I fear the contrary. Greatly, however, would ..xiety occasioned by this apprehension be les., could I hope that, let the decision of the duke at it may, I should still find you inclined to fa

my suit."

With a false hope I never will delude you, St. ry,” replied his fair mistress, in an agitated tone; ear me now decisively assure you, that no consideon shall ever induce me to violate the duty I owe father I owe him more than the common obedie of a child. On my account, though so young en deprived of my mother, he has retrained from ming another engagement. To me he has ever en uniformly tender and indulgent. In my princiles he has reposed a confidence not often met with in panish fathers: in proportion to this confidence would his, resentment, at finding it abused. With the gh with which my ingratitude would heave his nobreast, would mingle a malediction on me; and ot even you, St. Valery, could console me under

יי!

A heavy gloom for some minutes darkened the feaires of St. Valery, during which he remained silent; en again raising his eyes to hers, "Nothing that in possibly tend to soften him in my favour shall be ft undone: but, oh! my Elvina, thou whom, wheher granted or denied to my longing arms, I must for ver adore, my heart misgives me, that all my efforts ill prove unavailing. But listen to the communicaion I have to make, and you will then be better able to judge whether or not these fears are groundless." He seated himself beside her on the sofa as he spoke, nd, after an agitating pause of some minutesKnow then," said he, in a voice solemnly impresive, "that

What further he would have said was prevented by he abrupt entrance of Olivia. On reco

from

imagine I would depart without again seeing you? without again breathing my vows at your feet? without giving utterance to the gratitude, the adoration, with which you have inspired me? Oh! if you did, you indeed wronged me !"

"No, no," replied the trembling Elvina, with warmth "trust me, I did justice to your feelings; I felt assured you would not have departed without seeing me, had an opportunity for so doing occurred; yes, my heart told me all you wished, all you would have said."

"All!" repeated St. Valery, emphatically, and still more fervently pressing the white hand he had gently seized; "all" cried he with a smile, and fastening his dark eyes expressively upon hers, "did it tell you all?of the vows I should have reiterated, that in freeing me from the fetters imposed on me by your father, you have cast others round me, which death only can break ?"

"St. Valery,” replied Elvina, with much emotion, "I must no longer listen to this language, except sanctioned by my father; you either forget I am not my own mistress, or encourage a hope I may forget the circumstance myself.

"No," returned St. Valery, passionately, "I harbour not an idea of you calculated to offend; nor ever would I have attempted to engage you in any thing like a clandestine correspondence, but for the unhappy prejudices which forbade the public avowal of my passion. No, my proud heart would have shrunk from a procedure so apparently indicative of an inferiority I do not acknowledge: in point of merit, who can be considered the equal of Lady Elvina? but, both from birth and fortune, it is my transport to think I am entitled to her hand. The period for putting these prejudices to the test is now arrived; you have encouraged me to hope they may be overcome; but,

alas! I fear the contrary. Greatly, however, would the anxiety occasioned by this apprehension be lessened, could I hope that, let the decision of the duke be what it may, I should still find you inclined to favour* my suit.'

"With a false hope I never will delude you, St. Valery," replied his fair mistress, in an agitated tone; "hear me now decisively assure you, that no consideration shall ever induce me to violate the duty I owe my father I owe him more than the common obedience of a child. On my account, though so young when deprived of my mother, he has refrained from forming another engagement. To me he has ever been uniformly tender and indulgent. In my principles he has reposed a confidence not often met with in Spanish fathers: in proportion to this confidence would be his, resentment, at finding it abused. With the sigh with which my ingratitude would heave his noble breast, would mingle a malediction on me; and not even you, St. Valery, could console me under it!"

A heavy gloom for some minutes darkened the features of St. Valery, during which he remained silent; then again raising his eyes to hers, "Nothing that can possibly tend to soften him in my favour shall be left undone but, oh! my Elvina, thou whom, whether granted or denied to my longing arms, I must for ever adore, my heart misgives me, that all my efforts. will prove unavailing. But listen to the communication I have to make, and you will then be better able to judge whether or not these fears are groundless." He seated himself beside her on the sofa as he spoke, and, after an agitating pause of some minutes"Know then," said he, in a voice solemnly impressive, "that

What further he would have said was prevented by the abrupt entrance of Olivia. On recovering from

the surprise she experienced at seeing him, she informed Elvina, that the Duke was following, for the purpose of supping in the pavilion with a large party of knights and ladies just arrived at the castle.

St. Valery's vexation at this circumstance was unspeakable. As he started up to be gone, he eagerly demanded of Elvina, whether she could not grant him an interview the next morning; but this the newly arrived guests rendered utterly impossible; something he then would have said; but as he opened his lips, the voice of the duke sounded in his ear, and obliged him to fly.

The difficulties which, from various circumstances, there was reason to suppose his brother would throw in the way of his taking possession of his estate, was the subject on which Elvina concluded he wished to have a longer conversation with her; and this idea prevented that anxiety and impatience she might have otherwise experienced respecting it. Spite of herself, however, doubts would obtrude, relative to the result of his application to the duke, and tranquillity and cheerfulness fled before the anxiety of incertitude.

About the period at which she might have expected to have heard from him, the long-imprisoned squire of her father made his unexpected appearance at the castle. The first act of St. Valery, on arriving in Gascony, was to demand his liberation: this being denied, he accomplished it by force; and, in consequence, open hostilities commenced between him and his brother.

This information accounted to Elvina for his silence to the duke, till these unhappy feuds were adjusted; she knew it was impossible for him to make any arrangement for their union, and she trembled to think of the events that might take place ere he could avow himself, if, indeed, the issue of his quarrel ever allowed him to do so-apprehensive of the authority