-he thought not of what he said, as his answer expressed the genuine emotions of his soul.

"Letitia, it concerns me-everything that affects your happiness-your happiness is dearer to me than my own." He had not intended this as a declaration of love; he never thought of the import his words bore until he marked the deepening flush upon her cheek, and felt her gentle struggles to withdraw her hand. But his soul was now on fire; the ice that had so long bound his lips was thawed in the words that had passed them; and he poured into her ear a tide of passionate protestations, such as an hour before he would have given worlds to be able to do.

"Yes, Letitia," he said, as he grasp ed tighter the hand which she struggled ineffectually to withdraw, "I mean what I say-I mean more than I can say your happiness is dearer to me than my own. Letitia, you know I love you-I have loved you as my own soul-and tell me, tell me, my angel, that I may hope that you-that you" he stopped-her hand was now unresistingly in his, and her head, as it languished to one side, had almost fallen upon his shoulder.

Tell me, dearest, that you will be mine," he whispered, as his arm almost unconsciously passed round her delicate waist-her head was now leaning quite upon his shoulder-her blue eyes, half filled with tears, and gushing with tenderness, rested on him with an expression of indescribable softness, as she muttered an indistinct assent; he heard not the exact words; he leaned forward to catch the whispered accents; and as he did so, he sealed them with a kiss-the first chaste kiss of love-a warm, a passionate, and yet a holy kiss.

Just then they heard the sound of voices in the garden; they left their retreat, and, coming round by a shaded walk, they met us for I was of the party who disturbed them-as if nothing unusual bad happened.

Mrs. Jephson and Caroline had called for me in college, and had insisted on my returning with them to Woodbine Cottage; and it was just at the critical moment I have described that we entered the garden.

Edmund was now quite happy; that evening the young people were sent

by my aunt to walk up the mountain and breathe the fresh air. Caroline and I were, of course, companions, and Edmund and Letitia contrived to separate themselves from us as widely as possible; they seemed too earnestly engaged in their conversation to heed the sarcasms of Caroline, who, every now and then, used to stop and upbraid them with the slowness of their pace. During that walk they pledged themselves to each other, and arranged their plans. As soon as Edmund obtained his degree they were to be married. Edmund was now at the close of his junior sophister year; he was a fellow commoner, and could obtain his degree on the Shrove Tuesday following-and early in spring they were to repeat before the altar those vows which that evening they secretly made to each other under the canopy of heaven, and with the wild rocks and heather of the mountains around them.

This arrangement was understood and assented to by all parties, and I now began to think that Edmund would be very happy with Letitia; she seemed really to love him-and he returned her affection with interest. He had altogether given over whatever habits of gaining he had formed, and every thing seemed to promise that he would become a happy and a useful man.

Mrs. Jephson had a sister some years older than herself, who had never married, and had, all her life, been hoarding up money: Letitia was her namesake and godchild; and at first my aunt had supposed that she might calculate on something handsome at her death. Latterly, however, the old tabby had taken very little notice of her godchild. For the first time, the preceding Christmas had not brought the customary gift for "her little namesake, Letitia." for this was supposed to be, that she had fallen in love with a pennyless young officer who was quartered in Cork, near to which city old Miss Collins lived. Her inamorato had since been, however, unfortunately killed in a duel. Miss Collins put on mourning

The reason

and a letter duly written on blackedged paper, and scaled with black wax, arrived at Woodbine Cottage, to her dear sister, giving a most feeling account of her distressing state

of mind, and requesting that her little namesake should be permitted to visit her-it was one of these pieces of affectation by which she attempted to disguise even to herself the progress of years, to talk of her nieces as if they were children-she would banish her bad spirits by her childish prattle. This letter vexed Letitia, and amused us all-poor Letitia, who had almost looked on herself as the head of a family, was quite mortified at the idea of being sent to Cork to talk innocent prattle to a cross old maid; but this, however, was a thing not to be thrown away. Miss Collins had money to leave, and it was settled that Letitia was to go. Even Edmund's entreaties were of no avail. He protested to Letitia that all her aunt could leave her would not pay him for the misery that her absence would cause. Mrs. Jephson remarked, upon this being repeated to her, that "that was all very fine talk, but love would not last as long as money-and if he got his own way now, many a day, when they were married and had a parcel of children, he would wish Letitia had gone to see her rich old aunt"-perhaps she was right in this prediction-but we will see the sequel.

