you were acquainted with those beloved friends who guarded my youth."

“You are right, Lady Mary," said Brixton, calmly: "I do know all of which you wish to be informed, but I cannot communiIcate it to you. I think it quite right that you should be made acquainted with the history of your birth; but an oath forbids my revealing it to you. Have patience, therefore; for the moment will soon arrive when all obstacles will be removed; and though your situation be somewhat different from what your friends once imagined, do not cease to repose confidence in them."

Mary was silent; but her features expressed disappointment: for the longer she remained in ignorance of her history, the more were her doubts increased as to her rightful position.

"You, sir," said she, in an agitated voice-" you, sir, and all who surrounded me, always endeavoured to awake feelings of honour within me, and to lead me to hate and avoid all concealment. Forgive me, then, that I now, on the point of returning to the world, cannot submit without resistance to be a nameless and mysterious being. Yet," added she, turning with childlike reverence towards Brixton, who appeared much affected, "I will remember that I cannot better testify my respect and esteem for you than by bearing my painful situation without annoying you."

“Be assured,” answered Brixton, "that I will use all the means in my power to relieve you from this anxiety; but now relate to us your history."

"I would," said she; "but I hear my careful physician at the door, and I must not longer remain here."

At this moment Electa entered; and, finding by her patient's pulse that she had been much agitated, begged her to take some repose. Mary consented; and bidding farewell to her friends, accompanied Electa to her room. She joined the little party again that day, and then related all that had happened to her.

We will leave our readers to imagine the impression which this narrative make upon her auditors, merely observing, that while Richmond threatened to punish Membroke for his treachery, Brixton felt himself involved in difficulties, which were the more

tormenting, because he could not perceive why Buckingham, who certainly was acquainted with her birth, allowed these Jesuits to become acquainted with it, thus causing the frustration of his own plans. After long consideration, he resolved to apply at once to the illustrious person most interested in his charge, and therefore urged her immediate departure from the castle. Sister Electa,

however, begged that she might remain two days longer; and the gentlemen acceding to her request, busied themselves, meanwhile, in making preparations for the journey.

The society of her friends, and the quiet which surrounded her, were so beneficial to Mary, that she required no further delay; and she would have taken leave of the castle with joy, had she not been anxious respecting the fate of her nurse Electa. This gentle creature, whose weak disposition had placed her in willing slavery to her spiritual superior, and who had been led to consider an innocent longing for the world as the vilest sin, was now shaken in her devotion to those whom she formerly reverenced, by the knowledge of their true character, which recent events had revealed to her.

Her mind had been occupied by the attention bestowed on her patient; but now that all need of care for her was at an end, and the near departure of the lady was about to deprive her of the society of the only being whom she could love, she returned to her former state of mind, and the future and the past seemed to her one unbroken chain of sorrow and misfortune.

Mary tenderly sought to become acquainted with her feelings, and ventured gently to hint at her return to the world; but she found that a disinclination to this was strongly rooted in the unhappy woman's mind, and that her heavy heart anticipated peace only in an entire resignation of all the enjoyments of life. Mary considered, for some time, whether she could, in any manner, alleviate her distress; and, suddenly struck by a thought, asked her where Father Clement usually resided?

Electa appeared startled at the sound of his name, and immediately mentioned the monastery in France to which he had retired. 'Well, then," said Mary, "go to him, and resign your future life to his direction."

"Angel of heaven!" cried Electa, as if inspired: "that would indeed be happiness to me. But how shall I reach him?" added she, returning to her usual depression.

"Leave that to me," said Mary, joyfully. "I give you my word, you shall have means to travel thither." She pressed the grateful woman to her heart; and then hastened to join her companions, to whom she imparted Electa's wishes, and her own intentions relative to them.

Richmond and Brixton both expressed their approbation of her plan; but Colonel Crawford, after a short silence, intimated that he could not permit the sisters to leave the castle until he had received his instructions from London; for, till then, he must regard all whom he had found there as his prisoners. He added, that he hoped no further steps would be taken in the affair, but that it would be allowed to pass into oblivion; and then he would do all in his power to forward Lady Mary's views.

