MARY SEAHAM, A NOVEL. BY MRS. GREY, AUTHOR OF "THE GAMBLER'S WIFE," &c. &c. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. LONDON: COLBURN AND CO., PUBLISHERS, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1852. Notice is hereby given that the Publishers of this work reserve to themselves the right of publishing a Translation in France. LONDON: Printed by Schulze and Co., 13, Poland Street. MARY SEAHAM. CHAPTER I. Thou hast not rebuked, nor reproached me, But sadly and silently wept, And each wound that to try thee I sent thee, Thou took'st to thy heart to be kept. C. CAMPBELL. Six months from the point at which we left our story, a party of gentlemen, who on their way to the Highland Moors, had stopped in Edinburgh for the night, strolled together in the public gardens of the place. They found little company there besides children and nurse-maids at that time, so that a young lady of quiet, but distinguished appearance, who came towards them and turned down one of the shady walks, with a group of little companions followed by their attendant, more particularly attracted the attention of the strangers. "What a remarkably pretty, lady-like looking girl, that is; how well she walks," said one. "So Trevor seems to think," said another, for their friend had lingered behind, and now stood apparently half irresolute, looking in the direction where the young lady had disappeared. "Come on, don't let us be in his way," and then laughing, they pursued their walk. Trevor seemed not disinclined to profit by their consideration--he hesitated no longer, but disappeared at once within the shaded path. Need we say, whose footsteps he followed--or whose the startled countenance, which turned towards him, when having reached the spot where the object of his pursuit had arrived, he in a low tone pronounced the name of "Mary," or how in an opposite direction to that taken by the nurse and children, they were soon walking on slowly, side by side, together. "But Eugene, is not this wrong?" Mary said, after the first tearful joy of this most unexpected meeting had a little subsided, and her heart rather sunk, to find by her lover's hasty explanation, that no new turn of events, touching favourably on their mutual happiness, had brought him to her side. "Is not this wrong after the agreement we had made?" "What Mary!" with tender reproach, "are you so little glad to see me as thus to speak? However, as you are so much more scrupulous than affectionate, I am not afraid to tell you that I had not counted upon this pleasure, though I did not think myself bound quite to avoid the place which contained you; but when, by mere accident, I saw you a few yards distant, I think not the most punctilious of your friends, would expect it to be in the nature of man, to look after you and turn coolly the other way."