"Emily! I did not expect this from you," res sumed Helen, with an expression of wounded, though calm and even dignified virtue: "You have not known me long, but you ought to have understood me better. I am incapable of a falsehood, and I demand of you, not as a favour, but as a right resulting from our mutual friend ship, implicitly to believe my solemn assurance, when I declare to you that I have never even seen the person who is now in this closet." The nobleness, sincerity, and truth, stamped upon her brow as she uttered this appeal, carried such an instant conviction of her innocence to the very innermost heart of Emily, that she grasped her hand and pressed it affectionately to her bosom, exclaiming with a passionate energy, "Forgive me O, forgive me, my pure and noble-minded friend! If I distrusted you for a single moment, it was only because I had forgotten myself. I do, I do believe you inno. cent. Believe it? I know it I feel it—I will swear to it I will stake my life my soul→ upon it!" "What impudence! what depravity! Faugh! it really makes one sick," said Lady Crockatt, smelling to her salts. How should she know there was a fellow in the closet? Who hid him there? In her own room, too!" Why, really it is exacting a leetle too much from one's gullibility, however accommodating we may wish to make it,” added Mrs. Chatsworth. "It is strange-mysterious-inexplicable,” said Emily; "but Helen Trevanian has said the word, and I receive it as a gospel truth.” -"As for these ladies who know me less intimately," resumed Helen, with a proud composure, "I must be content for the present to lie under their uncharitable conclusions; but I do implore of them, as they would avert a catastrophe which they themselves would have eternal reason to regret, not to divulge in this house what they have seen, not even to open their lips upon this subject in the neighbourhood; pledging to them my most sacred honour that when I can do so, without endangering the lives of my fellow-creatures, I will explain !! ? to them every circumstance that may have ex cited their suspicion, not less, I trust, to their own satisfaction, than to my own perfect excul pation,barell mort vew rob diegs bas “I am perfectly satisfied already," said Lady Crockatt; "but I have no kind of wish to create a fracas, especially as you talk of blood, which always makes me sick. For my part shall say nothing till I have your authority, for I hate tattlers." "So do I, my Lady," cried Mrs. Chatsworth tartly, as if the latter words had been an innuendo levelled against herself. "We are all upon honour," she continued with a sneer; 66 even Miss Trevanian has pledged hers, though I wonder where she got it; for I really thought it was in the keeping of the gentleman in the closet. Your Ladyship will answer for Miss Crawley, of course." "I can answer for myself, Madam,” cried the latter, with an angry toss of the head. "It is a solemn compact then," said Emily; "and may the curse of perpetual dumbness ༣་ fall upon the tongue that is first base enough to violate it!" So sayings she conducted the party down stairs they remounted the carriage, and again drove away from Harpsden Hall, without havings seenbeither Lady Trevanian or the Captain.bord on od I tud" : 38d5ot / to Alat boys lieboqo ¿conit e ́OJPOL de om dom expule dada (** ein 1907 9774 I liu gaihon 78 1 3). Faint Amorist! what, dost thou think A world of sweet, and taste no sour? Th' Elysian fields, that dar'st not venture In Charon's barge? A lover's mind Must use to sail with every wind. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY AFTER having waited a few minutes to compose her feelings, Helen betook herself to the drawing-room to welcome her brother, whose youthful impetuosity would have infallibly hur ried him into some intemperate action that might have been fatal to both parties, had he been brought into collision with Reuben, armed the latter was, and desperately determined as |