reasonable, peevish, passionate, and so we have worn away life together; and now, when the curtain is about to fall, I look back on my useless existence-my wasted talents-my lost opportunities, and mourn over it all-in vain!" His voice was choked with emotion.

"Oh, do not say so, sir; you are the dearest, kindest of fathers."

"To you, Belle; and what thanks to me for that? I have been proud of you-I have loved you there it is; if I had loved your mother, I should have been the kindest of husbands. Love makes virtue easy. 'Love,' the Scripture says, 'is the fulfilling of the law.' I say those must be saints who fulfil the law without it. Conscience does not sleep even in such a self-lover as I am; and think you, Belle, I am not often tormented with the thought, that I was created for something better than to make

my dinner the chief good of every day-to pamper myself with the bounties of Providence, and fret and fume at every straw in my way? No, my dear child, you never have felt my petty tyranny; but you hold the master-key to my heart. Poor Herbert! I sacrificed him to a gust of passion. It was I that drove him. into the ranks of the rebels."

"Pray compose yourself, sir; do not say any

more.'

"I must finish what I began upon-I have gone aside from it-Jasper Meredith! Ah, Belle, that name conjures the blood back to your cheeksJasper Meredith has fortune, which, thanks to this unnatural war, we want enough. He has rank which I honour, and talents which all men honour; but if he has not your whole heart, child, let him and his fortune, rank and talents, go to the devil.”

“Thanks, dearest father, for your counsel; and trust me, I will be assured of something better and higher than fortune, rank, or talents, before I bind myself in that indissoluble bond."

"I believe it, Belle; I know it." Mr. Linwood felt, though he did not perfectly comprehend the emotions that at this moment irradiated Isabella's beautiful face. "And, my child," he continued, "ever since you have come to woman's estate, I have resolved that whoever you loved, let his name, condition, fortune, be what it would, your hand should go with your heart, Belle; and I fear not to stand by my resolve, for I know that your giving your heart means your respect, honour, esteem, and all that one of God's creatures can feel for another."

"You are right, sir."

"I am sure of it-now kiss me, dear-that's

a seal to the bond. Read to me the last London

Gazette-no matter where. I'll doze away the time till dinner.”

CHAPTER XX.

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul?

We ought not to tax too severely the ingenuity of our readers, and therefore must briefly explain our poor friend Kisel's sudden appearance with the marauders. He had waked from his sound sleep on Gurdon Coit's floor at the moment that Eliot gallopped off with his associates towards Mrs. Archer's, and in spite of all remonstrance he had mounted his horse and followed him. He had the dog's affection, but