of her affections from their peaceful sleep; or, if looking on her for a moment, they express nothing but indifference. These are the occasions that dispel the laboured illusion, wherewith, under the garb of business, or cares, or natural manner, she had sought to disguise from herself the marks of an estranged heart. In these sad and desolate hours her memory retraces her early years, her mother's tender watchfulness, and the soft voices of sisters contending for their place by her bedside. The contrast with her present stately solitude bursts resistless through every effort to repel it; and life and youth, with their long futurity, present her with nothing but a frightful chasm." "Alas! alas my song is sad; How should it not be so, When he, who used to make me glad, Now leaves me in my woe? With him my love, my graciousness, My beauty, all are vain; I feel as if some guiltiness Had mark'd me with its stain. "One sweet thought still has power o'er me, In this my heart's great need; 'Tis, that I ne'er was false to thee, Dear friend, in word or deed: I own that nobler virtues fill Thy heart, love only mine; Yet why are all thy looks so chill Till they on others shine? "Oh! long-loved friend, I marvel much Thy heart is so severe, That it will yield not to the touch Of love and sorrow's tear. No, no! it cannot be, that thou Should seek another's love; Oh! think upon our early vow, And thou wilt faithful prove. "Thy virtues--pride, thy lofty fame, Assures me thou art true, Though fairer ones than I may claim Thy hand, and deign to sue. But think, beloved one, that, to bless With perfect blessing, thou Must seek for trusting tenderness: Remember then our vow!"