My son, I have some professional questions to ask Miss Walton, and you must excuse her at present." It was with very marked unwillingness that Edgar rose, and quite regardless of his father's presence, addressed Arria: "You must permit me to see you again, dear Arria, that I may have the happiness of witnessing your rapid recovery.” A faint smile stole over Arria's face, but she bade him adieu, without answering his question. When his son was gone, Dr. Chadwick drew nearer to Arria, and taking her almost transparent hand in his, pressed his finger upon her pulse. Apparently its beating was too faint to be immediately discoverable, for he remained some minutes in the same position, maintaining the most solemn silence. When he withdrew his finger, it was to say, inquiringly : 66 My son―my dear young lady-do not suppose that I have ever doubted your word—but you have kept your promise to me—that is, kept it strictly?" 66 Yes," replied Arria in a low tone, "I have kept it." Right-quite right—I am glad to see you bear it so bravely-these little trials, my dear, are what we must all expect to meet in this world, and the sooner we make up our minds to take them easy, the better. Did you say that you saw Edgar often?" 'Very seldom-I have seen him but twice in this house since-since "I understand-since the advice I gave you. Quite right! There is no use of reviving old feelings. Edgar is a headstrong fellow, and without proper management, would give his poor mother and myself a great deal of trouble. You must not encourage his visits, my dear young lady; it will be better for both of you to see but little of each other." "I agree with you-it was not my intention to encourage them.” "Just so that's exactly as it should be; and now we must see what is the matter with you; we shall have you well in a day or two.” After a few inquiries, Dr. Chadwick wrote a prescription for his patient, and requested her to tell Mrs. Lemming that he had a few words to say to her. Arria's failing strength made it a relief when her interview with Dr. Chadwick was at an end; and she hastened to communicate his desire to Mrs. Lemming. "Your young friend is quite indisposed, my dear Mrs. Lemming," said the Doctor, when that lady presented herself; "quite indisposed; and I particularly request that she shall be kept quiet-that is to say, she must not receive too many visits. I found my son with her this morning, and after what has passed, it would be wise, my dear lady, if you gave orders to your domestics to let him understand that Miss Walton is not well enough to receive company." "Mrs. Lemming violently disclaimed all knowledge of young Mr. Chadwick's visit; declared Miss Arria to be the most artful person, whom it had ever been her ill fortune to meet; and gave Dr. Chadwick a very forcible, and highly colored account of the situation in which she had found Mr. Brainard, and this very modest young lady. The doctor noted every word, and on his return home, of course, as a mere matter of conversation, repeated the whole affair to his wife. “Mr. Brainard! did you say?" inquired Mrs. Chadwick; "Why, that is the young gentleman who is supposed to be engaged to Esther Clinton; the very man who interferes with our plans !" That very afternoon, Mrs. Chadwick ordered her she declared, it had just occurred to her that she had coach at an early hour; for, several visits, which it was incumbent upon her to pay immediately. The first one was to her very dear and estimable friend, Mrs. Clinton. In the course of conversation, she inquired of that lady if there was any truth in the report, that her beautiful daughter, Esther, was engaged to a Mr. Brainard. "Oh, no; no engagement has taken place," replied Mrs. Clinton; "the gentleman is desperately in love with my sweet girl, but then who is not?" 66 My mind is quite relieved," rejoined Mrs. Chadwick, “by learning that they are not engaged; for, entre nous, I have no very great opinion of the gentleman. I feared also, that he was playing false to your charming daughter. Do you know, I have heard but this is a secret-it must not go any further?" "Oh, no, certainly not; you may rely on me." "I have heard," continued Mrs. Chadwick, lowering her voice to a whisper, "that the other day he was found in the most disgraceful position toward Miss Arria Walton; in one, for which there could be no excuse, unless he was decidedly her lover." "You don't say so! Miss Arria? Is it possible! Well, who would have supposed such a demure little girl would have permitted any improper liberty!” "You see there's no trusting appearances, my dear Mrs. Clinton. I am convinced this Brainard is a very dangerous man; he is totally incapable of appreciating your charming Estelle; and if he has addressed her, it was for the sake of her fortune-indeed I have great reason to believe so, for he has not a farthing in the world." This was quite gratuitous information on the part of Mrs. Chadwick, for she was not in the least degree aware that she was speaking the precise truth. 