that hand, which by the lightest touch of its fingers stays the pulses of his heart, sucks the blood from his veins, and strains his breast with unutterable and breathless hope? Am I to believe that the proud widow of the Duke of Suffolk only endured the friend of her solitude at Barbican, and that her judgment and affections are as changeful as the changeful form of circumstance to which she allows so great an influence? Am I to believe that the cold air of this castle has dried up, without a trace, the tears with

which

you

dismissed me in the evening on the

threshold of your door? Is it merely the sport of accident that has brought me to this chamber, and laid me at your feet? Tell me, is it a dream, my finding your door open at the present hour? Am I to think it was some mocking sylph brought the summons which allured me hither? Why, Catherine, awake such doubts in my breast, when you gave me better expec

tations?"

Sarah!" exclaimed the Duchess, calling

out to her waiting-woman; "tell this arrogant man the cause of my present summons."

"What other cause," replied the prudent maiden, "but to dismiss you, Sir Richard? An express desire, it is trusted, you will obey-it is necessary that you should avoid a place to which so many idle eyes are directed. The noble Duchess believes that she deserves so much respect, at least, as to be spared the terrors of an unwelcome surprise. She is resolved not to be again

She

exposed to the scoffs of proud relations, nor does she intend a second time to blush and tremble before one whom her favour should have made more modest. Such an alarm as that of the past morning she will not go through again. What! to look round in full security and meet, close beside her, an eye that seeks her boldly and confidently, and, not content with driving the blood from her cheeks, desists not till it is observed and commented on by the proud Northumberland!"

"What are you doing, Sarah ?" exclaimed

the Duchess, angrily; "see! how his colour goes! and his eye is moist with tears!-Your words are so harshly chosen !"

66

the maiden.

They are your Grace's own words," replied "Full ten times you repeated them to me yourself, and bade me take particular care that I did not forget a single one of them."

I

Sir Richard arose and stood upright before the Duchess; I go, your Grace, for, in truth, my pride equals my love. An unworthy one shall not have to boast your favour. go, with the feeling-" he paused a moment, unable to proceed ;-at last, the words trembled from his lips," I go! with the feeling that you love me notwithstanding. Yes, Catherine, yes; you have truly loved me!—and that you may not be ashamed of me I quit you now for

ever."

Saying this he rushed to the door, when a faint exclamation of "Richard! Richard!" was muttered by two pale lips that were almost closed

by pain and terror. He turned round-" Can you forgive my rashness ?" She smiled; "Here to forgive is the same as to give myself, dear Richard: but I see it well, it cannot be otherwise; why therefore torment myself and you? The considerations that at first frightened me are easier to be borne than this rebellious heart, which always is heavy when it does not beat in your neighbourhood. Take then my hand, Richard; I can no longer use it, and it might soon else rest in the grave without being a profit to any one."

"Catherine!" exclaimed the transported Bertie," Is it real?-will you indeed be mine? -wholly mine?-the adored wife of the toohappy Richard ?—O say in positive, irrevocable words, that it is so.'

"I have said it," replied the Duchess; " and, what is more, I thought it long ago without finding words to say it. When I left Barbican it was quite clear to me, but your unexpected appearance here, in the midst of my relations,

somewhat staggered me; I attributed to cunning calculation, what, in fact, originated in passion, and that, Richard, finds in me a gentle judge."

is no

It was thus they conversed together, attempting to explain to each other that which, in fact, is inexplicable. Sarah listened to all in doubt, and at last said, "I see the proverb holds; there marriage made but another is determined. May you be a luckier bridegroom than this Lord Guilford. If I may advise you, you will haste to leave this castle before any one suspects your engagements with her Grace; for heaven knows I trust none of the crafty faces which I see creeping about in passages and ante-rooms; nay, in

our

very chambers, at the table and in the church, on the watch to betray each other. Let them go on to their ruin, and do you rescue your happiness in the silence of retirement."

"Sarah is right," said the Duchess. "Go, Richard, and order all things in my house, as its master, for the wedding; in a few days I shall