and anxiously inquired concerning the causes of them. He replied, that he was come expressly to enter into this explanation; and for that purpose, besought the Baronet to grant him a private interview. When they were alone, Sir

Cosmo was the first to speak.

"Before I hear your explanation, Mr. Bennet,” said he, "I have myself something to say; and I desire, therefore, that you will attend to me diligently. When you quitted this castle, to set out for London, you will, doubtless, remember that a compact was entered into between us."

"I well remember," answered Denzil.

"And you will doubtless recollect, that that compact contained numerous articles ?".

"Neither can I pretend to forget that," answered Denzil.

"Well, have you faithfully adhered to that compact?" inquired Sir Cosmo.

"No," replied Denzil, "I have broken every article of it."

"Now then, listen to me. But stay; I have one or two more questions to ask, and I know you will answer me frankly.”

"Is your affection for my daughter unchanged?"

Altogether, Sir; unless to be infinitely augmented is to be changed."

"Well, and what, all this time, has been your opinion of me? You think me, I suppose, somewhat harsh and capricious, do you not ?"

"I have given you my word, Sir, that I will be frank," answered Denzil; “and I will, therefore, confess, that you have exactly divined my thoughts.'

"Exactly?"

"It must of necessity be so."

"But you will acknowledge, I suppose, that I also have some affection for my daughter ?" "I cannot, for one moment, doubt it, Sir." "Such being the case, you will of course admit, that it is my duty to watch sedulously over her happiness."

"It is your duty, Sir."

"And should I have performed that duty, Mr. Bennet, had I transferred the fulfilment of it to you, while as yet I understood little or nothing of your character; before you had known what it is to be tempted by the world;

before you had been tried and proved by deeds, not by words, that you can resist the allurements of vice ?"

"I confess that you would not."

"Go to, then, Mr. Bennet," answered Sir Cosmo; "wherein am I harsh or capri

cious?"

"Sir," answered Denzil, "I entreat your forgiveness, and retract my words. You have acted like a wise man, and I have played the part of a fool."

No, Mr. Bennet, now you are harsh towards yourself. Considering your youth, considering the position in which you were placed, and considering the warmth, energy, and generosity of your character, you have acted wisely upon the whole, and my resolution has been taken accordingly. The chief object I have in life, is to secure is to secure the happiness of my daughter. I now, therefore, do not as formerly ask you what are your prospects. I do not require you to be in possession of fortune. I have taken pains to ascertain your character, and I understand it thoroughly. You are an honest, and an honourable man, Mr. Bennet. That is all I require. My daughter is yours."

Denzil dropped on his knees, and taking the hand of the Baronet pressed it to his lips.

"I thank you, Sir," said he, as soon as his words could find utterance, "from the bottom of my soul. I love your daughter, and prize her before all earthly things; but I cannot, dare not, yet accept her."

"Why, what hinders ?" inquired Sir Cosmo, kindly raising him.

"Sir," answered Denzil, "you have been so kind, as to believe me a man of honour.

But

that I should not be, did I not exactly explain to you my origin and unhappy history, which I have learned within the last few weeks; and if, after you shall have heard this, you consider me worthy to become your son-in-law, be assured my happiness will be second to no man's on earth."

They now seated themselves by the fire, and Denzil related to him all that had happened. At the conclusion Sir Cosmo took him by the hand,

"My son," said he, "nothing that you have told me in the slightest degree changes my determination; and I am glad that I gave you my promise before I heard of your change of fortune, since both Isabella and you may now

understand that, harsh and capricious as I am, I esteem her happiness before all other considerations."

Denzil's trials were now at an end, and he applied himself, in the interval which must necessarily elapse before his marriage, on account of the recent calamities in his family, to the promoting of the happiness of his friend Pierre. He offered, with the perfect concurrence of Sir Cosmo Digby, completely to make over to Pierre one half of the property he had inherited from Trevor; but his friend would not hear of it.

"Vat de devil I do vid all dat money?" said he. "It shall make me altogeder unhappy. Vat I vant is two tree hundred pound a year, vich vill do very vell for me. If I get too much, it vill perhaps spoil me, and I shall tink more of de money dan of de liberté and de revolution "

"But you forget me," answered Denzil. "What am I to do in the case to which you allude ?"

"Do? Vy you will have de vife dat you love, and shall not dat be enough?"

"You are right, Pierre," answered Denzil. "But in order that you may see that money