66 66 Why, you quite alarm me," replied Mrs. Clinton; now I reflect upon it, I dare say you are right. Do you know, the other evening the most strange looking and impertinent individual called here, upon this very Brainard? It occurred to me afterward, that he looked very much like a collector; and Brainard was dreadfully agitated while he talked to him; but Brainard told us he was only a madman." "A likely story! No doubt he was a collector. I advise you, my dear Mrs. Clinton, to warn Miss Estelle immediately; she is young and unsuspicious; it is your duty to place her upon her guard." For once, advice was not lost. The instant Mrs. Chadwick concluded her visit, Mrs. Clinton summoned Estelle, and communicated to her all the information she had received, finishing her discourse by the declaration that she could not endure Brainard, and wished it was possible to put an end to his visits. To her mother's astonishment, Esther, when she heard this, heroically declared herself engaged to Brainard; said that she adored him-that she would sooner part with life than be separated from him-that she had ever looked forward to these persecutions, and that now she was prepared to bear them, for that no earthly power should sever her heart from the heart to which it was united! This was just the excitement-the "persecution," she termed it—for which Esther had long pined. An hour before, she was ready to discard her lover, because the current of their love ran too smoothly; and now that objections were offered to their union-now that she had good reasons for really discarding him— she was determined to cling to him through life and death. All her mother's representations and persuasions only served to render her firmer. She said she knew that love was "A Faith, Whose martyrs are the broken heart." And to become a martyr, (although she did not add that,) was the reigning desire of her soul. Mrs. Clinton had seldom courage to thwart her favorite's wishes; but, in this instance, she determined to consult her husband, and, through his aid, to discover some method of convincing Esther of Brainard's true character. Meantime, Esther fed and prolonged the excitement she so much loved, by writing the most extravagant letter to Brainard, and detailing to him the persecutions to which they were subjected, concluding with the most pathetic assurances, that they would live, suffer, and die together! and that the powers of the united universe should never separate them! CHAPTER XVI.' "A PARTNER suited to my mind, Who, partially, may something see Slighting, by my humble side, Fame and splendor, wealth and pride." COUNTESS OF WINCHELSEA. RACHEL Clinton was not immediately aware of the communication which her mother was making to Esther, for, at the period of Mrs. Chadwick's visit, she was sitting in her own little boudoir, but not as usual, sitting in solitude. Mr. Allen, who was paying her a visit, had requested to see some of her drawings, and for the first time she had admitted him into her sanctum-partly because she was too modest to display her own skill, or lack of skill, in the parlor, where casual visitors were continually entering; and partly because Mr. Allen followed her, uninvited, when she went to seek her portfolio. Furthermore, he seemed to think the little car-sofa in Rachel's boudoir, far more comfortable than any lounge which the drawing-room contained; and once seated, expressed a great unwillingness to change his position. Both parties seemed less at ease than usual, and many long, awful pauses occurred in their conversation, which Rachel tried to relieve, by displaying the contents of her portfolio, a proceeding which plainly showed that her thoughts were wandering; for, in general, her mauvaise honte made her almost painfully reluctant to display her own performances. "It is a month since I have seen your friend, Mr. Ehrenstein," said Rachel, by way of suggesting some new topic. "Yes; I think I told you that he had been ill ever since the evening he passed here. His mind seems to have received some severe shock; in what manner I cannot understand; but he has not left his room for a month, and his melancholy has greatly increased.” 'He was affected, I believe, by the strong likeness which he traced in Miss Walton, to some deceased friend ?" "Yes; thus much he told me ; but the subject appeared to be so painful a one, that I did not induce him to dwell upon it. He asked me a number of questions concerning Miss Walton, which I answered to the best of my ability. She is an orphan, and the niece of a Mr. Lemming, is she not ?" 66 Oh, no; her uncle's name is Mordaunt; Mr. Lemming was formerly her teacher, and is now her protector." “Then I made a gross mistake; but I presume it is hardly worth while correcting it, as, in the present state of my friend's nervous system, the mere mention of her name affects him. Did I not hear that Miss Walton herself was ill ?" "Yes-poor Arria! Nobody will feel her loss more than I shall; yet I have a presentiment that she is rapidly passing to a brighter sphere. I am convinced that she is a victim to consumption; she is so quiet and uncomplaining, that none of her friends yet realize it; but I have passed the night and day with her, and am too familiar with cares of the kind to be deceived. I said that nobody realized her situation, but I mistake: her uncle appears to me to be aware of it. He is a cold, harsh man; but once or twice, lately, I have seen him regard her with the tenderest pity; and it was only last night that, for the first time in his life, he returned her affectionate kiss, and then passed his hands hastily over his eyes as though he feared they were moistened." "She has not lost her wonderful beauty ?" "Some of her beauty I think she has lost, for it consisted in the varying, beaming brightness of her face, in the 'buoyant sense of being' which seemed to animate her whole frame; and these have entirely vanished. But her loveliness has only increased; she is calm and very still, though never sad; sometimes she moves about like one in a dream, as though her thoughts were