"Constantine walked silently away through the trees, and left the old banker to smoke in peace. "The day is come," thought he with delight, "this sun will not set without my meeting her !"'-vol. ii. 71, 81.,

At length, after exhausting his invention in new schemes, and meeting with the most obstinate opposition from Veronica's family, he prevails upon her to escape with him, and they are privately married on the evening when she was to have become, by a family arrangement, the bride of another. Even after this the odious theologician continues unrelenting. The elopement, the marriage, the separation, are briefly told.

That same night matters went on much more pleasantly at the kiosk that overlooked the Bosphorus, than in the halls of the Armenians; yet one of the party there, Veronica, when she reflected on her irretrievable step, on that change of condition, on the cast of that die on which all the hopes of woman depend, on the hazards that must accompany the transmutation of maid to wife, even in the ordinary course of things, and when consenting parents and friends are by, to protect, counsel, and cherish,— when all these indefinable thoughts, and the sense of her peculiar circumstances flashed through her mind, Veronica, we say, must at times have sunk in grief and alarm. But her lover was there to kiss away her tears; she saw him she adored, devoted to her, and treating her with as much respect, as if, instead of a stolen and clandestine marriage, the union were sanctioned by his and her family.

• On arriving at the house, Constantine's servants were found stationed with wax torches to receive their mistress; and when he lightly leaped out of the boat and gave his hand to his trembling bride, her feet stepped upon costly carpets and shawls of cachemire which were spread from the water's edge to the door. Within, she was welcomed by four of Constantine's friends; and, in delicate consideration to her feelings, one of those friends was of her own sex; a Greek lady who had been won by the earnest entreaties of the prince to attend his marriage.

No time was to be lost. The Armenians might attempt to recover their daughter, even though her reputation was at stake; and her honour now depended on her becoming his lawful wife: the influence of the rich seraffs was great among the Turks, and it was only by the tie of wedlock which is held as holy and indissoluble by the Koran as the Gospel, that he could hope to keep their child. The marriage rights were therefore performed forthwith, by the starved priest, who, anxious to depart from a place of danger, with his money in his purse, was in as great a hurry as the prince.

'The promises that were to bind to death, the mutual vows to the solemn compact, were pronounced, and Veronica, his wife, with the hymeneal coronet of gay roses on her head, but with blushes on her cheek, and tears in her eye, was pressed to the bosom of Constantine Ghika.

"The next morning the sun rose gaily over those glorious scenes we have so often attempted to describe; but whose beauties, though we feel_them to the heart's core, can be but feebly reflected by pen or pencil. Before the rays of that sun the thick dews had rolled away from the stream and the banks of the Bosphorus; the white haze through which, at this season and at early morn, Constantinople is often seen as behind a silvery veil, which,

to the eye, increases the magnitude of the objects it covers, had been withdrawn, and the vast capital of the faithful stood out in a flood of light with all its parts brought forward, and its swelling domes and minarets tipped with gold, a forest of slender towers, relieving against the clear blue sky and space, and pointing heavenward. The beauties of the suu and soil, the lulled ocean stream, and the gay and spotless atmosphere, might convey to the mind an idea of that individual happiness-that emanation from nature's lap, that may exist in countries like these, though tyranny do her worst.

• To the eyes of Constantine, the charms of that morning were immeasurably increased by the excited condition of his mind; and the glowing, life-inspiring sun, and the balmy breeze, seemed to promise him length of love and happiness-to intimate, notwithstanding his recent experience to the contrary, that sorrow could not exist on such a fair earth, amid such a suffusion of the essences of loveliness, peace, and joy. Even death, so surely the end of all-at that moment, so strong was the visible spirit of vitality spread over every object-seemed something chimerical-impos

sible!

These transports of his happiness were soon woefully interrupted, for as the morning wore on, and he was imparting his sentiments and hopes to Veronica, one of his servants approached him with a face pale with fears, and whispered in his ear, that the barge of the Bostandji-Bashi was coming the channel, and seemed to be making for their house. The Prince would not alarm his young bride, but went out of the room.

up

The domestic had seen but too well, and his apprehension as to where the visit of this dreaded agent of the Turkish police was intended, was but too well founded, for Constantine saw the boat at a few oars' length from the quay, and in another minute it had stopped opposite to his door.

He returned to his bride, who at once took alarm at his altered countenance, and before he could explain or encourage, the officer of the Porte and his train, glided like evil genii into the apartment.

Veronica, half fainting, threw herself into the arms of her husband, and clasping him round the neck, protested that death alone should separate her from him.

