inflexible. How much further would have been carried the proselyting zeal of Lady Helen, whose convictions are ardent as her character is tenacious, we cannot say, had not Edward Basinstoke interfered, and insisted upon his cousin being abandoned to the consequences of her own perverse, but apparently irrevocable determination. Through his agency, the pernicious books, the crucifix, and even the rosary itself were restored; after which, as the crowning concession of parental love, permission was actually obtained for Father Athanasius Fastwell, to undertake the spiritual guidance of the youthful Romanist. This new state of things, though unquestionably not equally agreeable to all the inmates of Redburn Hall, had, for nearly two years, received the more or less reluctant acquiescence of all, when the unfortunate incidents concurrent with the opening of our narrative, unavoidably led to renewed discussions and difficulty.

It may be conjectured, from the brief outline which we have thus traced, that, during her five years' stay under her uncle's roof, Cécile Basinstoke had not been completely exempted from those sorrows which, under one form or

another, would appear to be the predestined portion of all her fellow pilgrims upon earth. Indeed, so utterly intolerable to her at times, had been the yoke of iron which her aunt had finally succeeded in fastening upon her, that, more than once, she had been on the very point of spurning it under her feet, and then flying from it for ever. But, a complete stranger to the world without, she had been appalled to the heart at the notion of treading its dreary mazes alone one thought besides respecting the kind and honest intentions of her uncle, the fraternal affection of Edward, and the more than sisterly love of Constance had ever been sufficient at once to quell the rebellious impulse. With regard to the true feelings which had sprung up between her and the heir of the house, we will only say, at present, that we trust we have accurately defined, as above, their real nature up to the period when our tale begins; but as to those that existed between the two fair cousins, it would be scarcely possible to exaggerate their impassioned character. While Cécile cherished the lovely Constance with the tenderness of a mother and of a sister, Constance worshipped the very ground upon which the

beloved Saint Cecilia trod. Nor is it to be imagined that, if her own independent station and disposition rendered her absolutely incapable of always perceiving and understanding the true bent and effect of Lady Helen's wounding admonitions and taunts, she ever once in her life wittingly suffered her cousin to be assailed or trampled upon without flying to her rescue.

To return to our narrative, however, St. Edmunds saw very little of any of the members of the family on the day after his arrival at Redburn, until they were assembled at dinner. There, Cécile was again his somewhat reluctant neighbour, but, as the worthy host was restored to his usual good humour, the conversation was so general and animated as to leave little opportunity for such a-partés as those of the previous evening.

Well, nephew," cried the Baronet, "what sport had you ?"

"Most excellent, Sir Charles," replied the young Viscount, "for, though I shot very badly, I managed to bag eight brace."

Besides a dog, I hear," said Edward.

No, no. I did not quite bag him, happily, though I may say that I brought him home;

but he got a stray shot, poor fellow, and gave me an awful fright at first. Luckily, I was close to your village at the time, and I soon delivered him into the hands of so pretty a nurse that he could not but speedily recover."

"I wonder who she may be ?" exclaimed Edward: "Redburn does not boast of many beauties, present company, of course, excepted."

"I have forgotten her name, though your keeper told it me; but she quite won my heart by her charming appearance and manner, as well as by the tender care which she bestowed upon the poor animal."

"Can it have been Mabel Hawthorne ?" inquired Edward.

"Exactly; that is the very name."

"Ha! ha! ha!" cried the Baronet, with a very loud laugh. "He was not long in finding his way there, any how. Upon my word, that is capital! Pretty girl; isn't she?" added he, with a prolonged wink.

"That she certainly is, Sir Charles, and so mild-looking and gentle."

"Ah! that's the point, ain't it, eh? Anything but fierce; ha! ha! ha! Perhaps I should

warn you, though, nephew, that she is the only bad character that we have about here; but, hist! I must be careful of what I say, for she is a most particular friend of Mademoiselle here."

Just then a letter from one of his constituents having been brought to Edward Basinstoke, and handed by him to his father, St. Edmunds was enabled to address a few words, in a lower tone, to his silent neighbour.

"So you know this poor girl, do you, Miss Cécile ?"

Yes; very well."

"Do you see her often?"

"Not of late, for I have been forbidden by Lady Helen either to go to her, or to receive her."

"Can there be a sufficient reason for such a prohibition ?"

"She has no doubt erred most grievously, though I fully believe that she is truly penitent

now."

"How singularly attractive, and almost ladylike, her manners are."

Yes; her mind is superior to her station, and that has been the foremost cause of her ruin. How was she looking in health?"