were all struck by her extreme beauty, and the air of high fashion which distinguished her. She had just arrived in Florence with her husband, and had been sent to Italy by her physicians, who saw, that consumption was too deeply rooted in her constitution to render their skill of any avail.

Teresa was charmed by her vivacity and easy manners, and received her advances towards an intimacy with genuine pleasure.

A very few days after this rencontre the Sedleys dined with their Italian friends, and Teresa was seated at table beside Sir Herbert. Some slight indisposition had prevented St. John from joining the party.

Teresa found in the conversation of Sedley a charm which she had never hitherto experienced. He was indeed a kindred spirit, and their ideas were mutually communicated with an ease and rapidity quite new to both. Sedley saw, for the first time, a being whose every movement, word, and action he approved,-a being whose least charm was her beauty, though that beauty was

surpassing; and the contrast between the natural pensiveness of her eyes, and the radiance of her rare smile, seemed to him the perfection of loveliness.

She looked as though she constantly pondered over things of another world, and the deep thoughtfulness in her eyes spoke not of earth or earthly dreams.

In the evening singing was proposed, and Teresa, accompanying herself on the harp, sang, with exquisite pathos, a beautiful German melody, the words of which were peculiarly suited to her voice and style of singing. "Wiedersehn" was the title and subject of the song-that one word which expresses what in English we require a phrase to render-how expressive, how thrilling it is! Well does the song paint it as

"Neues rosenvolles Leben!"

It is not the beings whose love has flowed on in a tranquil, easy channel, who can form any idea of the full force and ecstacy of "Wiedersehn." The trusting ones, who, after assuring them

selves that they were indeed truly loved, and fancying that happiness was within their grasp, find themselves suddenly bereft of hope, and, after suffering a long and dreary interval of absence and neglect, feel the certainty of being forsaken by the idol they had so blindly worshipped; when, at this crisis of human misery, the loved, the lost return again, more devoted, more tender than ever; when apparent unkindness is all explained away, and once again the capricious tide of happiness rolls towards them. Then is it that the rapture, the almost painful bliss of "Wiedersehn " is felt to its utmost

extent.

Upon a closer acquaintance with Lady Sedley, Teresa saw the real heartlessness and selfishness of her character, though veiled by uncommon talent and fascination. As long as people could contribute to her amusement, or flatter her vanity by admiration, and relieve her ennui by piquant anecdotes, Louisa Sedley sought and liked them; but if these companions, styled by her friends, happened to fall into distress

or sorrow, and looked to her for assistance or consolation, she instantly turned her back on them.

It was a melancholy thing to witness this thoughtless, reckless young creature, sinking into a grave for which she was so fearfully unprepared.

Her pallid cheeks were made to assume a false glow, and her faded and attenuated form was decked in costly apparel and gems to conceal the ravages of disease.

With incessant restlessness she flew from sight to sight, and from house to house, to shut out from her mind the recollection of her failing health and strength, and the remonstrances of her husband against this mad expenditure of her little remaining energy, were treated with scornful indifference. Teresa sometimes shuddered as she contemplated this victim, over whose devoted head death kept a close watch, arrayed in all the glitter of fashion, her spirits excited by laudanum, her eyes shining with unnatural brilliancy, and her fragile frame

exhausted by late hours, recklessly sporting on the very edge of the precipice. With greedy delight her ears still drank in the intoxicating adulation which was abundantly lavished on her, and every fool who knew how to flatter, obtained easy access to her. She was still the gayest and most animated person in the society of which she formed the centre; no ball was perfect without her, no party of pleasure could be formed without her approval and arrangement, for her tact and taste were undisputed. Sedley saw, with sincere grief, the rapid progress of that insidious disease which was consuming her; and although he no longer loved her, yet he had loved her; and to behold her trifling so fearfully with her waning existence, shocked him deeply.

Teresa was much with her, for Lady Sedley found her an inimitable listener, and possessed of unvarying sweetness of temper, and had taken a great fancy to her. Teresa was too kindhearted to refuse her society to the poor invalid, as she seemed to enjoy it; and thus she was