not seem to be convinced of the truth of the explanation. Still she allowed herself to be led to the window, and looked at the great waving branch which the countess pointed out.

"Do you see now, Maggie, how easy it is for our senses to deceive us? When I was a girl of your age, I was once much frightened by seeing"

Margaret grasped her arm convulsively.

"There! There! Look! It is there again! Ah!"

Lady Carleton saw the object of Margaret's terror, then. A tall youth was looking in at the window; stealthily peering from behind one of the heavy mullions. The countenance was indeed beautiful; but pallid, and utterly devoid of expression-except that of fixed dejection.

Blank, meaningless, frightfully changed as it was, Lady Carleton needed not a second glance at that face to comprehend the whole truth.

"Merciful God!" she murmured, as the large vacant eyes stared in on her again. "He does not know me!" And stretching her arms eagerly towards the retreating figure, she cried out in a tremulous voice: "Arundel! my child! Arundel!"

Still the boy retreated; and she saw him run hurriedly down the steps into the dark garden. The wretched mother stood gazing into the evening gloom. over her eyes to be assured that she was not dreaming. Margaret was there beside her.

She passed her hand

"Did you see him go down those steps, Maggie ?" she asked in a faint voice.

"Yes. Was it, indeed, Arundel? I thought I had seen the face before. What is the matter with him? How strange he looked; and he did not come when you called."

At this moment old Cuthbert came hurriedly into the room, but without the lights.-"Oh, my lady.-Such a surprise!My lord drove up to the hall-door just now in a post-chaise. I think he is coming here."

"Yes. That is his step. You may go, Cuthbert. Maggie," she whispered softly, "are you afraid to go into

that garden and see if you can find Arundel, and bring him here ? "

"Afraid! Oh, no! not afraid of Arundel! I thought it was something else. I will bring him back, dear Lady Carleton." And the blood returned to Maggie's cheek, and courage to her heart, as she sprang out on to the terrace, leaving Lady Carleton standing in expectation of her husband's entrance.

CHAPTER IV.

THE END OF A HAPPY DAY.

"No bliss so great but runneth to an end,
No hap so hard but may in time amend."

SOUTHWELL. "The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the Lord trieth the hearts."

Proverbs.

He came in slowly, with an uncertain step. It was almost dark, but she saw him distinctly. There is always light enough to see those we love. He paused, and looked round the desolate apartment. She remembered that this had been his mother's room, and that all those sad events of his childhood which he had once confided to her had taken place here. She did not wonder that a throng of sorrowful memories had arrested him on the threshold; beating back for a moment the new sorrow which she felt, full surely, he had come to impart to her. She knew the worst now. She had tried to anticipate it; for had not Dr. Ward and other physicians told her that this evil might befall them? She thought she had prepared her mind for it. But she learned now that no amount of preparation will blunt the edge of grief when it pierces the loving heart. "Alas! in every sorrow there is something new!" She stood still, and watched Lord Carleton. There was a vague sort of sympathetic understanding in her mind.

"He is thinking of the old by-gone days!—of his unhappy

mother! He has forgotten his child for the moment! Why did I come into these rooms to-night?" Presently she felt that her husband was at her side; that he had taken her hand.

"Are you alone, Caroline?" he asked, glancing once more round the gloomy apartment. She bowed her head; for no words would come.

"Why are you silent?" He folded her in his arms, and kissed her forehead. He was surprised at this reception; he had prepared himself for joyful congratulations which he should have to turn into sadness. He had tasted the bitterness of his lot, in anticipation, as he drove down from London. But there was no smile for him—no word of joy for his success!

"How is this, my love? I expected to find you gay. You had the newspapers and my letter this morning? Is there anything the matter here? The servants told me, just now, that you were well, better than usual, indeed. What is it?" -And with a gentle hand he turned her face upwards, that he might read its expression. The action was lover-like, and so were the two kisses which descended on the drooping lids that would not raise themselves, lest he should see the tears beneath.

