presentiment, "na gude ever cam' fra living at Aldobrandi," and the vision of Padré Ambrogio would follow unbidden, and scowl over her shoulder.

By the way—where was Padré Ambrogio? We left him last in an attitude of despair. I think the old man was weeping. But that prostration was not to last. The Priest revived, and rose from his humiliation with redoubled energy. His first step was to return next day to the convent of St. Salvador. This done,

he took off his clerical habit, and assumed that of a civilian, completing his disguise by the aid of a pair of purple glasses. Thus attired he started for lake Como. By aid of his bunch of skeleton keys, he stole at night into Castello Aldobrandi, and removed from thence, by help of a servant, whom he bribed, all the property he had.

After a close investigation of the papers, &c., in regard to Ersilia's fortune, it was discovered by Sir Harry and Percy that there were heavy mortgages upon the estate, and that a great part of the landed property had been sold. So that after all was settled it was found that but a small portion remained. The Marchesa's debts were considerable, and they must be speedily liquidated. The palace in Rome and the villas at Sorrento and Frascati were offered for sale, and Aldobrandi alone Ersilia chose to retain.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THE WEDDING.-THE SNARE.

The jewelled flowers, too, we pressed,

They died not from our tread ;

And through the silver wheat we strolled

So happy:-we were wed.

THE progress of events now, may be best explained by the following letter from Miss Osborne to Miss Carter at Rome.

"Dear Miss Carter,

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Aldobrandi, Lake Como ;

"June 16.

"I have not forgotten to fulfil my promise of giving you an account of the wedding. We had a horridly stupid journey. The old Chateau is greatly improved, and looks quite habitable to what it did in the Marchesa's time. The great hall and the picture gallery were literally loaded with flowers, and Annie Percy and I made wreaths and hung them on the great lantern, and decorated the statuary, in preparation for the wedding. Ersilia, as you prognosticated, made a lovely bride. Really, I think she would look well in anything. Her dress, according to her own whim, was of the simplest kind,-white lace over satin, and the only rich thing she wore, was a veil of point lace we dug out of one of the old coffers here. The veil came down to her feet. She wore a wreath of natural white lilies, which, of

course, faded before the evening was out. But she would have worn king's-cups and violets, if she had nothing better, rather than an artificial flower (the dear creature)! On her bosom drooped a white rose-bud as usual, and was the only ornament she wore. The private chapel, which you remember leads out of the great hall, was scarcely recognisable. It is converted to Protestantism, and the pretty shrines and pictures are gone. Mr. Trafford married them delightfully. Papa was in such a state when Mr. Trafford, in his peculiarly solemn way, asked, 'Who giveth this woman unto this man?' and made such a rush to declare himself Mr. Percy's sole benefactor. But, in spite of our fears, no accident happened, for we all cautioned him to look out well for the bride's dress, and not step on it. After the service, which was at twilight—another odd freak—we adjourned to the terrace, and it all went off as well as private weddings ever do. We are off to-morrow for Courmayeur. Annie Percy goes with us. Au révoir, dear Miss Carter.

"P.S. No. 1. Of course you know Ersilia was married under her true name, ' Alice,' which electrified Papa, who seemed to have forgotten it.

"P.S. No. 2. Mr. Trafford is going with us to Switzerland.

"P.S. No. 3. It is fortunate for the bride she has got an established name at last. What between her real name, Alice Fortescue Howard, and the Marchesa's Ersilia Howard, the dear girl might indeed be puzzled."

Such was Miss Osborne's common-place narration of the wedding. We think it deserved a more elaborate description, for although strictly private, the very absence of all fuss and parade, and the simplicity which characterized it, harmonized completely with the place and the circumstances. Miss Carter

had derived all the foundation she required to build her own little romance upon the general impression being, that a gloomier wedding never took place in the gloomiest of all gloomy old halls. Of course there could be no style kept up, she affirmed, now the Marchesa was dead, and she should go up herself, some of these days, to give them a shaking up. Mr. Percy would bury himself in his studio, she knew, and Ersilia was going to have a Sunday school, and proselytize all the people round, &c., &c. With Miss Carter the tongue was indeed " an unruly member!"

Now, my dear," said Sir Harry to the bride, as his parting advice," mind! you are not to get mopish up here among all this carved oak and tapestry. It's an awful barn of a house—not love in a cottage, eh! my dear? Before I go, you are to mind two things. Don't on any account let any strangers in. I've still my suspicions about that old Ambrogio in spite of myself. I can't shake it off. And you, Percy, don't you let your wife ramble about in the grounds in search of nightingales' nests after sunset, eh! Ersilia? I don't feel at all easy leaving you two young folks here. You are both in the clouds; and you" (clapping Percy on the back) "won't know whether you are on your head or your heels, when that grave, practical, charming sister of yours is out of the way, and . . .

"You had better stay with us, and keep us in order then, dear paterfamilias."

Ha! ha! you dog, you! You know you are both dying to get rid of us all. But we won't be gone long, I assure you. I shall be back before many weeks to see after my charge. Lucky dog, you!" enforced by another slap on Percy's shoulder.

The farewells were over, and the party gone. The last good wish and sincere clasp of the hand interchanged, and the great hall door closed.

66

Will you wait any longer for tea, Signora ?" asked Maggie,

as evening shadows were creeping into the interior of Ersilia's private room, the library.

"Certainly. Mr. Percy will surely be here soon. It is a long ride, and I am glad he has waited until the cool of the evening."

Dear Signorina, excuse me, but I dinna like the master's ganging awa' to Villa Trasimeni. The Prince is weel eneugh for a' I ken, still it's a lang way off."

But, dear Maggie, it was necessary Mr. Percy should go to Villa Trasimeni. It would have been unkind in him not to have congratulated the Prince on his sudden engagement to Miss Osborne, as he is going to Courmayeur so soon."

"I ken it, dear Signorina, but I am sure something will happen."

"Nonsense, Maggie! Are you at your old fears again?

Na, madam, but somehow I dinna like to ha you alone when night fa's."

66

Oh, Mr. Percy will be back again soon," answered Ersilia, laughing at Maggie's over anxieties. But Maggie was not satisfied, she hurried down to the shore, took a boat, and made at once for the direction of Villa Trasimeni, which was about two miles up the lake.

Soon after she had gone, Harvey came in with a message that a gentleman was waiting in the hall, anxiously desiring to speak with the Signora.

"A gentleman? I know no one here. Say that I do not receive this evening."

He says, madam, that he must see you," said Harvey, emphatically, "he said something about Signore Percy."

"Mr. Percy! What can he want? Show him in."

In another moment a tall man, in a traveller's cloak, entered. After bowing politely, he said, in a husky voice, that he had just returned from Villa Trasimeni, that Mr. Percy had been suddenly attacked with chills and fever, and would not let the Prince send