'The starch Bostandji-Bashi seemed no ways affected by this tender scene. If however he withheld his sympathy, he exercised no gratuitous cruelty. He informed the Prince, that Veronica was demanded by her family; that he was despatched by his superiors to bring her to the Porte, and that of course he must conduct her thither.

But the lady is now my wife," said Constantine, in reply," and the laws of the Osmanlis guarantee my rights to her, and place me above her father and her family-surely they cannot take my wedded wife from

me."

The Bostandji-Bashi coolly said, " yok inshallah!-no, if God pleases, but that the Porte must decide, and there I must take her."

He had, however, the good nature to add, that he was sorry the affair had fallen within his jurisdiction-that Constantine had not gone to some other place than the Bosphorus-and to wish for his part, that the Armenians, who it appeared, though not by what means, had discovered the place of his retreat early that morning, had been baffled in their search, and had left him to enjoy the society of his wife, at least a little longer.

'Resistance would have been madness, and Constantine had none to oppose, save his single arm; he was besides confident in the force of his acknowledged right as a husband; and cheering his weeping partner, he expressed to the Bostandji-Bashi his readiness to attend him.

"But I was not told to bring you to the Porte-my orders extend only to the person of the young Armenian," said the officer.

"Constantine! my husband-my defender, you will not leave me alone to face their wrath-you will not see me thus snatched from your side!" cried Veronica, clinging closer to his neck," all the world are as nothing to me, or are arrayed against me, with scourges in their hands, to torment, to drive me to madness! you are my only prop, and by the vows--the vows enregistered in heaven, pronounced here last night, you will not be divided from me thus !"

The Bostandji-Bashi might have been somewhat touched, though an impenetrable face-that general property of Turks, whether in office or out, whether pachas or peasants-betrayed no emotion; for, after reflecting a moment, he said :

"I am only anxious, as a servant of the Sultan, to obey my instructions to the letter; you were not included in the seizure I was to make, but I have no orders to prevent you from following-I must take my prisoner with me, but your boat may follow mine: the hall of justice is open to all men, and you may enter it after us. But meanwhile we must be going-my commissioners brook no delay."

'Constantine well knew this, and nothing remained for him to do, but again to encourage the trembling Veronica with the confident hopes he still felt, that the Porte, when apprized of their marriage, would not infringe their laws, but would refuse to have any thing to do with the contending parties.

The heart of Veronica was less accessible to sanguine expectations, but, at length, summoning up all the firmness of her character, which, as she had already shown, was really great, she threw on her cloak and veil, and leaning on the arm of her husband, this wife of a few hours left the conjugal abode-left it, alas! never again to enter therein. The prince handed her to the Bostandji's boat, whispered a few more encouraging words, and then, though with a bitter pang, left her for his own caïk.'vol. i. pp. 203-213.

They were brought before the Vizir, and in consequence of the influence which Veronica's family possessed at court, they were separated the Prince was exiled from Constantinople, and the lady confined in a convent in a remote part of Asia. All unhappy conclusions to novels are bad. They disappoint every body, and though they have the merit of being rare, they are far from being acceptable, even to the most philosophical reader of such works. Admitting this drawback, we must at the same time acknowledge that this tale of Constantinople is one of the most attractive productions of the kind, that has lately fallen in our way.

In the Traits of Scottish Life,' we have found a great deal of amusement and information, even after all that has been written on that fertile theme. The volumes are composed of a series of sketches, a few of them in verse, which are neatly written, and

sufficiently diversified. We shall content ourselves with a single specimen, connected with a subject which is interesting to every class of readers, young and old, male and female-courtship.

In no other country is the great and engrossing business of courtship conducted in so romantic a manner as among the rural swains of Scotland. Excepting among the higher classes, who have time entirely at their own disposal, night is the season in which rural "lovers breathe their vows," and in which their rural sweethearts "hear them." Let the night bene'er so wild," and the swain "ne'er so weary," if he has an engagement upon his hands, he will perform it at all hazards; he will climb mountains, leap burns, or wade rivers, not only with indifference, but enthusiasm; and, wrapt in his plaid, he will set at nought the fury of the elements, the wrath of rivals, and the attacks of the midnight robber. I have known several instances of young men, who toiled all day at the plough, the harrow, or the scythe, walking fifteen miles to see their sweethearts after the hour of nine in the evening, and returning in time for their work on the ensuing morn. And this, be it observed, was not done once or twice, but repeatedly, week after week, for several months. Twenty miles of a journey, upon an errand of such a nature, is regarded as a trifle by many a young farmer who has a spare horse to carry him.

