Castle. A third child, the first daughter, had just been born to the happy pair. The long separation had not destroyed their friendship, for they had continually interchanged letters; and it struck all as strange, that the prince should have allowed so great a space of time to elapse, before he fulfilled his promise of visiting the seat of the Nottinghams. The duchess hid under a respectful demeanour the coldness which she felt towards him: she had been offended by the manner in which he had behaved at her marriage, which she understood as expressing disapprobation of her husband's choice, and her proud spirit could not forget this.

But the moment which the prince chose for seeing her again was a happy one. A daughter lay in her arms, and this called forth all her goodness and generosity. She hastened to meet her future king, accompanied by her two sons: her eyes shone with joy and pleasure; and never had her much admired and still unchanged beauty been more striking. The prince regarded her with astonishment; and what he said expressed pleasure and admiration, to which the proud woman could not remain indifferent.

He turned to embrace the earl, and said, with tears in his eyes, "Thank God, you are happy!"

And the duke had really become so. For this he had to thank, not only his own virtues, but those of his wife; and the passionate love which she bore him was amply returned by the duke.

From this time, the prince often visited Godway Castle, and he also frequently invited the duke to accompany him to one of his distant castles, where he often remained long, without any followers.

We will now pass over several years, to the time, and to the beautiful spring day, at which our story commences; regarding what we have here related as the necessary introduction to the family circumstances which we shall impart to our readers.

CHAPTER II.

However beautifully nature and art adorned the castle which we have been describing, however much was collected there for the happiness and enjoyment of life, yet the human forms which appeared in the landscape did not, at the moment when our story commences, correspond with the joyousness of nature around

them.

A lady, in the mourning dress worn by widows of a higher rank, walked slowly up and down the castle terrace, accompanied at a respectful distance by two pages, whose sable attire showed that they were mourning some great loss to the house of Nottingham. Who would have been able to recognise, in that mournfully stooping female form, the once brilliant Countess of Bristol? Her eyes rested on the ground, and she seemed to have forgotten the world around her. Her face appeared white as marble, when contrasted with her black dress; and though her figure still retained a portion of its peculiar dignity, yet her head was sunk on the deep-heaving bosom, and she raised it only occasionally to cast a melancholy look towards the great hall of the castle, through the golden trellis-work of which might be seen the walls hung with black, and the gloomy light of the tall wax candles surrounding the bier, which was erected in that division of the hall nearest the chapel. A bier was there; but the beloved corpse rested not upon it—a deep sorrow to the tender wife, who was not permitted to close those eyes which had till now been the light of her existence.

The

The Duke of Nottingham had died in Spain, whither he had gone, with his eldest son, to visit his father-in-law, the Earl of Bristol, who was then engaged in negotiating the treaty of marriage between the Prince Charles and the Spanish Infanta. news of his death had been received by the countess a month before; and she this day expected her beloved son, and the body of her dear husband. She had looked forward to this

melancholy meeting, delayed by the length of the journey, with great longing, for it appeared to her the only consolation which remained for her afflicted heart. The only desire this strongminded and gentle woman seemed to have, was that of possessing these much-loved remains.

For this reason she often turned her tearless eyes towards the castle, hoping every moment to see some announcement of the wished-for arrival, by the opening of the doors of the hall, into which she looked, and which was filled by figures clad in mourning. Yet one creature followed her undisturbed, and so near that he touched the clothes of the sorrowful widow: this was Gaston, the favourite dog and faithful companion of the duke, who had been left at home, for the first time, while his master took this long journey. He was one of the most beautiful dogs iu the kingdom, of an uncommon size, and true and affectionate in character. Since the duchess had been in grief, he had left his usual place in the entrance-hall, and had ever remained by her side. He now walked slowly and gravely with her, his ears hung down, and so entirely regardless of the garden and wood, in which he formerly found unceasing pleasure, that one could not avoid thinking that he foretold what was going to take place.

