cannot dwell on that conjecture--It is too painful. Well! I know not how the reception day passed off, nor how dear Mrs Eleanor was supported through her distressing task. But when I called, a few days after, at the Hall, I found her apparently reconciled to the appointed trial, looking, indeed, more pale and serious than was usual with her, but not less serenely composed, and her manner, and the expression of her countenance, when she addressed her brother, or looked towards him, was almost heavenly--so eloquent of the tenderest compassion and respect. But that brother! I--my old respected friend--how had a few days of mental misery--the truth was evident--how fearfully had those few days altered him! He was alone with his sister when I entered his morning room. "A little indisposed," he said, smiling; "and faint, from the unusual heat." And she stood by him as he reclined in his easy-chair, to take back the wine-glass, in which she had just administered to him some drops of ether. The ancient handmaiden, with whom you have made acquaintance, was in attendance with the salver, and having received the empty glass from her lady, withdrew with a respectful curtsy to myself, and, as she passed me, and her eyes met mine, I saw they were glistening with tears. My old friend stretched out to me a trembling hand, and apologised, with his wonted and unfailing courtesy, for not rising to receive me: "But Eleanor insists on it that I have over-exerted myself lately," he observed, smiling affectionately on her; "and I must be rude and self-indulgent to oblige her, and to recruit myself, to meet my guests at dinner. They are so good as to excuse me in the morning," he added hurriedly, and a faint blush passed over his countenance as he continued with averted eyes, "By the by, L----, you have heard from my sister, that I have felt it due to my cousin Heneage to invite his wife and part of his family to the Hall? His feelings were naturally hurt by their exclusion from it--and--and"----The struggle to proceed was a painful one, but he achieved it, and in a firmer tone, and with eyes that were raised to meet mine with a deprecating look, went on to say,--"You are aware, L----, that I should not willingly have imposed on my dear sister the irksomeness of receiving as a guest a person so ill qualified to associate with her as is Mrs Heneage Devereux, by birth and breeding, and perhaps--I fear"----And again his voice faltered, and his eye avoided mine--"I fear, by other circumstances, previous to her union with my cousin; but _he is_ my cousin, you know, and--and--my dear sister _could not_ disoblige me;"--and as he pressed his lips to her hand as it lay upon the arm of his easy-chair, I saw a tear drop on it from his closed eyelids. "Of course," he continued, recovering himself after a moment's pause, during which I had endeavoured to relieve his distress by a few cheerful, though scarce connected words--"Of course,