with a significant look, that when she restored to them their full liberty, she flattered herself they would not be dissatisfied with her sway, during the continuance of her temporary usurpation. «The first act of my despotism," said Constantia, taking the hands of Julia and Jocelyn in her own, << the first mandate to which I shall expect an unconditional submission, is that these my subjects and friends shall consent to be immediately married., I wish to place their happiness beyond the reach of fate and fortune: they have experienced such sudden and unexpected reverses of both, that they must snatch the blessings of life while yet within their reach, or they may still elude their grasp. What means this rebellious blood, my dear Julia, that is mounting to your cheeks? I forgive your blushes, but I will have no further mutiny against my wishes. As to your intended husband, he already stands charged with treasons enough, and I am happy to observe that upon this occasion he is the most obedient and loyal of all subjects. I charge myself with every thing that appertains to your marriage; all shall be arranged and provided by me. I will have no interloper, no assistant, not even an adviser. For some days I shall of course be much occupied, and if I leave you alone more than strict politeness may warrant, I doubt not you will excuse me, even if you did not know that I was employed in accomplishing your happiness.» In the interval that elapsed before the time fixed for their nuptials, Jocelyn renewed his acquaintance with some of the families whom he had known in his former residence at Paris. at the request, or rather by the order, of Constantia, Julia called upon several of her mother's kindred who dwelt in the metropolis, as well as upon some of her late father's connexions, all of whom she was imperatively commanded to invite to the weddingfeast. Jocelyn received similar instructions as to his own friends. None needed a second solicitation to be partakers of a joyous ceremony which, in France, is always celebrated with an extraordinary festivity, and which, upon the present occasion, Constantia had invested with a degree of costly magnificence, rather adapted, as her friends thought, to her own generosity of heart, than to the impoverished circumstances of the parties. At length arrived the happy day for which such splendid preparations had been made. Constantia accompanied the bride and bridegroom to the church, where she witnessed the completion of the solemnities, but declaring that very particular reasons would prevent her participation in the banquet she had provided, she /requested that her friends would call upon her, after their guests had departed, at a particular house in Paris, of which she gave them the address. This was a great disappointment to all parties, but as she declared herself to be more inexorable and despotic upon this point, than any other, they forbore vain solicitations, and prepared to entertain their visitants with all due cheerfulness and hospitality. Exclamations of astonishment and delight burst from almost every mouth as they entered the banqueting-room, which had been decorated, under Constantia's immediate orders, with a richness that would have appeared gorgeous, had it not been relieved by the exquisite elegance and taste of every embellish ment. Nor was the repast incompatible with the splendid saloon appropriated for its reception. The most scientific culinary artists had been engaged to furnish it, and the guests seemed resolved to do full justice to their skill. Long sittings after a feast being happily as much unpractised in France at that period as they are now, the company, after drinking the health of the bride and bridegroom, with that of the munificent foundress of the entertainment, took their departure at an early hour; and Julia, Jocelyn, and Mrs Walton proceeded immediately in a carriage to keep their appointment with Constantia. The driver stopped at the arched doorway of an extensive and ancient pile with projecting stone-shafted windows, of which the glass was rendered impervious to sight, by being stained of a deep purple colour. They alighted, and were ushered into a small plainly-furnished parlour, much wondering what could be the meaning of this mysterious rendezvous, or the object of a small green curtain which hung against the wall on one side of the chamber. Their doubts as to the latter were presently dispelled, for the curtain being slowly drawn up, discovered an iron grating, behind which was seen a female figure, attired as a candidate __nun, who is about to take the veil. It was Constantia ! Her dark luxuriant locks had been all cut off, and the plain black coif that enclosed her face imparted a pale hue to her countenance, while it made her eyes appear even more large and lustrous than usual; altogether injuring the general character of her beauty, but assimilating well with the solemn, though sweet and serene, expression of her features at the present mo ment. << Constantia !» exclaimed her three visitants, in accents of profound amazement. «Yes, my dear friends," she replied: «it is Constantia, who having this morning accomplished, by your happy union, every object for which she wished to live, is about to exchange the world and all its anxieties, for the seclusion and happiness of the cloister. This step I have long contemplated; to this destiny I was peculiarly adapted by my temperament to this destiny am I now inevitably impelled by the circumstances of my fate. There was but one woman, to whom my.whole heart was bound by the ties of friendship; there was but one man for whom-in whose favour-» She paused, blushed deeply, and appeared confused. At length, after a few moments' deliberation, she continued, still, however, keeping her eyes fixed upon the ground- « Should I not rather be proud of so difficult a victory, than ashamed to confess a weakness that I have conquered? There was but one woman to whom I was bound by friendship, there was but one man whom I loved. I have triumphed over my passion-I have proved the sincerity of my friendship--I have made these two people happy by bestow ing them upon one another-I have not lived in vain. My purpose in life has been accomplished; I am now useless to the world, and to me it has lost all its attractions. What is man?--Yesterday's clay, to-morrow's dust! In a few short years all that moves, or owns the breath of life, will have passed away. I cannot attach myself to this fleeting pageant; my soul rejects its tantalizing and evanescent joys, and yearns for more enduring beatitudes. I have therefore resigned it, that I may dedicate myself to Heaven; and that our double wedding may be solemnized on the same day, I am about to become the bride of an immortal Bridegroom. The ring with which I am to be married to Him has been already laid upon the altar; this night I am to pronounce the vows, and to be solemnly invested with the veil; and this therefore, my dear friends, is the last time, in this world at least, that we shall ever-ever—» Again she paused, for her voice had grown indistinct and tremulous, while her throat, swelling with the emotion which she in vain struggled to subdue, denied her the power of further utterance. Julia, who guessed the threatened separation, rather by the distress of her friend than by her expressions, rushed forward, and falling upon her knees, while she held upher clasped hands against the iron bars, passiondately exclaimed—« Oh, no, no, no! My kind, my generous, my noble benefactress! my own Constantia! you, cannot, will not leave us for ever! We may at least see you, if it be only thus;-if it be only to convince you that you have not sacrificed yourself in vain,-to prove to you that we are happy-to renew to you the assurances of our eternal gratitude.» << It must not be," said Constantia, shaking her head «I should not dare to trust my heart; a minute's interview might destroy all the resolutions of a month. Julia, Jocelyn, Mrs Walton! help me to be firm. Prove yourselves to be indeed my friends by assisting me to |