nose, any one of which would have silenced the battery of a man who had a heart to be destroyed or burned up by it, in five minutes. As she left the room, Nugent drew a letter from his bosom and laid it on the table before Sir Thomas. "What is this, Nugent ?" said Sir Thomas, taking up the letter. "A letter, Sir Thomas." 66 Why not give it me before?" "I thought you might not wish to read it before Miss Norreys." "Nonsense!" said the President, cutting the silk thread, without reading the address on the envelope. Why what perfumed dainty billet is this? I wonder from whom it comes. Who gave it you?" "I found it." "Found it! where ?-What in the saint's name is this? My thrice adored Elizabeth! Why this letter is not for me!" Nugent grinned with malignant pleasure, as he replied, "I thought you might, notwithstanding, wish to see it, as it is addressed to Miss Norreys." "Miss Norreys! Who is it from ?" inquired the knight, fumbling, with agitation, to make out the name. "From Captain Jephson, if I do not mistake the writing," replied Nugent. "Captain Jephson! How dare he write such a letter to my daughter ?" "These English officers are not deficient in boldness on occasions like this, especially if they receive encouragement from the lady. "What! do you mean to say that my daughter has given him any encouragement ?" "I do." "You do ?" "Decidedly." "How? where ?" "Here, and elsewhere; both by word and letter." "Here? In this castle she met him but once or twice,—and I am not aware that they ever met out of Mallow." "I did not say they did; but in Mallow they met frequently." "Where ?" "In Mallow church." "Nonsense!" "You may think so, Sir Thomas, but it was there the courtship was conducted; and there is no place where a pretty woman looks more interesting, or religion more lovely." "I must inquire into this matter at once," said my daughter d and letter." - but once or ever met out Mallow they but it was d there is no e interesting, t once," said had a night to cool down, and the matter. "What could my father have at this hour?" thought Elizabeth, musing on the events of the day. gine the cause of John's silence: 1 to-day. There was something m the expression of Nugent's eye thi he suspect? If I thought so, I wo all: perhaps I should never have from him; but it is not more th John made a formal declaration The fair daughter of Sir Thom her eyes in slumber, with these through her mind. By-and-by, a ed around her beautiful mouth. but silvery whispering escaped closed lips. To whom does she To her lover, whom she sees in h over her his fair and luxuriant ; her cheek, and his blue eyes read her soul. But why does she start? what has changed the expression of her face? The face which bends over her has changed also; it is no longer the fair face of John Jephson, but that of John Nugent; and its expression is dark, malignant, and fiendish. Sir Thomas Norreys was in a calmer mood in the morning, when he sought the explanation. "Elizabeth," said he, handing her the letterhe called her Elizabeth, on state and important occasions-" Elizabeth, I believe this letter is for you." "You need have no doubt of that, father," said Elizabeth, who was a girl of great courage, " for I see you have cut the thread, and read it." "Yes," said the knight, a little confused, for he was a man of very nice honour; "I conceived it my duty to do so, as you have concealed this correspondence from me." Elizabeth held down her head, "Bessy, I have none but you," said the old man, softening," and I do not think it necessary to tell you, that your happiness is as dear to me, if not dearer, than life. Tell me now, candidly, my child, do you love this young man, Captain Jephson ?" "I do, father." "Then you shall have him; it shall never be said that I made my only child miserable, by opposing the object of her choice; and I think Captain Jephson an honourable young fellow, and a good officer." Elizabeth was melted into tears by her father's kindness; but she was not so overpowered as to suppress her curiosity to know how he procured the letter; she therefore asked him, before she retired, "where he got it?" "I thought so," said she; " and I have now another favour to ask you." "What is it, Bessy?" "That you will dismiss that man the castle, for I hate him." "I shall do so, for I do not like him, lately, myself; but you must wait till I get a fair opportunity." "He will not be long in affording you that," replied Elizabeth. "You never prophesied more truly, madam," said Nugent to himself, walking away from the door, where he had overheard the conversation between the knight and his daughter. We learn from the poet Spenser, that Furor, or Rage, is always accompanied by an ugly old hag, called Occasion. We are told by learned divines, |