OR, THE TRIALS OF LIFE. BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE CURATE OF OVERTON." "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them as we will." SHAKSPEARE. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 1855. 249. X. 145. MILLICENT. CHAPTER I. 'Hath he forgotten me? The wrongful thought Would stir within her, and though still repell'd With shame and self-reproaches, would recur.' SOUTHEY. MILLICENT felt quite stunned and stupified by this unjust treatment-oh, why was she obliged to leave Staplehurst, now it had become so dear to her, and just at a time when she had every reason to desire to remain ?she continued where she had been standing throughout that stormy interview, with her VOL. III. B eyes fixed on the glittering gold before her, wondering why her lot in life should be so hard, when the breakfast bell rang, and Millicent, frightened and bewildered, hurried up the back stairs to her own room to commence her packing. Her tears flowed fast as she took her things down from the wardrobe where they had been for so many months; recollections of past pleasure filled her mind, and as she folded the pretty white dress, Kate had given her, she longed for her dear friend's advice and consolation-her white crape bonnet reminded her of the consecration, that happy day when Lord Fortescue had sat by her side, looking so beautiful, and yet so sad, in his calm devotionhere, she folded up a dress she had worn in one of their happy forest rambles, and there, she found some relics of their pleasant walking parties—and it was with tears and sobs she placed the impressions of the brasses they had rubbed at Westworth in her portfolio, and feeling perfectly heart-broken, she wished again, and again for a letter from Lord For tescue; she was a little cheered when she thought that he must return soon to the Chase, and then he would come to Heatherton, and she would be happy again!-Poor Millicent, how she prayed for his return, as she stooped over her boxes and thought how unjustly she had been treated; and how young she was to be without any one to counsel her!—A knock at the door startled her, she jumped up from the floor, thinking immediately of Mrs. Robertson, but it was only Sarah with some breakfast. "Oh, Miss Thornville," said the girl; "I am so sorry you are going, it has always been such a pleasure to wait upon you; and indeed, we are all sorry, except Benson, and she is a good-for-nothing thing-but, dear Miss, do have some coffee, and let me fold those things; I can do it in no time;" and the kind-hearted Sarah, persuading Millicent to take some breakfast, began to pack her boxes, expressing her regrets all the while at Millicent's leaving. The packing took a long time, there was so much to collect together, so that it was |