The kingdom suffers force,

'Tis seized by violent hands!'

She's off! so I must seize it myself, or else 'twill never aid. And, sir! as we stand together, in this house of spectres, with that crushed thing before us, I call you to register the oath on land, that the skies have registered already; that, whilst the bringer of infamy to her and hers shall walk society in the grandeur of rank and riches, and without one scream of soul-I will hang upon— till atonement's wrung from-his marrow; and hollo in his ear, at the finishing-gasp, that his executioner is an Olfords! But, for you, Mr. Villiers"-sobering "I could kneel where you tread; for you've shed mercy round the starving, and talked gently to the bruised. There," rushing into sobs, "you may wake her"-and he receded to the farthest nook, cowering as if an apparition were by his side.

Discourse being compulsory, Villiers neared Mrs. Olfords; unwrapped her head; shook her shoulder: imperviousness seemed part of her. Why, there was not even the indication of respiring. Had she drugged herself? ah, Poverty! In vain he asked aloud. He peered into her withered visage-it was grim: its orbs but half

shut, glassy, and meaningless: its lips palely blue. What? No. It could not be? It was!

DEAD, for my life?
Even so.*

No. 4.-An Expedient.

God speed him!

This is a desperate.

HORNE.- Death of Marlowe.

He explained his unseasonableness to the Evretts by the suddenness of his leaving for the Continent; whence constrained to billet himself at Shetly, or relinquish an adieu on the eve of indefinite absence.

There was brief space for converse, and brief expenditure. The violence, at his father's and at Olfords', disposed himself to revery; Grace was on the retentive; and the Colonel commonly taciturn. Villiers wished strenuously there had been company; nevertheless, learning Morley might * Shakspere.

be in before twelve, having dined with Sir Hardenbrass Foozlepate, ex-representative of the county, he evinced abruptest recollection of the indispensable discussion of breakfast at Lord Clevedon's," where he and Herbert should re-unite." But hardly had thus much escaped when, remembering the effect of Evrett's nomenclature on the Captain, he grew inquisitive as to its mutuality; "I omitted, I believe, to particularise him for my comrade?" Evrett's cold placidity unaltering, Emile subjoined, "You may have met abroad? he served in the -th and -nd."

Never having before nominated him to Evrett, his anticipations were little gratified by a scant, "We are not acquainted."

Shortly after, a proffer of some Parisian introductions furnished excuse for retiring, to allow their preparation. So, begging his early exit might unsettle neither, he bid both good-bye. Both? No. He could not get out the phrase to Grace. Freshly it leapt-up from his very heart, but it stuck mid-way in the throat. Out, however, it should! But out it wouldn't! It choked him. His breast, too, swelled, as though the heart were growing all the larger for the loss of it. Nature could not have borne a moment

more-so she transmitted it, in a language of her own, through the optics.

This, however, completed all: there was a point at least in that! "Pride and Apathy were henceforward to be his quest;" he had begun bold propitiation by resorting thither-the true repellants of Woe! he would be worthy of them!

Earth and Heaven! if she had not pressed his hand warmlier by one half-touch-retained it, a second longer-and spoke softlier (something he quite forgot) by a semi-tone-than ever yet! were his ponderings, upon the ceremonious Colonel's departure, after pioneering to the allotted chamber.

Dreams, idler than the midnight-breeze-the betrothment! Fool, fool that he was, to have again let forth his affections. Nor that either; butto have looked for reciprocation! Yet, how unconformable to Evrett's habitudes such ungenerous silence, where he had every liability of injury which Grace was absolutely shut-off from redressing! But Grace herself, (and here her step echoed without) was not she, too, censurable? no caution-no consideration: did she not differ, a jot, from the mass of womankind-detain the admirer, though pre-determined to repulse?

Consideration? caution? why, no bare humanity; the same that would be outraged at the exhibiting and the withholding of a loaf from a crippled wretch, whose orphan-children chattered in famine's final convulsions! By heaven and earth, it was incredible!

All the reckless and desperate exhilaration, that had been backened awhile, recurred-recurred ten thousand-fold.

She might yet be his! He could not command himself: though Death's chasm had yawned betwixt-Hell hissing from beneath he would have bounded it, so she were beyond.

To think and act were identical. Noiselessly abandoning his chamber, he stood audaciously in hers.