brooding over scenes of promised happiness, and bearing ill its disappointment.-Nathless, I say not this to force thy love-do as thou thinkest best."

66

Indeed, lady," Emily replied, in a tone of voice which shewed her to be hurt at the Countess's expressions," indeed, I grieve to think I have offended you in this; I feared not to have done so. * How is this cavalier named?"

"It will little advantage thee, Emily, to be told the name of one you are resolved to hold no converse with. He is called Manny-is much esteemed, as I am told, amid his countrymen, and honoured by his sovereign."

The name sounded strangely upon Emily's ear, as one which was similar to, yet not the same, as another she had before heard; and musing, she repeated two or three times to herself" Manny Manny-Manny!- there is much likeness in the names,-a difference of a single letter!—Alas," she said, sighing, "there is a greater difference of distance 'twixt the lands which gave them birth!"

The Count of Artois, who had hitherto stood by listening to what was going forward, and was, apparently, observing Emily with much interest: now, for the first time, broke in on the conversation; as much, perhaps, for the sake of relieving her embarrassments, as for that of correcting Jeanne's mistake.

"Pardon, fair dame," he said, "here are you in error, and with your leave I must correct it. The Lord Manny is not an Englishman, as you suppose; but is"

-"Not an Englishman, Seigneur ! - sure you jest!-for such have I yet ever held him: -and whence, then, cometh he, I pray you? -not out of France, I ween! His accent," she continued, laughing, "telleth him not a native of any province which I know of-truly, have I oft much ado to keep from smiling when I hear him talk. Whence is he?"

ed,

"He is from Hainault, lady," Robert answer

and came over to England about three years agone, where resting ever since, he hath done great service. His name, too, should not be spoken Manny, though the English, after

their fashion, have twisted it into that form, and, 'stead of Walter Manny, it should be writ Gaultier de Maun- But lo! here cometh he himself to answer for himself."

The general heed which Robert attracted whilst saying this, prevented any one present from observing the countenance of Emily, who stood at a little distance, listening with an intent and breathless attention to every word which fell from him. At one moment her cheek was flushed, and became red as scarlet with the blood which rushed into it, which, the next instant, retiring back to her heart, left her countenance as pale as death; her knees shook, and it was only by resting on the arm of one who stood beside her, that she could support herself and avoid sinking on the earth.

"And now, fair Dame!" exclaimed de Mauny across the hall, as he just then entered it with some others who had been employed in the same service as himself,-"now, at last, our prisoners are safely stowed, and-"

"We will talk with you of this anon," said

VOL. III.

N

the Countess, interrupting him-" At present, Seigneur, you must answer me some queries.How happeth it that you did pass yourself upon us all as English, seeing you be not English, but from Hainault?"

"You thought England to be my native land, Lady?-I ne'er said, nor fancied you so to think.

"Well, well; be it so.-I was in error," the Countess said " but sith you be, as hath been told to me, a Hainaulter, I must present you to a fair maid who also cometh out of Hainault, and thus is a countrywoman of yours,-the Chatelaine of whom I spake to you—the Lady Emily. Here, Emily!" she said, turning towards her. * Why, Emily!-what hast thou child?-what ails thee? Speak," she continued, suddenly starting, and then hastily advancing towards the spot whereon she stood, and placing her arms round her waist, so as to prevent her from falling to the earth.

*

Gaultier's attention had hitherto been so entirely taken up with attending to the Countess's

words, that he did not perceive Emily, who having retired a little from the speakers, was standing in the back-ground, or rather sinking upon it. But when Jeanne attracted his attention to her, he looked, and at the instant in which his eyes fell upon her form, the colour fled his cheek, and as his breath came and went in short, uneven gasps, he stood motionless to gaze upon it, as he, whose prayers being heard, once gazed upon the statue he himself had formed, and saw it slowly quit its stony nature, to soften into human loveliness-an event which he had often wished, though never dared to hope for its accomplishment.

Thus did de Mauny stand: his eyes rivetted on Emily's, as if to assure himself that his senses did not deceive him, and that he was not bewildered in a dream. Then, being assured of the reality of that which he beheld, he suddenly and, as it seemed, involuntarily, without design, or even knowledge of what he did, sunk down upon his knee, and folding his arms across his bosom, bowed forward his head, and mutely, and without motion,