There was something very affecting in seeing him watching at times, as if commanded to do so, by his sorrowing mistress. At the end of the terrace, and as often as she stood still, he placed himself before her, and looked at her, as if he sympathized in her sorrow if she went on without regarding him, he got up directly, and again followed her. But his conduct was more remarkable when the duchess reached the end of the terrace, which joined the wood, and leaned for a moment on a seat erected there. Suddenly becoming uneasy, and leaving the duchess, he appeared to seek for something, which his instinct had discovered; and after looking in every corner he suddenly ran down the steps which led to the wood. His well-known bark was soon heard, followed by a long howl: he jumped back so violently on the terrace, that the duchess was roused from her own thoughts. He jumped upon her, howled

loudly, then turned suddenly back, and disappeared on the steps. For one moment only had this boisterous animal broken the current of his mistress's thoughts: she turned back slowly, when Gaston again sprung upon her, and obstructed her further progress; then flying with a loud howl to the staircase, and again returning to the duchess, he tried to prevent her going any further; and then seizing her dress between his teeth, he drew her to the steps.

The duchess, being now so violently roused by this faithful companion of her late husband, became attentive, and remarked that Gaston trembled violently, and seemed to wish her to accompany him. She immediately obeyed; and Gaston, setting up a howl of joy, ran to the steps, and waiting there nntil shegapproached, he sprang down before her. The duchess stood still on the first step, doubtful whether she should descend or not, when a sight appeared which changed her whole demeanour, and claimed her full attention. She showed by her exclamation, "Oh, Gaston!" that she fully understood the good intention of the animal, and advancing some steps, she saw a female figure, lying on the face, the arm stretched out, and either in a swoon or dead.

The lady looked hastily to find whether there were any signs of life; and as Gaston, approaching nearer to the object of his care, put his nose under the long brown hair, and then looked up at her, she perceived that he was stained with blood. This sight caused the affrighted duchess to call for help; and her servants, who had been watching Gaston's actions, but who had not ventured to follow their mistress, came quickly to her assistance. They found her almost unable to support herself, leaning on the parapet, and Gaston, with his charge, at her feet. Respectful timidity repressed their astonishment, but the duchess, upon seeing them approach, rose hastily, and the feeling of humanity overcoming all other emotion, she gave commands which were immediately obeyed.

The unhappy lady, having apparently slipped in ascending the steps, lay in such a position at the edge of one of these, that the least incautious movement would have precipitated her down the declivity amongst the trees below. Even. Gaston, by his various attempts to move her, had rendered her position more dangerous: the

left sleeve of her dress was torn, and he had, with his paws, partly covered her arm with fresh earth.

As the pages approached to raise the figure, the duchess felt a strong disinclination that so young and delicate a form should be touched by men's hands; she therefore motioned them back, and ordered them to summon Mistress Morton and her own waiting women, to call Doctor Stanloff, and to bring a litter to the bottom of the terrace. Meanwhile she remained as if chained to the side of this unfortunate creature, doubting still whether she were alive. During these few moments, she made a discovery which increased her interest. Although no part of the young lady was visible except one hand and arm, and a profusion of brown hair which was spread round her like a cloak, yet the duchess could not but remark that the black dress which she wore, was of the form and material used by the higher ranks, and that this hand and arm were of a beauty which she had never before seen. But what increased her astonishment, was a bracelet, composed of the most splendid jewels, on the upper part of the left arm.

Morton's soft voice was

At length the desired help arrived. heard; and the duchess, stretching her hands towards her, cried out, in great grief-"Oh! Morton, Morton, what has happened here? What a misfortune! perhaps even a crime has been committed within reach of this castle! Let her be moved gently, but by the women only. Where is Stanloff, that he may tell me whether she lives, or whether she died here without aid ?"

Mistress Morton saw, with even greater emotion than such a strange occurrence as this could call forth, the change of mood which had taken place in her mistress: her thoughts were now drawn from herself; her heart was open to sympathy and humanity; and tears, which had never been called forth by her own sorrows, flowed at the sight of new and strange misery. Morton gently tried to solace her; and while the other women fulfilled her commands towards the stranger, she led the duchess back to the terrace. But she could not persuade her to go any further: she would herself see that nothing was neglected; and leaning on the parapet of the terrace, she looked down anxiously, and saw Gaston lying at the