ments were soon completed, and we took up our residence in Berkeley-square.

The round of bustle and amusement seemed at first to divert Louisa's mind from its gloom and melancholy; but it soon relapsed, and she became indifferent to all around her. I was now convinced, that some corroding cankerworm was preying upon her heart, and I gave myself up to despair and sorrow.

CHAP. IV.

"The rainbow's lovely in the eastern cloud,
The rose is beauteous on the tender thorn;
Sweet is the evening ray from purple shroud,
And sweet the orient blushes of the morn:
Sweeter than all the blushes which adorn

The female form in youth and maiden bloom!
Oh! why should passion. ever man subborn

To work the sweetest flower of nature's doom,
And cast o'er all her joys a veil of cheerless gloom!"

I HAD not been in town many days, before lord and lady Arlesford, accompanied by Mr. Cantwell, arrived at their mansion

in St. James's-square. This made no difference to me, as the enmity which subsisted between us had long ceased, and we were now upon a very favourable footing with each other. Pelham was with us, and I found great comfort, and even excitement, in his society.

Pelham and I had gone down to Oxford for two or three days; and on my return, I heard that Mr. Cantwell had been several times to the house, as he wished very particularly to see me. I wrote to him, therefore, to apprize him of my arrival, and in less than an hour he was with me. There was a degree of concern upon his lugubrious countenance, which indicated, as I well knew, some mournful intelligence; and my first suspicion reverted to the Reeveses.

"Have you found Phoebe?" was my instinctive and hasty inquiry.

any

"My intelligence is far more important to you than information respecting that family," was his calm and significant reply.

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Speak out then, and let me hear it." "Will you first promise forbearance and calmness-will you be reasonable, and curb your fiery temper?"

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Ay-any thing you require. But

proceed."

"But, even now, my lord, you are chafed with wrath. Be patient-be tranquil."

I endeavoured to assume a calmness that, God knows, I was far from possessing; and Mr. Cantwell proceeded with his narrative, which he prefaced thus:

"You know, lord Henry, that I have the utmost regard for you; and indeed, nothing should induce me to do what I am now doing, without the highest solicitude for your happiness. Even now I must hesitate-I must pause-for the consequences may be terrible."

"For God's sake, sir, go on. Do not torture me thus."

"Have you not observed of late, that lady Louisa has been very melancholy?"

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Well, and what has that to do with

your intelligence? You cannot-you dare not say it refers to her?”

"Be patient, my lord. Do you know the cause the real cause of her sorrow?"

"Yes; sir Henry Halford and doctor Merriman both attributed it to her particular condition."

One of Mr. Cantwell's peculiar smiles passed over his features, as he murmured They know nothing about it."

"How do you mean? Have they mistaken her case?"

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No-only the cause of her malady." "Well, what is the cause then ?"

Mr. Cantwell drew nearer to me, and with an expression which I shall never forget, said, very calmly-" Her cousin, Mr. Edward Pelham."

"Good God, sir! what do you mean? What has Mr. Pelham to do with lady Louisa's illness?"

"I will tell you. Look here," and he drew out of his pocket a packet of letters. I snatched them out of his hand, and soon discovered their horrible import. They were

from Edward Pelham to-my wife! Oh God! the agony of that hour! She whom I had loved and worshipped-whose meek and melancholy eye, as it beamed on me in its gentleness, dispelled every care from my bosom-she whom I had caressed with all the fondness of my warm nature-she whom I had wedded was-an adultress!

Mr. Cantwell was terrified at the whirlwind of passion which shook me so dreadfully, and tried to console me; but his words were daggers-his consolation torture. There was no mistake-no attempt at concealment-no caution even-all was plain, palpable, withering! The fond and affectionate endearments which were lavished upon her cousin, and which I would have gladly purchased with my life, maddened my brain; my head swam, my heart panted, and I fell senseless on the floor.

When I recovered, I was in my own chamber, with Mr. Cantwell by the bedside, watching me with an interest that I saw at once was real.