her and Carlo again, but live with them for

ever!"

Time certainly did not tend much to the alleviation of this fear.

Mr. Anderson was certainly very much in Lord Mervyn's way, although he was no rigid, prudish Cerberus to his young niece. His constant chaperonage in all the public resorts which they attended, the opera or other reunions of arts, science, or intellect; chaperonage of a kind so needful for one of her youth, attractions and peculiar position, in a place like Paris, would but have heightened the enjoyment of her association to one of any age or circumstance whose feelings had been of a healthly legitimate nature. So wise, so well informed, so witty and full of original humour, so amiable and warm of

heart, to sage or simple-grave or gay, his society was equally delightful.

But in his presence, Lord Mervyn felt a restraint, a distance interposed between him and Aline, that disturbing influence, which the

rebellious spirit ever feels in the atmosphere of the just, and which it was not in his nature to endure with patience and equanimity. And Aline, he almost fancied took cognizance of his discomfiture, saw it, and understood the restraint, which it enforced upon him; moreover, felt more fully the power she had gained over his arrogant and imperious self-and from the security of her present happy circumstances, and his own subdued condition, enjoyed the consciousness of her dominion over him, with a degree of malice, that only made her a more piquante and fascinating object in his eyes.

But Mervyn was not one who would submit very far for the sake of any one on earth, to such restraint or subjection. He soon began to relax in an attendance upon Aline, which could be now only carried on under such auspices, and established a more careless and indifferent intercourse with her when they did meet.

He plunged much into the dissipation of the

gay metropolis, and not so much in that description which the higher circles present to the lover of pleasure, as in that of a less eligible class and degree, from both of which Aline was now equally preserved.

The society of Madame Lucetti,—meaning however no disparagement to that lady, by coupling her with my latter observation, he much frequented-she, on her part, continuing her intercourse with Aline, to a certain extent.

Her husband-a person of high respectability in his profession-was an esteemed friend of Angelo's, and even Mr. Anderson was not a little taken by Madame Lucetti's lively sparkling manners; whilst he, on his part, equally charmed her, by his quiet original character, his clever and agreeable conversation!

CHAPTER XIX.

"Each with the other pleased, we now pursued
Our journey-beneath favourable skies,

Turn wheresoe'er we would, he was a light
Unfailing.

It was a happy time, that Paris season, to the little family trio. Their comfortable and enjoyable conjunction with Uncle George, seemed to impart peace, contentment and independence -creating for them a little world of their own,

which, whilst it sufficed to Aline, preventing her having inclination to extend their society on a wider and more exciting scale-made that world, in which the duties of his profession obliged Angelo to mix, less obnoxious to his anxious and fastidious heart.

"Oh, Mr. Anderson!" he said one day, when alone with that kind friend, "you know not how your happy appearance amongst us has relieved my heart of much care-much disquietude-with regard to the career which lies before Aline and myself—yes, dear friend, though you have spared me so generously all the reproach you may have thought my due, for the unmeet position in which you found your precious niece, let me assure you, that I have required no more chastening for the selfish fault than that which my own heart supplies-my weak, foolish, perhaps, over refined and sensitive heart!—I allude to the pain and aversion, with which, on Aline's account, my profession has inspired me-feelings, which your

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