to shew me to the chamber where I was to sleep, being nearly drunken with the wine (of which there was no scarcity) while we sat supper, which consisted of some excellent venison and other dainties, which, they informed me, had come from the private larder of the cardinal, part of which he had that day feasted off; and they laughed heartily, remarking, that he was fonder of the good things in the larder, than the good things of the church, and that he loved better to eat venison and drink wine with the Lady Margaret Albino, than preaching a sermon in the pulpit !'

To these remarks, I answered not a word, though I could freely have laughed at them at any other time. I was not much inclined to indulge in mirth, however, at the present moment, for I perceived with regret, that the loss of my dear and honoured master had produced no very general appearance of lamentation, even in the very vassals to whom he had been so kind and indulgent a master, and that the castle of St. Clair was become a scene of drunken revelry, boisterous mirth, and riotous dissipation!

With respect to the cardinal, I knew that he was a most abandoned hypocrite, and that his humility was only feigned to controul others, an artifice of pride, which humbled itself to be exalted, for pride is never better disguised and more capable to deceive than when under the semblance of humility: but in afflictions there are various hypocrisies; sometimes, in bewailing the loss of a person dear to us, we weep the loss of wealth, pleasure, and consideration; sometimes we regret the source of approbation we have lost; thus, even the dead have the honour of the tears which flow for the living. This is a sort of hypocrisy

in which we always deceive ourselves. But there is another hypocrisy not so innocent, because it is put on; it is that which aspires to the glory of an immortal grief, after time, which destroys all things, has consumed their real grief. They persist in their tears, their wailings, and their sighs: they preserve a doleful countenance, and endeavour to persuade, by their actions, that their wretchedness will only end with their lives. This sad and tiresome vanity is usually seen with ambitious, proud, haughty, and unfeeling women, such as the Lady Margaret Albino. As their sex bars the usual roads to glory, they seek celebrity by an uncontrolable affliction. Their's are tears whose shallow sources quickly flow and as readily cease! We weep for the reputation of being thought tender; we weep to be pitied, we weep to be wept for, and we weep to avoid the shame of not weeping.

These were my reflections, as stationed in my little chamber, I closely watched the progress of the moon from behind a cloud, determined, that by her beauteous silvery light I would, as soon as the castle reposed in silence, steal along the corridor, at the end of which I knew there was a private door seldom kept locked, through which I could easily make my escape to the gardens of the pagoda, and so I did; where, quickly concealing myself among the trees that were opposite to the windows of the Lady Augustina's apartments, I could obtain a full view of the objects, and all that were passing within them; and I had not been there many moments before my heart palpitated with a tumult of the most rapturous sensations I ever experienced in my whole life; for both the Lady

Augustina and my Antoinette appeared at the lattice of the window, under which there was a beautiful larkennet in a golden cage, suspended on a branch of an Arcacia tree, which being full in blossom, diffused its balmy fragrance through the air, and the sweet bird, as if delighted at the approach of its lovely mistress, began to pour forth a strain of the most enchanting melody. Methought, as I caught but a transient glance of the face of my Antoinette, that she looked pale and spiritless, and a very visible alteration had. taken place in her beautiful figure since even my short absence from the battlements of St. Clair; and how eagerly did I long to approach her, and tell her that her Ferdinand was returned in safety from the plains of Morna Penritch, and was now in the service of the Bohemian conqueror,-the brave St. Julian! but this it was not possible for me to do while I remained in my place of concealment from whence, if I attempted to sally forth, I should have completely frustrated the accomplishment of all my hopes and wishes; for at the very first glance of my singular appearance, they would have screamed with terror and affright, and I should instantly be surrounded by the guards, my person discovered, my plans betrayed, and exposed to disgrace and to punishment, for the daring offence I had committed. This apprehension alone withheld me from darting forward, and throwing myself in the arms of my beloved wife.

At length, the wished-for transporting moment arrived; the lattice was softly closed, and presently I heard their light feet descending the flight of steps which led to the entrance of the gardens of the pagoda :