CHAPTER XVII. What man so wise, so earthly witt, so ware To seem like truth, whose shape she well can feigne. Faery Queen. No sooner had Mr Lyndsay seen Miss St Clair safe within the Castle walls, than he instantly retraced his steps with the intention of returning to the summer-house, for the purpose of extricating her, if possible, from the mysterious thraldom in which she seemed to be held by this person. At the midnight rencontre in the wood, he had asserted a right over her, which, although she herself had disclaimed with almost frantic wildness, her mother had tacitly acknowledged by not directly denying. In the short conversation he had held with Mrs St Clair, subsequent to that meeting, she had with tears implored his silence his secrecy-his forbearance-and in broken and indirect terms, had given him to understand that this person had been engaged with her husband in certain money transactions, which, out of regard to his memory, she was desirous of keeping concealed; and it was upon this ground he had asserted a claim upon Miss St Clair's fortune, which he had unwarrantably extended to her hand. This mangled and absurd account could not impose upon Lyndsay, but, at that time, he was almost a stranger to Mrs St Clair, and did not conceive himself authorized to interfere in her concerns. He, therefore, contented himself with mildly admonishing her on the impropriety of such clandestine meetings, and recommending to her to lay this person's claims before Lord Rossville, as the proper protector of his brother's memory, and his niece's interest. In the meantime, he yielded to Mrs St Clair's entreaties, and gave her his promise not to divulge what had passed, upon her solemn assurance that the affair was in the way of being amicably adjusted, and that she had taken effectual means of ridding herself for ever of this person's importunity This promise, it now appeared, had not been kept; again Miss St Clair had been exposed to fresh insult in his presence, and he now thought himself entitled to interpose. With this purpose he walked quickly back, and had almost reached the summer-house, when he was met by Mrs St Clair; her countenance was agitated, and traces of tears were visible in her eyes. She did not, however, now seem to shun him, for she stopped and extended her hand to him, saying "You are the very person I most wish to see,-give me your arm, and let us return together,—I have much to say to you." "But there is a person there to whom I also have much to say; and I cannot attend you, till I have first spoken with him." And he was passing on, when Mrs St Clair caught his arm,— "I know whom you seek; but spare yourself the trouble-he is gone." “Where?—which way?" eagerly demanded he; "but I must ascertain that myself," and he ran with all his speed to the summer-house; but it was deserted; and, though he looked long and keenly in all directions, not a trace of any one was to be seen. He was therefore obliged to retrace his steps, and soon overtook Mrs St Clair. "You would not give credit to me, then ?" said she, in a tone of reproach. "I shall give credit to you now," answered he, "if you will tell me where I am likely to find the person I left here half an hour ago." “I cannot tell-and, if I could, perhaps I would not. No good could possibly result from your meeting-Your wish, I know, is to befriend my daughter and myself; and, be assured, I am far from insensible of the value of such a friend -But, come with me, I have much to say to you, much to confide to you of my dearest Gertrude." Mrs St Clair's hyperbolical jargon was always offensive to Mr Lyndsay's good taste and right feeling; but there was something absolutely revolting in it at this time-there was something so strained and unnatural in it—such a flimsy attempt at thus seeming to court explanation, that he felt armed against the duplicity he was aware would be practised upon him. "At another time I shall be ready to listen to anything which concerns Miss St Clair," said he, 66 coldly; but, at present, I wish to put a few "Pardon me; but I know all you would say, my dear Mr Lyndsay; and you must allow me to anticipate those questions by the confidential communication I am now about to make to you. On your honour-on your secrecy I know I may place the most unbounded reliance-I therefore require no assurances to satisfy me." "I certainly can give none until I know how far secrecy may be compatible with honour." Mrs St Clair affected not to hear this implied doubt, but went on "You have now had opportunities of becoming acquainted with my daughter-of forming your own opinion of her character-of-pardon a mother's vanity-of appreciating her charms and her graces ;-but you know not-none but a mother can know, the treasures of her heart and mind." Mrs St Clair paused and sighed, and Mr Lyndsay was too much surprised at such an opening to make any reply. "Judge, then, at my grief and anguish at finding this gifted being, this idol of my affections, |