Edmund was miserable at the idea of a separation-he talked of following her to Cork, that he might be near her-but then he must pass his October examination or lose his yearand this would but defer the consummation of his happiness-he really seemed like some one distracted, he cursed money and rich old aunts at least twenty times a day; but this, as might be supposed, did not mend the matter much-the time, too, came when Letitia must go-and after many Vows and protestations of mutual fidelity, and promises to write often, they were compelled to part. I confess I had a melancholy feeling the last few days that I saw them together. I thought it hard that Mammon, that cruel idol before whom all the world bows down, should thus separate hearts that seemed devoted to each other. Yes, Mammon-INTEREST-is the fiend upon whose damned shrine the world is offering up all that is noble in sen timent or generous in feeling-and then they call their foul and degrading idolatry by the name of PRUDENCE.

Letitia, however, did go, and Edmund was left to solitude for two months-for the first two or three days after her departure he attempted to apply himself to his books-the fact was, that it was high time for him to prepare for his examination. He was gloomy and fretful-he did not seem satisfied with the arrangement that had been made. He spent much of his mornings in walking round the college park, and his evenings in walking in the colonnade under the library. He was not one, however, who had strength of mind to bear long with gloomy thoughts-he sought excitement to banish them, and just at this inauspicious moment he became again intimate with Nolan-under the circumstances it needed but little of the address which that wily intriguer could have employed to draw the victim back into those snares from which he had apparently escaped.

He

Very soon after Letitia's departure, business called me to the neighbour hood of Bristol, where I remained until the middle of November. The day before I left Dublin I had a long conversation with Edmund. I found from him that he had all summer neglected his reading; in fact, I deemed it right to tell him that he must be diligent in his studies for the ensuing month, if he wished to insure his passing the examination. laughed at my caution, indeed I myself thought it almost superfluous. It was very easy for fellow commoners to pass; indeed they themselves appeared to consider it as etiquette, that they should not be expected to be prepared. Some of the examiners, who had the ambition of being con sidered peculiarly gentlemanly, ap peared willing enough to concede to them this very flattering privilege; but it sometimes happened that they met with one more stern and anyielding, who put in a practical, and, to the object of it, rather a disagreeable protest against the doctrine, that wealth should be considered as an excuse for ignorance.

I left Edmund endeavouring to while away his loneliness by a division of his time between writing love sonnets and studying astronomy. The day ! went away, I found Nolan in his room; could not help thinking it an evil omen.

Edmund had promised me to write; but I heard nothing from him during my absence; I returned home about the middle of November; it was early in the morning that I reached college; I was passing through the streets before the lamps were put out; it was a rainy raw morning; the dying lamps were flickering half-extinguished in the fitful gusts that rose, and then swept by. I had my cloak wrapped close round, and was walking on, buried in my own meditations, when I was startled by seeing two well-known figures, just before me, coming out of a shop where soda water was sold; they were Nolan and Edmund. I could not conceive what they could be doing in the streets at such an hour, and on such a morning. I walked quick and overtook them. Edmund was startled at seeing me; his face was pale and his eyes red. Nolan, too, had a haggard appearance; both seemed as if after a night's carouse; Nolan had the look of a practised debauchee; Edmund, that of one unused to pass his nights in such a manner. I asked Edmund where he had been, or what he was doing; he looked at me with a stupid and a vacant stare, and I now perceived that he was under the influence of intoxication. Nolan had evidently been his companion, but had borne better with raking. Come," said he, "this kind of work does not suit you; you had better make haste home and go to bed."

