he would upon an angel in the act of adoration. At this moment, the door was thrown open, and Mrs. Courtney almost burst into the room. "So," said she, "just as I thought. Pray, Miss Greville, how long has this gentleman been here?" Some general answer was returned. "Well, well," continued the angry lady of the mansion, "I presume you have exhausted all your morning topics; and I now wish to have some conversation in my turn." Catherine fled from the room like a frightened faun, giving, as she parted, an imploring glance at Vaughan, to restrain his evident irritation. We shall not detail the conversation that followed. The lady had by much the greater part of it to her self. It was alternately prudence, persua sion, and menace; the avoidance of paying boyish attentions to girls not come to years of discretion; the dangers of a continued residence in town; and the follies of a continued residence in the country. On the whole, she considered the army the very finest, most pleasant, and most promising for a young man. The age was military; the public mu nificence was all turned upon soldiership. There were certainly occasional hazards, from climate and other casualties; but of those a brave man took no account, and those were surmounted every day. Her ad vice was, Heaven knew it, given with a re

luctant heart; but she felt for his situation, anxiously, deeply felt for it, the bottom of her heart could

and from wish to see

his name in the next gazette. The lady was eloquent; Vaughan open to conviction. But half her eloquence was unheard, while he was conjuring up the vision of Catherine in her chamber, friendless, and lovely, and weeping over the sullen prospect of a life, which he would be too far away to cheer. Her smile rose before him soft, sweet, and innocent; the brown ringlets again clustered over her cheek richer than roses; the splendid eye again shone, full of the spirit of that Heaven on which it gazed; and he half worshipped the image which his fancy had made.

That night was sleepless. He was fevered with distracting thoughts. "Had he not been rash in his declaration to the woman of his heart; was he not binding her in vows which she might yet wish to break; was there not such a thing as female inconstancy? His profession too, was it not almost fixed already by his uncle? How should he answer for the pain which his only parent would feel at his going into the army, a career of which he knew her habitual dread. Was Mrs. Courtney's advice sincere, when he knew her hardness, selfishness, and duplicity of soul? If he fell, where was Catherine's hope of evading the difficulties of her forlorn life?"

As the first step to coolness of thought, he determined to leave London.

CHAPTER X.

They that have grown old in a single state are generally found to be morose, fretful, and captious-tenacious of their own practices and manners, soon offended by contradiction or negligence, and impatient of any association, but with those that will watch their nod, and submit themselves to unlimited authority.

Dr. Johnson.

ON rising, he immediately began his prepa rations for the journey. He had not been long employed, when a knock at the door announced Courtney.

He entered laughing. "Then the news is true," said he; "London air is too thick for the delicacy of your feelings; or are you out of purse, or out of favour with some love or other, which of course your pastoral nature thinks the much worse evil of the two ???

"None of those." returned Vaughan; " but I am under an absolute necessity of returning to Halston-Hall. I have some important business there; a point to carry, which must be settled without loss of time." Courtney's

gaiety forsook him at once; and looking in his cousin's face, "Have you had the news by letter?" and he caught up a letter which Vaughan had written to convey his farewell to Catherine. The direction caught his eye; bis countenance turned livid, and his teeth gnashed. It was but the emotion of a moment, and he laid the letter on the table unopened as he had taken it up. Vaughan was still busy assisting his servant in packing. "Come now, be sincere; was the news by express?-is the old fellow dying?-is he dead." Vaughan turned in surprise: "Dead! who?"—"Curse his cunning!" muttered Courtney: "we have been ousted completely." He turned to his cousin, "Are you going to take possession of the Hall?

"Yes," was the answer. Courtney darted a look of fury at him, and was about to rush out of the room; Vaughan caught hold of him. "What, in the name of all extravagance, is the matter with you this morning, Philip?""I am going to take possession of my old bed-chamber, and no more, for just two days; and after that, if I can obtain my uncle's leave, going to perhaps a bedchamber where the sky is the canopy, and where men sleep without disturbing their relatives."" The old fellow still alive; a commission; the very thing!" and Courtney, starting from his reverie, shook the

future soldier's hand, with more than feigned eagerness."Your purpose is manly and honourable. Luckless dog that I am, I must be confined to this wretchedly inactive life at home, while you are gathering laurels, my boy. You'll cut us all out when you return. But"—and he took a turn through the room in thought-" you are going to the hall; egad-I now recollect, I have business there, put off too long, a truant disposition, good, my Lord;' I will have the curricle with you in ten minutes, and we will go together."

Courtney's inclination for the journey subsided, as Vaughan became more communicative. He saw still more clearly, that nothing could be more favourable to his own views, than to encourage his cousin's predilection for the army, as affording the fairest means in the world for getting him completely out of the way. The chances were, that they might never meet again during his uncle's life-time, and in his rival's absence he might regain his former influence. Vaughan, delighted at the interest which he appeared to take in his concerns, and pleased at receiving advice so consonant to his wishes, overlooked the selfishness which dictated it.

There was something so friendly in his tone and manner,thatfrom one communication Vaughan was irresistibly led on to another. It occur