still anticipate Lady Villetta's misery of her own accord." St. Germain advanced sardonically. Ellen slipped a note for Villetta on the table, and passed away to her own apartment. "This is my birth-day; on this very day was Cassius born." MARY came to arouse Ellen, as she imagined, at seven on the Wednesday morning, but found her already risen and equipped in her travelling pelisse. 66 Why, Miss Ellen, you 've never doffed your clothes, verily I do believe, for the pillow is not the least tumbled," as Mary gave a side look at the writing-table. "I was busy," Ellen replied, "till so late, and then I thought it was of no use to lie down, as I was certain I should not sleep, and therefore remained up." "Busy!" Mary rejoined; "why I packed up all your things-books-every thing;—and you are so pale and famished,—and they are in such a bustle below to hurry us off! There's my Lady herself ordering away in the passage, and Lord Darmaya in a fidget, as usual. I'm glad enough we're going, an't you, Miss Ellen ?" "I shall be delighted to see dearest mamma Norman, and all my friends," Ellen blushingly replied. "Are the visitors coming from town, then, this very morning, as they are so desirous for a clearance of us?" she subjoined. "Yes; breakfast is to be set out for them at eleven. The flowers are being gathered in baskets; the butter churning, and all hands at work seemingly for the company. Miss Ellen, your tippet is wrong side out; shall I turn it ?—some say it spoils luck,-but it looks bad as it is." "No, no, never mind, let me go as I am," Ellen hastily exclaimed,—“ I'm ready.” She gave one glance up the avenue in the park, and, obeying Darmaya's loud impetuous call, ran down the stairs to say adieu to Lady Belnovine. St. Germain was outside the entrance to get the carriages packed up and off. vine re-repeated her wishes to Lady Belno Ellen about - Lord Darmaya's health, his medicines, gout cordials, &c. &c. and told her to write every other day, and not expect her till she saw her at the castle, but to be sure to keep Darmaya from feeling any deprivation on that accountthen kissing her, she let St. Germain take her from her, which he did in the most joyous, triumphant spirits. The hard pressure of her hand in his, startled her; and the au revoir, so gaily pronounced as he leaned in at the window loungingly, made even Lord Darmaya say, "St. Germain likes this trip to my domain: he'll overtake us before our dinner, which I shall have a good appetite for; travelling invariably gives me one, which is a blessing.” Ellen had intended to leave Lorevaine a note, expressive of her sorrow at leaving Ville Park the day that he was to arrive at it, and lightly to hint her sense of all his goodness to her. But the two subjects were equally difficult to put into sentences. On the one, she might compromise Lord Darmaya, as she would be obliged to say she went by his command, and widen the already extended breach between them—perhaps separate every chance of meeting Lorevaine in future. Then, how thank him for so generous a relinquishment of his legal claim on the estate, without betraying the adoration which, however pure, was still unrequited, it would seem, in love? Note after note was written and destroyed alternately, till every atom of paper was gone. The clock struck five; she thought she had better then try and compose her nerves, and delay the letter till she was at Darmaya Castle; and so kept wavering and reflecting on, till Mary's surprised and exhilarated visage an |