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Edmund answered that he was well enough, and then relapsed into a species of stupid trance from which he had roused himself.

"Poor fellow," said Nolan, to whom I had addressed no observation, but who appeared determined to talk enough for himself and Edmund both; "poor fellow, he has been in very bad spirits since he lost his examination."

The words came like a thunderbolt upon my ear; they told me the history of the last two months-He had lost his examinations! and now at seven in the morning he was staggering through the streets with Nolan!! I needed no more; I felt that he was a ruined man.

Nolan ran on with a surprising fluency, to give me a full account of the matter.

"He depended upon passing as a

fellow commoner; but he got Dr. Dyke, with whom I believe you know there is no respect for velvet gowns and tassels, and he stuck him. I believe he has more sense than to care for the caution; but it keeps him another year out of his fortune. Ever since the examination he has been alternately cursing Dr. Dyke and his father; the one for knowing so little of the world as to expect that a gentleman should know anything; the other for supposing that he could not spend his fortune just as well without a degree as with it."

"Really, Mr. Nolan," I answered, "Mr. Connor must be very much changed since I knew him, or he would hardly act the unamiable part of cursing a good man for doing what I fear was nothing but his duty, and his deceased parent for what certainly seems to have been an act of kindness."

I said this with much bitterness. Nolan did not seem sorry that our arrival at the college gate exempted him from the necessity of replying; he appeared disposed to accompany Edmund to his rooms-I told him that his kindness was superfluous, and that I would see him to bed.

"Oh no," he answered, “I do not think you are up to all his rooms as well as I am; as I have been living with him for the last week; but if by and by you will come over to us, he will be able to welcome you home, and we will have some breakfast."

Nolan living with him! alas! alas.! I felt that he was gone, indeed; but I said nothing; without even noticing Nolan's invitation I turned off to my own rooms. I could not but mourn over poor Edmund's fate; he was too manifestly Nolan's dupe and victim; all my hopes that he would have been rescued were dashed to the ground; and all, all arose from the desire of a little more money, prompting my aunt to send away her daughter. It was a just penalty upon the avarice and graspingness that made her indifferent to the feelings of her child; but was it just that he should be the victim? God forgive her! I could not help thinking that the drops of the blood of his soul had been weighed out by Mrs. Jephson, as the purchase of gold. I diverted my mind from such thoughts,

only by recollecting that I still might make an effort to save him. As soon, therefore, as I thought he would have slept off the effect of the night's debauch, I bent my steps to his chambers.

I was rejoiced to find him alone. Pale, and haggard, and wo-begone, he was sitting at a late and uncomfortable breakfast; he was attempting to swallow a cup of coffee-but, gracious heavens! beside him, on the table, stood a brandy bottle! I was shocked; I felt as a physician who had been summoned to see a patient with some slight ailment, and found about him all the symptoms of death-a brandybottle on his breakfast table!! What is fearful in gaming is the rapidity with which it hurries you down the road to ruin-it is in vice, what consumption is in disease--every other vice will be slow in its progress before it brings you as it were, to the last stage; but not so with gaming-it has a hectic fever that preys on you with the rapidity of flame, and it soon does its work.

I sat down opposite to him almost without saying a word; he was the first to allude to the subject of which both our minds were full.

bitter smile, “but I have heavily involved myself."

It was some time before I could get him to state anything explicit; he was in a paroxysm of mental fever; he was almost like a madman, he walked up and down his apartment and repeated the word "ruined! ruined! ruined!" When he spoke of Letitia he seemed absolutely frantic. "Happiness," he cried, "happiness was within my grasp-it was in my grasp and I flung it from me; for what? for excitementfor damnation-to be the dupe of rogues-all gamblers are rogues. I can blame no one but myself. Men," he added, "complain of the world and of nature; but no, the world is full of happiness, but man creates the misery. I do not know what I am talking ofmy nerves are shattered by sitting up all night, night after night--no human frame will stand excitement,” and he smote his hand vehemently on his forehead; "hell fire is in my veins. It is preying on me-consuming me-but I have kindled it myself-it will burn me."