"remember that we

"Oh, sir,” cried Mary, with animation, leave the castle to-morrow; and think with what anxiety I shall depart, if I leave this poor creature behind me, without even being allowed to furnish her with the means for her journey."

Leave her to me as a bequest from you," said Crawford, respectfully; "and the interests of this person, to whom we partly owe the preservation of your life, shall be considered holy by me. I will fulfil your commands with the greatest exactitude; will remove all hindrances, and so arrange her journey, that she shall be totally free from all discomfort and annoyance."

"I think, dear lady," said Brixton, "that we must not urge Colonel Crawford any further, since his duty here opposes his inclination, We may certainly trust our friend to his care; and it now only remains for you to reconcile her to remaining here for the present."

As Richmond coincided in Brixton's opinion, Mary offered no further resistance, but hastened to inform Electa of what had passed; which intelligence the gentle sister received with greater composure than her benefactress had expected.

The next morning, while the first rays of the glorious sun were

shining upon the countless dew-drops with which the trees and grass were covered, Mary descended to the great hall of the castle, where the gentlemen were already assembled. She stood still for a moment; and as her eyes glanced upon the objects around her, her thoughts reverted to the evening when, accompanied by Father Clement, she had arrived at the castle, and was received by the good old man who had afterwards exerted himself so much to cheer her imprisonment. She thanked Colonel Crawford for his kind services, and embraced her kind friend, Electa; then, together with Margaret, entered the same litter in which she had travelled thither, while the gentlemen and Lanci mounted their horses. Colonel Crawford accompanied the little procession for some distance; but Lord Richmond declined his offer of a military escort, deeming it better to avoid attracting attention as much as possible.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Godway Castle was at this time, as usual, full of company. Lord Bristol had departed to one of his own estates; but his long absence in Spain had made his late presence at the castle appear only as a visit, and he was now scarcely missed, except by his daughter, the younger Duchess of Nottingham, who felt so deeply, and was so well skilled in concealing those failings from others. Her mind was at variance with the circumstances in which she was placed; and this disposition continually increased, as all means failed of releasing herself from the constraint laid upon a mind accustomed only to lead and control others. For the rest, all went on happily in the circle at Godway Castle.

Anna Dorset, now justified in confessing the love which she bore to her husband, showed in her whole character a depth of womanly tenderness which rivetted the heart of the young duke, filling him with astonishment, like that we feel upon seeing a young flower

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bud, which, with its closely-shut petals, could scarcely claim our notice, expand, under the warmth of the sun, to a bright and fragrant flower. The Countess of Dorset and Olonia had accompanied the newly-married couple to Godway Castle; and Lord Ormond, after an absence of many months, found himself once more within its walls. Lord Archibald was engaged in arranging the papers of the late duke; but he joined the circle at those public assemblies over which the elder duchess presided like a genius, spreading love and kindness around. Thus all appeared to be repose and harmony, with joyful hopes for the future. There were, however, so many freshly-healed wounds, and so many irritable spots in almost every breast, that it needed ali the kind feeling, all the love, all the good breeding, of each person, to avoid disturbing the present happiness, which it was the general wish to maintain. The cause of Richmond's absence was well known, but no one alluded to it; for the duchess had expressed to her father her displeasure at the undertaking in so harsh a manner, as to produce a coolness between them, which was alleviated only by the departure of Lord Bristol; and this being known by the rest of the circle, no attempt was made to soften the duchess's opinion. She ceased to mention Richmond, and no one dared to refer to him in her presence; while the unhappy Lady Mary, though frequently and tenderly thought of by all, was apparently forgotten.

With the deepest anguish did the unhappy mother await the intelligence which should alleviate or increase her misery; and, aware of all the danger which lay before her, she gave way to her uncertain and gloomy temper. The young duke had hoped to receive some news from Lord Ormond, who was just come from London; but he brought none, although he had delayed his journey in the expectation of it. The conversations between these friends upon this interesting topic were characterized by a reserve which showed too clearly the delicacy of the subject: each felt that his situation with respect to the object of their conversation had changed, and each wished to confirm himself in his altered feelings.

Lord Ormond, who could not, like the duke, feel his interest in