HASTY WORDS.

BY KATE CAROL.

CONCLUDED.

She was scarcely out of sight of the party, when Mr. Grey was at her side, begging permission to accompany her.

"Do not let me spoil all your enjoyment of the day, sir," was Annie's reply; "you had better go back and tell them not to wait for me," but her heart was not with her words, for she felt that his company would be a great relief to her.

"I prefer to be your companion for the present, Miss Lyman, unless you absolutely forbid it," said Grey, and Annie made no further objections.

"I have often been here before," she said, after a short pause, " and there is a wild glen just beyond that old rock, which Herbert always admired very much, and where I thought he might have gone and forgotten the time"--but her voice trembled, for the fear would cross her mind that something might have happened to him beyond the forgetfulness of the hour. A moment more and they had reached the spot, when in a sequestered retreat, under the shadow of a large rock, which was. her cousin's favorite seat, Annie saw him sitting with his head resting on his hand, leaning slightly forward.

"Herbert, dear, dear Herbert, how glad I am to find you here!" she exclaimed, bounding towards him, but the head was not lifted to greet her, nor the hand extended in welcome. She threw her arm around him, and touched his forehead-it was white as marble and icy cold. "Oh! Herbert, speak to me, do speak to me," she shrieked, as Melville Grey took Herbert's lifeless hand in his own for a moment, and then asked her for the cup she had brought with her. From a little stream near, he brought some water, then gently laying his friend upon the grass, with his head in Annie's lap, he sprinkled a few drops upon his face, and began rubbing Herbert's hands. Annie pressed her hand to his heart, but she felt no pulse beating there, and in a tone of agony she cried, "Is he dead? Mr. Grey--don't-don't tell me so." The young man was touched to the soul by her distress.

"Be not alarmed, Annie," said he "this is not a dangerous illness, but only one of the death-like swoons which he sometimes has. I have nursed him through several of them before."

Annie clasped her hands in silent thanksgiving as her cousin opened his eyes-but Grey motioned to her not to speak. Soon Herbert raised his head, and looking at the young man, said— "Where am I, Melville ?"

"Close your eyes, and lie still for five minutes, and I'll tell you," replied his friend, and the sufferer had no power to do otherwise. Ten minutes slowly passed, and again the eye-lids unclosed, and a look of consciousness returned to his pallid features.

"Herbert, dearest Herbert, can you forgive the pain I have caused you?" said Annie, in a low tone, but her cousin closed his eyes once more and spoke not. The large tears coursed silently down the poor girl's cheeks, and fell hot upon Herbert's forehead. He started, as from a dream, and exclaimed

"Is that you, dear Annie? What is the matter, and why are you and Melville here with me?"

Young Grey explained to him how the party had waited for him to appear-how his cousin had set off to search for him, and he had ventured to accompany her—and the manner in which they had found him.

"I am better now," said Herbert, at length. "I had such a terrible headache, that it seems as if I had never suffered such agony before. Dear Annie, do not look so frightened; I shall soon be well."

"I am not frightened, but very unhappy," was his cousin's reply. "Will you forgive me, Herbert, for having caused you so much suffering? I did it unthinkingly, to be sure, but my thoughtlessness is no excuse for my error."

"I have nothing to forgive you," Annie dearest-it was that terrible headache-oh! it is coming on again"—and the last words were almost screamed, as again the returning color fled from his face, and his head fell into Annie's lap. Unwonted and intense anxiety was written upon the expressive features of Melville Grey as this new paroxysm of pain seized his friend, for never had he seen Herbert thus, and he felt that he had been · mistaken in his first supposition that it was merely a fainting fit. "What shall I do ?" cried Annie in agony. "Oh, my cousin,