Grizzy had taken an unco fancy to you, my dear, and had said if you would put away an hour with her this afternoon, it would do her a warld o' gude. So the carriage is at the door, and if you will, my dear, I'm ready to attend you; I can sit a while wi' Babie while you're wi' Grizzy."

"Did I not compare you well to Mary mild'?" said De Villeneuve, in an under-tone, while Miss Tibby stood at the glass, settling her cloak and hat. "None so old and desolate but they seek your sweet shrine, sure of comfort there. Go, beautiful Madonna-pour

balm into the hard, dry heart of the proud old Scotch spinster. Go!-and while you listen to her, smile upon, and comfort her. I, Adolphe De Villeneuve, could envy that desolate old woman!"

"Are ye ready, my dear?" said Tibby, still looking in the glass. "Never fash yoursel aboot your dress; the Douglases dine at three, and it's now half past one." Ellen quitted the room for her bonnet and shawl.

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Young people are na sae brisk as they war in my younger days," said Tibby; "in twa minutes my bonnet was on, and I over the hills and far awa."

De Villeneuve smiled; for it struck him Miss Tibby must be much changed, since she had been just ten minutes since she came in at the glass "settling hersel."

"Miss Ellen will not keep you long waiting, I am sure," he said; "she is like you, madam, so eager to do good."

Miss Tibby curtsied. "Yer vary civil, count; yes, Ellen's much the lassie I was, only she's na sae brisk; I'd mair spirit and