HUMAN LIFE. CHAPTER I. "Tis not a set of features, a complexion, The tincture of a skin, that I admire. Beauty soon grows familiar to the lover, Fades in his eye, and palls upon the sense. The virtuous Laura tow'rs above her sex: True she is fair, (Oh, how divinely fair!) But still the lovely maid improves her charms, With inward greatness, unaffected wisdom, And sanctity of manners." "No,-by my honour, it must not shall not be," exclaimed the intrepid Edmund, throwing a note which he had just read on the table, " I will fly instantly to revenge the cause of persecuted virtue." His friend d'Alembert stood for a few moments mute with astonishment. "I entreat you to explain this paroxism," exclaimed he, as soon as he had sufficiently recovered himself. "Follow me," said Edmund snatching up his sabre," and you will shortly know." So saying he rushed wildly out of the house, without leaving d'Alembert time to prevent his rash purpose; he seized the note, but honour prevented him from opening it. Left in this perplexing situation, he conceived the most prudent step would be to endeavour to overtake his friend: he accordingly left Norville Grove with all possible expedition, and about a mile distant perceived Edmund in close conversation with the steward of Lord Darlton, "Excuse my interruption," said he, "but the mystery of your sudden departure, has occasioned in me great surprize and emotion. I conjure you to keep me no longer in this terrible suspense, but repose in me the confidence I flatter myself I have always deserved." Edmund replied, " if you wait till this conference is ended, you shall become acquainted with all I know." "But," said he, turning to Gregory, "continue your narration; how long is it since Lord Darlton last mentioned his intentions concerning Miss Montravers ?" "A week,” an B 2 swered he," since which time we have heard nothing of her." "Execrable villian," retorted Edmund, "but I will defeat his vile purposes. Meet me here to-morrow evening at the same hour, we will then settle in what manner it would be best to proceed." Then addressing his friend, he continued, " you, who have but seldom seen Miss Montravers, may have a faint idea of the impression her charms may make on the more frequent beholder. About the age of nineteen I returned from the West Indies, and was equally delighted and surprised to |