"Trembling, and in tears, Caroline! What is this grief? I, too, had a grief to tell; but let me hear yours first."

"I know all!" she murmured. "Arundel, my darling! -And burying her face in his bosom, she wept silently, but with such convulsive tremor as threatened to shatter her frail body. Lord Carleton was overcome with sympathy, and could find no words of consolation. He held her tightly! folded to his heart, and waited till the passionate grief should subside a little.

Banquets, balls, public meetings of various kinds were at that moment going on all over the kingdom, in honour of the new minister, from whom much was expected. His health and happiness and honour were the theme of many a toast and speech. Throughout the length and breadth of the land. he was applauded, admired, and envied. He had gained a

Р

The

position in the eyes of the world which the world thought worth having. And the world cried vehemently-" What a fortunate man! Long live the Earl of Carleton!" world could not know that its vivats had no power to gladden his heart; that, even on the day of his triumph, they were overpowered by a sound of lamentation and woe within the sacred circle of his home.

When she was somewhat calmer, he said in a quiet tone"How did you know this?" "I have seen him."

"Impossible! I left him in London ten hours ago."

"I have seen him. Not ten minutes since he stared at me through that window, a witless creature. My sweet Arundel! my beautiful son! That had not his like in the whole world!" She covered her face with her hands.

"This is some delusion. Why are you in these old rooms? They are full of melancholy, and disturb the brain. You cannot have seen poor Arundel. It is impossible! I came to tell you to prepare you for seeing him to-morrow. He is in St. James's Square with François ;-your presentiment is right he has lost his reason."

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'I know it. It is no presentiment. Tell me

At this moment old Cuthbert came in with lights. After placing them on a table he stopped a moment, and then said, as if he knew the interruption would not be welcome, though it must be made, "My lord, Bennett wishes to know if you can speak with him for a few minutes, immediately. He has something of importance to say. He is waiting in the next room."

"I will come." Then turning to the countess, he said—“I have much to say to you, and but little time to say it in. I will be back in a few minutes."

As soon as he was gone she dragged herself to the window, and leaning against one of the mullions, looked out along the moonlit terrace for Margaret and her boy. The recollection of that face made her shudder. Suddenly the thought came across her "Shall I have to get used to that? Must I bear

that face through all the coming years of his life—with the recollection of what he was? Oh, Arundel! come! come to your mother's heart, and let her love warm you into intelligence again!" She paused, and pressing her hands over her bosom, whispered softly-"Not that way is there peace or salvation for him! Oh, thou faithless, passionate heart! Is there not a good and mighty God who ordereth all things in heaven and earth? Doth He afflict thee for His pleasure, or for thy profit? Teach me to love Thy will. Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for I am in trouble."

"You are

her at the

They are

The earl returned after a few minutes' absence. right, I have no doubt, my love!" he said, joining window. "You may have seen our poor child. searching for him now. I find that he escaped from the house before we left London. He got up at the back of the chaise unperceived by Bennett. With the cunning which so often accompanies this disorder, he contrived to keep out of sight whenever we stopped to change horses. This journey will probably do him no harm, but rather help to tranquillise his nervous system, which has been overwrought lately by intense application to studies of a kind very unsuited to his age, and to which it seems no one thought he was addicted. François has been negligent, I think. He is full of selfreproach, however; and I confess I myself should not have suspected a boy like Arundel (who was working for prizes at school, too) of perplexing his brain with all the wild political and social errors of Rousseau and the French encyclopedists. It seems that modern democracy and ultra views on all social subjects have been seething in that poor child's head for the last six months. It is no wonder he has lost his reason!

"I had a letter from him three days since," sighed the poor

mother.

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Does he show any signs of mental disorder in it ?”

"No; but complains of various physical ailments which precede his disorder. How long does Dr. Ward think this attack will last ?" she asked, scarcely daring to look at her husband.

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