as Hamlet says, you know, far more attractive metal.'"

“Oh, she is—I don't precisely know—she is a connexion of the old woman's-at least a sort of dependent on her."

66

Captain Fitzgerald observed that for some reason or other his inquiry had been displeasing to Miss Redwood, and a firm believer in whatever impeaches the virtue of the female sex, he remembered the cynical rule that forbids a man to flatter one woman in the presence of another. should not have noticed the young lady," he said, "but there has been such an absolute dearth of beauty here since my arrival! Upon my soul, Miss Redwood," he added, with a prudent depression of voice, "I should have forgotten what beauty was but for a certain bright image indelibly stamped on the tablets of my memory. This young lady had one indisputable charm; she was your herald—the morning star that preceded the sun-but what could have induced a civilized being to come to a watering-place under such auspices ?"

'My evil genius,' thought Caroline, and she said, "I think I heard they were going to visit the shakers in the vicinity. They have some connexions there-I fancy they have merely stopped here, en passant, for their dinner, but really," she concluded, shrugging her shoulders, "I know nothing about them: one can't, you know, fill one's head with the affairs of such people."

Mr. Redwood had observed with a feeling of impatience Captain Fitzgerald's devotion to his daughter he had been waiting for a pause in their conversation, which was conducted in an under tone, to remind her 'that she had not,' as he said, yet paid her respects to Miss Bruce, and their good friend Deborah.'

"Shall I have the honour of conducting you to the drawing-room, Miss Redwood? asked Westall, who had been long watching for an opportunity to follow Ellen.

"Thank you-no, I must first go to my room and dispose of my riding dress; but I will be obliged to you to make my apologies to the Vermontese, as they will probably be gone before I have an opportunity of seeing them. Come Mrs. Westall, shall we find our way to our apartment ?"

"Excuse my mother, Miss Redwood," said Westall. "You will not," he added, turning to Mrs. Westall, "risk losing the pleasure of seeing our friends ?"

"Certainly not-I will first go with Miss Redwood, and then return to you, Charles."

"Do not put yourself to any inconvenience on my account, Mrs. Westall-the attendance of my servant will do just as well as yours."

Mrs. Westall felt the insulting implication of Miss Redwood's reply. She had been blinded by her self-love, and her next strongest passion-her ambition for her son-Miss Redwood's sudden and exclusive devotion to Fitzgerald had done VOL. II.

13

more towards enlightening her mind on the subject of the young lady's merits, than all their previous intercourse, and she left her with a feeling that prepared her to see Ellen in the most favourable light.

147

CHAPTER XXI.

Il y a dans l'esprit humain deux forces très distinctes, l'un inspire le besoin de croire, l'autre celui d'examiner."

Madame de Stael.

OUR readers will pardon us for deferring their curiosity, (if indeed they have any) while we give a brief exposé of the different states of feeling which the several members of the Redwood party brought with them to Lebanon. After Ellen's departure from Eton, Mr. Redwood, no longer having any strong inclination to protract his stay there, made arrangements to recommence his journey immediately. He took leave of the Lenox family with sincere regret, and left them such demonstrations of his gratitude as impressed them with the belief that his generosity was unbounded.

He travelled very slowly in obedience to the advice of his physician; but notwithstanding hist caution, and the most vigilant devotion from Charles Westall, he found his health daily diminishing, and he proposed to relinquish the longprojected visit to Boston. The springs in August offered a more tempting theatre than town. Caroline was all acquiescence and sweetness, and the travellers proceeded to Lebanon.

After Ellen left Eton, and during the journey,

Caroline redoubled her assiduities to recover her lost influence over Westall. "Scarce once herself, by turns all womankind;" she affected every grace, she pretended to every virtue that she believed would advance her designs. Mrs. Westall, a willing dupe, believing at least half her pretensions, and hoping the future might verify the rest, was a most devoted auxiliary; and Mr. Redwood began to indulge sanguine expectations that he should realize his dearest hopes--he augured well from Caroline's serious efforts to win Westall's affections, and in spite of his experience and habitual despondency, he hoped every thing from Westall's influence over her.

There is no limit to the power of a strong and virtuous attachment, but that Miss Redwood was not capable of feeling for any one, and certainly did not for Westall. When she first saw him, his fine exterior and refined manners had pleased her

accustomed to the gallantries of admirers till they had become quite indispensable, and having no other subject to try the power of her charms upon, she played off her little coquetries on him, without any other design than to produce a present effect. Afterwards the matter assumed a graver cast her vanity-the pride of beauty, wealth, and station, became interested in the contest with Ellen-and subsequently still stronger motives stimulated her rivalry, and made success important.

Never was there a man who had less of the

1