Thus did he rave until he stopped from pure exhaustion. I had some difficulty in persuading him to state the amount of his obligations. At last I got him calmly to sit down to the disagree able task of counting up his debts. And what a detail was here; he had been supplied with money by a rich old Jew who lived in Mecklenburgh-street, but supplied at a tremendous rate of interest; he had in one instance been induced to give a bond for £300 upon receiving 1501. I hinted to him that these extortionary bargains might be broken, but he indignantly rejected the proposal; he had this high feeling of honor that shrunk even from depriving villainy of its fraudulent gains. After making the most accurate calculation we could, we reckoned up his debts as amounting to about 50001., a considerable sum, but yet not one that was anything like the ruin into which he had exaggerated it.

When he looked his difficulties full in the face, he seemed surprised to find that it was possible to meet them; he looked again and again at the paper, before he could be convinced that the calculation was correct. "Why," said he, "this is very odd; Nolan made out, a week ago, that I was ruined, and that

my only chance was to retrieve myself by the gambling-table. He is fond, you know, of a classical allusion, and he said the wound, like that of Telephus, could only be cured by the wea pon that inflicted it. I am certain I have lost heaps during the week; are you sure you have added it right ?" "Perfectly; if you have given me the items right."

We went over the items again, one by one; we could, however, detect no mistake, and when he was indeed convinced that he was not ruined-when I pointed out to him how he might easily, having obtained possession of his fortune, pay off all demands, with out suffering more than a temporary embarrassment, his joy seemed equal to his former despair; his eyes, upon which but a little moment before a heavy stupor had hung, lighted up with the fires of gladness; he grasped my hand in silence; there was something almost convulsive in the tightness with which he squeezed it.

. "Then I am not ruined!" he said, in a voice stifled by the depths of his emotion.

"No, Edmund," said I, "thank God you are not; you have embarrassed yourself, but you are in no difficulties that prudence may not retrieve." "Thank God," he cried, with all the fervor of sincere devotion. "Oh, God has been good to me; he watched me when I could not watch myself, or sharpers would have taken my all."

He raised his eyes to heaven, while tears of gratitude chased each other down his pale, but still manly cheeks.

And my Letitia!" he added, in a voice that seemed to express a feeling divided between gratitude to heaven, and hopes of happiness on earth.

"There is nothing," said I, "to prevent your being happy with her; but, Edmund, remember how nearly you have been to sacrificing both her happiness and your own."

He looked at me steadily for an instant; he went over to his bookcase and took down a book: he then said, earnestly,

"You remember once asking me for a promise that I would never enter a hell; would to God I had given it to you, but now you shall have my oath." I would have stopped him, but I had not time. Here," he said, so

He looked like one who had flung a load from off his mind; God give you grace to keep your oath," I fervently prayed.

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He then gave me an account of much that had happened in my absence; he told me that to get rid of the intolerable weariness in which his days were passing, he had permitted himself to be tempted by Nolan once more to visit the gambling table; he determined to amuse himself with it as a recreation. Alas," said he, "it was like giving blood to the tiger. The fiend that had been lurking in my breast, awoke once more in all his terrible fierceness; and I gambled fearfullyterribly. I then was introduced by Nolan to the old Jew in Mecklenburghstreet, who cashed bills for me, at a tremendous discount, all drawn on me at different intervals. Thus I went on. I knew that I was going as fast as possible to ruin, but I had not courage to look my real circumstances in the face; and Nolan, who looked over the state of my affairs, told me I could only retrieve myself by successes at the gambling table; ha! ha! ha!" he laughed wildly at the notion, "no one ever did that; it is like exercising for one's health in a poisoned atmosphere; but thank God it is all over."

I asked him could he not see that Nolan had been duping him; but upon that point he was inaccessible to reason; he would not even suffer himself to be argued with; he said Nolan had proved himself his friend, and that he would stake his life on his attachment and good faith.