broke into that distressing hysterical laugh which betrays an incipient wandering of the reason. As if it did not plant daggers enough in the heart of a doting father to be condemned to witness this breaking up of so exquisite an intellect, I was doomed at the same time to watch the slow but sure developement of that fatal disease which had already begun to sap her constitution, and threatened to deprive me, at no distant day, of my dearest, my last, my only solace. A hectic flush, the banner of consumption, began to collect and fix itself upon her cheek, a flaring brilliancy sparkled in her eyes, her form gradually wasted away, while her face, lighted up by an insidious bloom, exhibited an angelic delicacy of loveliness. It was more transparent than ever, the fairness of her temples being heightened by the distinctness with which every articulation of the blue veins could be traced and followed. O God! how fearful, how unearthly, how appalling was her beauty! How terrible to see that love-sick, heart-broken girl, delicate as a Sylph, fair and fragile as a flower, sinking

under the combined attacks of an unrelenting malady and mental infirmity! How terrible even to a stranger how heart-rending, how agonizing to a parent! "Sometimes I have followed her at a distance, almost afraid to trust her alone in these moods of wavering sanity, and as I watched her fantastically garlanded with flowers, and warbling snatches of wild songs, while her etherial form glanced forth from the shade of majestic trees, and was again lost in their umbrageous depths; I could hardly help imagining that I was gazing upon some lovely young Hamadryad of the woods, or rather upon some celestial spirit which had descended to haunt these sylvan wilds. Upon one of these occasions she turned suddenly round, and had no sooner perceived me than she ran towards me in the utmost

terror and agitation, exclaiming, as she panted for breath, I have heard him! I have heard him! I have heard him!' Whom have you heard, my dear child? I eagerly inquired.— O gracious heaven' she replied; it was Henry it was his own voice I heard him

distinctly say Agnes! my dear Agnes! where are you ? He is here he is in the island. Let us go and look for him.'» & $7 (97 "Calm yourself, my poor child," I replied; 'you have been deceived. I was near you, ̋and I heard nothing saw nothing. You have been mistaken.?

Did I ever utter a falsehood in my whole life?" she asked, with a look of impatient reproach. I swear I heard him; I solemnly swear it was no other voice than Henry's.'

"Are you sure it was not your parrot ?'

"How can you trifle thus with my feelings? the parrot speaks but one single word. No, no, no! it was Henry's voice: he is somewhere in the woods. Come, come, come! let us fly to seek him.' So saying, she ran back with more speed than I thought her strength would have allowed, and was presently lost in the forest, where I heard her a long time calling 'Henry!' until she rambled out of hearing.

A

"It was late that night before she returned to the Hermitage, utterly exhausted with her unavailing search, but still adhering with inflex

ible tenacity to the belief that she had actually heard the voice of her lover. Next morning, her search was resumed with unabated keenness; and thus several days were wasted, which by their over-exertion and excitement visibly accelerated the progress of her malady, and confirmed the wanderings of her mind.

“At length, as I was going out one evening to meet her, for I generally attempted to escort her home,—a piercing scream suddenly struck my ear; and running up to the whence it spot proceeded, I beheld my unhappy child lying upon the ground in a state of insensibility. "Upon her she looked wildly in my

recovery,

face, as if she did not at first recognize me; and then putting her mouth close to my ear, exclaimed, in an agitated whisper, 'I have found him at length; I have seen Henry! He spoke to me again; he said he would meet me

to-morrow at sunrise by the great mimosa-tree. I am so happy! and yet, in the first rst surprize,

I could not help screaming; and I believe I fainted away."

66

Knowing, by experience, that it was vain to

reason with her while labouring under the influence of these delusions, I supported her in silence to the Hermitage; and found, upon awaking next morning, that she had already disappeared, having risen long before the sun to keep her imaginary appointment. Determined not to interrupt or dispel these fond conceits, which were cheering, although with a delusive light, the closing scenes of her existence, I patiently awaited her return, which was earlier than I expected.

“She approached with a light step and exhilarated countenance: but no sooner did she get sight of me, than her eyes were cast down upon the ground, and burning blushes succeeded one another upon her cheek as she falteringly exclaimed, I have seen him again! We are married he is my husband!" and she held up her finger, which she had passed through a little round vermicular shell, as if it were a wedding-ring, and a confirmation of her aver

ment.

"Poor girl! it was a consolation to me to see her happy, even at the expense of this partial

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