contemplating a state of holier happiness than is permitted to us on earth; and yet she has not lost her interest in the affairs of everyday life. She pursues her usual occupations with the same energy, and is always ready to discuss any new project we have on foot, and to lend her aid. Her character has become perfected of late; and when I remember that 'whom the gods love die young,' I cannot think she will live." "She is a strangely interesting being." "She is, indeed." Again there was a pause. Rachel scattered about the loose sheets in her portfolio, and Mr. Allen employed himself by twisting the leaves of a pamphlet that lay beside him into dog's ears. When he had sufficiently disfigured the book to become aware of what he was doing, he threw it by, and said, "Rachel!" Rachel colored deeply, for it was the first time he had ever addressed her by her christian name. 'I wish, Rachel, that you could divine all that I would say!" Rachel stammeringly expressed her inability so to do. "Tell me, at least, that I do not offend when I call you by the familiar name of Rachel ?" "You are quite welcome to call me so; but that name does not happen to be a very beautiful one." It acquires its beauty from the spirit of its possessor. Will you believe, that, to me, it is the dearest name on earth!" Rachel could hardly credit her ears. She had long striven to check the affection which was springing up in her own heart; she was convinced that it could never be returned; and when she found that her thoughts continually dwelt upon Mr. Allen, and his estimable qualities, she persuaded herself that she only enter tained a high esteem for him, and she called her warmest emotions by the convenient name of friendship. She now sat trembling before him, not daring to meet his eye, lest he should read in her heart what she was not aware, until this moment, that an invisible finger had written there. She strove to reply, but the unmeaning words she attempted to frame died away upon her lips. "You do not answer me, dear Rachel—you do not tell me whether I may hope to win a wife who wears the name which I have learned to love; yet I look to you, only, for an answer. وو "To me? What attraction could you ever have found-how could I have ever endeared the name to you? No, no! I have grossly misunderstood your meaning,” said Rachel, involuntarily, and with uncontrolable agitation. "Not so, my own Rachel; I may call you mine, may I not? And to prove to you that you have not misunderstood me, I will answer you your questions. If the answer proves a long one, you must be patient. For several years past I have been called a woman hater, because I mistrusted your sex too much to take pleasure in their society; but you have not found me one, have you? I entered life with brilliant prospects and without experience. My temperament was warm, and I soon became deeply enamored of a beautiful girl, who had hardly attained her eighteenth year. I offered myself, and was instantly accepted. Fortunately, I was not totally blinded by my passion, and I endeavored to study the character of my future wife. I found her full of envy, and the slave of her own passions. She entertained the bitterest feelings of animosity toward those of her own sex, whose beauty vied with hers. To hear them admired, made her miserable. She lived in the very breath of adulation—yet, in spite of this, she fascinated me, and I loved her, and persuaded myself that I should correct these errors of her character and education. But I did not then know how thoroughly selfish was her nature. The dreadful suspicion soon entered my mind, that she was incapable of returning my affection, and had merely accepted my hand, because it was reported that I was a man of wealth. To test her love, I one day hinted that I found my affairs much involved, and that I had many fears for the future. We were then passing a fortnight at Saratoga. She did not reply at the time to what I said; but before we left the springs, she was engaged to a gouty old millionaire, and coolly informed me, that she did not think we were suited to each other. I loved her well enough to make a fool of myself for a while, and when I recovered my senses, I very illiberally concluded, that artfulness, calculation, and selfishness, were the characteristics of the whole sex. 1 suppose you will dispute that I had come to my senses; but I thought I had. For several years I mingled but seldom in society, and resentfully eschewed all intercourse with your sex. By the persuasion of a friend, I was induced to accompany him to Miss Adair's ball. I considered myself a spectator, and not a participator in the festivities, and found my principal amusement in watching the manœuvres of the company, every individual of whom appeared bent upon accomplishing some particular purpose. It was then that my eye fell upon you ; you were following your beautiful sister about, performing a thousand kind offices for her, and evidently gratified by the admiration which she elicited. When she danced, you seated yourself without the slightest appearance of mortification at being neglected, and I observed that you made yourself agreeable to the ladies beside you, and seemed to enjoy the gay scene as much as anybody present. I asked your name of Mr. Ellery, whom I saw speaking to you a few minutes previous, and from him I learnt some particulars of your history. You were an heiress, and your hand had been often sought in marriage; yet you had too little vanity to suppose that you had inspired a tender affection, and determined to |