"Rita, Rita, it is I," exclaimed he, in his gentle tones. He had scarcely pronounced the first syllable of her name ere the duchess, recognising her lover, had flung herself into his arms.

"But, Henri, why assume this melancholy costume?"

"Was it not that I was doomed to wear before I knew you, my Rita? I wished to clothe myself in it for a first, a last, and an only time, in order to make for you a more total, ample, and unreserved sacrifice. Are you offended with me ?"

66 No, no!-but come," said Rita, running up the staircase.

Henri gently held her back. "Listen," he whispered, while he pressed her lips to his own. "I have a fancy to be alone in my apartment above to receive you, and to do the honours of my hermitage fitly. I wish once more to long for your coming, to hear the welcome sound of your footsteps, and the rustling of your dress. Will you permit me ?"

"Yes, yes; but let me tell you," interrupted Rita, with joyous precipitation, so eager was she to confide her cherished and darling project to her lover-"let me tell you, Henri, I am come to offer you my hand-my hand-with an immense fortune and a title such a glittering, dazzling title as German electors might envy !-it is all for you; and-myself with it!-and O, how gladly do I surrender it all to one, who-” "Angelic creature!" said Henri, kissing her bright and marble brow, "you shall tell me all above." And so saying, he disappeared in the recesses of the tower. A minute afterwards Rita stood at the door of his room, which no darkness could prevent her finding. She flung it open, and uttered a scream of astonishment, and almost of terror.

Her surprise was very natural, for no one could have recognised the obscure and wretched chamber of the tower of Koatven. Its damp walls, blackened by time, were covered with magnificent draperies of purple velvet, whose ample folds seemed to diminish the proportions of the apartment at

lights and splendour. And the timid and melancholy Henri was metamorphosed into a graceful, accomplished, and confident gentleman, who glided over the rich carpets, and offered his hand to the duchess to conduct her to an arm-chair, near a table richly prepared with an equipage of the costliest china, enamelled with vermillion-coloured figures of flowers. The drinking goblets were of crystal, so thin and pellucid that the junction of the lips was almost felt through them. It was Henri himself; only, instead of his monastic habit, which he had assumed to conceal his dress, he was attired in a coat of blue velvet, embroidered with gold, and in a waistcoat of cloth of silver. It was Henri, glittering in the rays of the rose diamonds, which flushed through the elaborate lace-work of his ruffles, which blazed upon his garters, on the buckles of his red-heeled shoes, and on the hilt of his sword. It was Henri, who wore with perfect ease, and as if he had been accustomed to it, the costume of a nobleman, adorned with the orders of Malta and St. Louis, and over which waved gracefully, with every motion, the large shoulder-knots of white satin studded with silver, the distinctive emblem that the wearer was ranked in the military household of the royal Bourbons of France.

But the countenance of Henri bore no longer that soft expression of sadness and suffering which had such a touching charm for Rita's heart. His features were now smiling and animated; his glances, which the duchess had never yet encountered in their full force, and which had been always hitherto downcast and veiled by his long eyelashes, were now replete with gaiety and exultation; and the cloud of white and perfumed powder which was thickly sprinkled over his waving tresses, doubled the expressive power of his black and deeply piercing eyes.

"Am I asleep or awake?" said the duchess, trembling, and overcome by a feeling of apprehension and grief, which she could not conceal.

"Madame the duchess shall have everything explained to her," was the respectful response of Henri, assuming the exquisite politeness of the day, which only allowed a lady to be addressed in the third person.

Rita threw herself into a chair, exclaiming, "Explain yourself; in the name of heaven, sir, explain the meaning of all this!"

"In the first place," rejoined he, “will madame the duchess allow me to inquire whether she has ever heard speak of the Comte de Vaudrez?"

"Frequently, sir, when I was in the habit of going to Versailles."

Then madame the duchess will learn, perhaps, with some astonishment, that it is

the Comte de Vaudrez who has now the honour of addressing her."

"You, sir, you! Henri! but then-good heaven!-but the Comte de Vaudrez, I was told, was in the navy, and served in America-is it possible? For pity's sake, Henri, solve me this mystery!"

"It is very true, madame, that I did serve in America, under the orders of Admiral de Guiche; but after two years' cruising, I returned to France-where I have been now❘ for nearly two months."

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Happy in her husband, her station, and in the numerous blessings which flow from the proper and judicious administration of a large fortune, the Duchess Rita recovered that peace of mind which arises from a conscientious discharge of the duties of life,

and in which the days pass undisturbed, and the nights are tranquil and refreshing. With these returned the original pious dispositions of her soul, which had been suppressed rather than extinguished, and which would never have been disturbed, but for the artful insinuations and dexterous sophistry of the leaders of that wretched philosophy, by the principles of which the peace of Europe was wrecked for so long a period. To a susceptible heart, and an ardent temperament, a correct understanding of religious matters is more especially necessaryand in this the duchess cordially concurred, when she reflected upon the danger to which her youth would have been exposed, had the Comte de Vaudrez been other than a gentleman and a man of honour.

J. P.