diately, and should be much honoured by being the bearer of Miss St Clair's commands.

Gertrude disclaimed all interest in that part of the county, and scarcely able to express the common civilities of parting, hastily withdrew.

CHAPTER IV.

My love's so true,

That I can neither hide it where it is,

Nor show it where it is not.

DRYDEN'S All for Love.

In every generous mind there is a spring, which, if touched rightly, yields fine issues, but if struck by an unskilful hand, produces only discord. So it was with Gertrude-affection would have led her reason might have guided-but mere authority could never control her. To one of an independent spirit, nothing, therefore, could be more irksome than the situation in which she was placed. She felt that, to be approved of, she must cease to act, cease to think, cease to feel, cease to love, but as directed by the will of her mother and uncle. A spirit such as hers could not at once be thus subdued; and no one who has anything noble in their nature can be sub

dued but by their own will-their understanding acknowledging the fitness of their submission. The Christian, indeed, has his spirit subdued to yield obedience, contrary to his own inclination, to those who are placed over him by nature. But Gertrude's principles were not derived from this high and unerring standard; and though she gave a general assent to the doctrine that children owed obedience to their parents, yet it was with so many limitations, that the principle only wanted sufficient temptation to be set aside.

With regard to her uncle, his right to control her seemed very doubtful; and, indeed, the authority of uncles commonly comes in a very questionable shape, and is, perhaps, only to be considered as binding, when the uncle has received authority from a living parent, or has early and long supplied the place of a departed one. As for aunts, they are always accustomed to dictate, but are seldom so unreasonable as to expect to be obeyed. Yet love and tenderness, almost maternal, have sometimes given them a power over a young and affectionate heart, which all the violence of improper authority never could have obtained. These would have subdued a mind

such as Gertrude's, but those gentle weapons were unknown and unused either by Lord Rossville or Mrs St Clair. Authority with the one-artifice with the other, were the means used to gain their different purposes with one, whom opposite methods would have rendered submissive as a child, and open as noon-day.

Gertrude's first impulse was to hasten to her mother, and relate to her all that had passed between Lord Rossville and her. She expected to encounter reproaches; but Mrs St Clair seemed almost frantic at her daughter's disclosure, and absolutely shook with terror, while she listened to Gertrude's account of what had passed. But ere she had time to express her sentiments on the subject, a mes-* sage was brought from the Earl, requesting her presence for half an hour in the study. It was easy to guess at the subject in hand, and Mrs St Clair, though in great agitation, instantly obeyed the summons. Gertrude waited with impatience for nearly an hour and a half, ere the conference was ended, and her mother appeared. When she did, she read vexation and discomfiture in her countenance. She was, however, too prudent to express her feelings, but contented herself with

saying, that she had found Lord Rossville in great displeasure against his niece, and had left him quite immovable as to the proposed alliance and declared engagement-and this was all Gertrude could draw from her mother. She, therefore, sat down to answer the unfortunate letter that had been the innocent cause of this premature éclaircissement, which she did by lamenting her present inability to aid her cousin in any shape, but concluding with the warmest assurances of regard and promises of assistance, should it ever be in her power to befriend her. She was then preparing to dress for dinner, when the following note was presented to her :

:

"The Earl of Rossville presents compliments to Miss St Clair, and while matters remain in their present unpleasant position, and until some arrangement of an amicable nature has taken place, it is his wish and expectation that Miss St Clair should confine herself to her own apartment —it may be presumed from indisposition. "Rossville Castle, 29th Aug. 18-."

His Lordship, when he perused this master