During these stolen interviews, if a mutual attachment subsists between the parties, another assignation is always made; and never was oath more religiously kept than is this simple compact, ratified by no other ceremony than a parting kiss, or a tender shake of the hand. Time appears to have leaden wings with both, until the hour of meeting again arrives; and then the swain sets out anew with alacrity, be it rain, sleet, snow, murky or moonlight. His fair one, true to her trust, has by this time eluded the vigilance of father and mother, of maid or man-servant, and has noiselessly lifted the latch, undrawn the door-bar, or escaped by the window, and awaits him with fond impatience, at the favourite spot which they have consecrated to their love. He joyfully beholds her in the distance as he approaches, gliding like an apparition from the house, and sauntering about until his arrival; and she, not less attentive to every thing that is stirring, perceives him like a shadow amid the distant dimness, watches him as his figure becomes more distinct, recognizes his gait, his air, his every peculiarity, and at last, on the strength of her conviction, runs to throw herself into his arms, and bid him welcome.

In this way courtships are so secretly conducted, that it is frequently never known, excepting among the nearest friends of the respective parties, that a couple are more than commonly acquainted, until the precentor from his seat upon Sunday, publishes the banns of their marriage. People are extremely fond of discussing topics of that nature; of scrupulously weighing the merits of each party in the balance; of dropping oblique hints, and sly insinuatious; and of prying, with impertinent curiosity, into motives and conduct,-some of thein for the sake of indulging an envious or malevolent disposition, and others from a hope of discovering some flaw or failing which may keep their own in countenance, and save them from the appearance of singularity. For this reason, it is always a most fortunate and happy event, should two lovers manage to bring matters to a crisis before the public ears have begun to tingle with a report of their intentions. Then it is only a sudden buzz, which gradually dies

from the moment of their marriage, after which they are left with characters unsuited, to pursue their matrimonial course in tranquillity.

But perhaps the fair one's charms have been so powerful as to draw around her crowd of admirers; and in that case, neither the courtship nor the marriage can be accomplished in a corner. The favoured suitor, has almost on every occasion to make his way, either by force or stratagem, the door, the window, or whatever place he and his love may have appointed as the scene of their meeting. She, pestered by crowds of others, (who, though void of hope, still continue to prowl about for the purpose of molesting the more fortunate), can rarely escape from the house, or admit her lover into it, without being seen, and teased with importunities, or taunted with the name of him upon whom she has set her heart. In this way some of the most wonderful hits and misses, escapes and seizures take place at times, that ever were known in the art of manoeuvring; and the intuitive quickness with which she can distinguish the true from the false voice among many that whisper at her window in the course of an evening, almost exceeds credibility.

However, if these evils sour the cup of love in some instances, they also sweeten it in others. The maid, whose "Joe" is apt to wander in his fancy, or to be irregular in his attendance, generally takes care to shew herself with another at the time when she is certain of his coming; and it seldom happens, if love have taken any root in his heart, that he is not recalled to a sense of his duty by so portentous a warning. From reflecting upon the good purposes to which it may thus be turned, I have always looked upon a number of suitors as a happy circumstance for a young maiden during her wooing time. A moral lever is thus put into her hands, with which she can sway the hearts of mankind at pleasure. She can fan, by a side-wind, the flame of love in one bosom, while she appears to be blowing directly upon that of another; and, strange as it may seem, by overclouding or turning away her face, she can impart a brightness to those which formerly remained eclipsed, even amid the fullest sunshine of her smiles. Respect is thus created for beauty when it becomes an object of competition, and women are furnished with opportunities of exercising their much-loved caprice to an extent equally great with those who, otherwise, might have been their tyrants. Let every woman, therefore, if she will hearken to my counsel, always preserve a number of retainers until the very day on which she is made a bride. This may be effected without the smallest compromise of principle or of good faith towards a favourite; for a smile to the assuming, a shake of the hand at times to such as begin to chirp about love, and a "Tut, wait a wee," to the absolutely importunate, will do the whole business; and then, should any murmurings be heard when the magnet is taken away that drew their faces towards it, let a call to the wedding smooth their brows, and reward them for their services ! 'Such, in nineteen instances out of twenty, is the mode of courtship among the country people of Scotland. It is, no doubt, liable to many objections; yet propriety, I believe, is as seldom violated in this as in other countries. Indeed the fashion rather goes to inspire high notions and chivalrous ideas in the minds of our men, respecting the fair sex, and grateful and kind affections in the hearts of our women towards their admirers, than to induce that low familiarity, and laxity of principle, which moralists so much lament in the history of nations. The soul must