"Good heaven!" said Jacintha, suddenly interrupting him, "how greatly your voice is altered! 'Tis well you were so particular in letting me know where I should find you, for I should never have known you from it."

Egbert informed her he had altered it on purpose, and advised her to disguise her's as much as possible.

"Oh! as to mine," replied Jacintha, "'tis of very little consequence; for I am sure I shan't make much use of it this evening. I shall be too much dazzled and surprised to do any thing but look and listen."

Her astonishment and admiration on entering the ball-room, far exceeded what she had pictured to herself she should feel; it presented a scene, indeed, of the most brilliant magnificence and gaiety, a scene of which her imagination alone could never have given her an adequate idea. The room, of a noble size, was hung with rosecoloured silk, embossed with silver, and decorated with wreaths of laurel, which appeared suspending the superb lustres that illuminated it.

Various coloured lamps ornamented, in a fanciful manner, the balustrading of a light gallery which went round it; and large folding doors, thrown open at each extremity of the room, discovered an extensive suite of apartments, fitted up with scarcely less taste and splendour, than were conspicuous in the ball-room.

The sudden panic which seized Jacintha on her first entrance amidst so crowded, tumultuous, and motley an assembly, by degrees subsided, and she soon joined in the gaiety and amusements of the place.

After ranging about for nearly two hours, and joining in several dances with Egbert, who took

care no one should separate his fair companion from him, he proposed her viewing the illuminations in the park.

This was a proposal very agreeable to Jacintha, as the increasing heat and noise of the rooms were becoming extremely unpleasant to her. They met a number of masks in the park wandering about the illuminated arches, bowers, and temples, which were erected on every side, and produced a most beautiful effect amidst the dark foliage surrounding them....an effect considerably heightened by the melody of wind instruments.

By degrees Egbert drew Jacintha from the wandering croud into a little shelving path, overshadowed by thick trees, and leading to a retired building, called the druid's cave. A few scattered lamps now feebly lit this building, which was so remote from every other, that scarcely any other sound than the low and murmuring noise of a neighbouring waterfal could be distinguished from it.

"Here," cried Egbert, conducting Jacintha to a seat, and placing himself by her, "here we shall enjoy coolness and quiet."

"Come now," said Jacintha, pulling off her own mask as she spoke, "remove that cloud from your face, and speak in your own voice; for I detest any thing artificial in Egbert."

Without obeying her request, Egbert caught her in a transport to his bosom. "My love, my tenderness," murmured he, in broken accents, are not artificial."

He continued to speak in the most enthusiastic manner of his passion, his adoration. Jacintha at ́ first laughed at this extravagance, and ridiculed it; but by degrees she became not only displeased,

but alarmed by the increasing freedom of his language, and still greater freedom of his actions. She tried, but in vain, to disengage herself from him, nor were her efforts to make herself heard, for some minutes, more successful. At length, bursting with indignation, she exclaimed, "I see you are determined to make me repent my having acted contrary to my sense of what was right; this instant let me go, or, depend upon it, I will never forgive your present conduct."

Egbert, however, instead of releasing, held her more firmly to his breast; and Jacintha, being now convinced he was in a state of intoxication, for only to such a circumstance could she impute such language and actions, as she had never before heard or witnessed, never before thought him capable of uttering or committing, determined, instead of exhausting her spirits in remonstrances and reproaches, which she had now every reason to believe would prove unavailing, to collect them, in order to try and free herself from him.

Her violent efforts to do so, caused his mask to fall to the ground; and Jacintha beheld....not the features of Egbert....but of lord Gwytherin!

The frightful snare spread for her destruction, instantly presented itself to her view...the snare, into which her own imprudence had precipitated her; and she now perceived, that a deviation from propriety, scarcely ever escapes punishment.

CHAP. X.

"Restless his feet, distracted was his walk,
"Mad were his motions, and confus'd his talk."

HORROR, for some minutes, suspended the faculties of Jacintha, during which period, lord Gwytherin, kneeling at her feet, his arms still encircling her waist, tried to extenuate his conduct, and soften her in his favour.

As soon as she could speak, Jacintha, assuming an air of composure, though her heart panted with terror, represented with calmness to lord Gwytherin the enormity he had been guilty of, in inveigling her from her home, but at the same time assured him, if he would let her return thither directly, she would bury all that had passed in eternal oblivion.

"Impossible!" exclaimed lord Gwytherin. "I adore, I die for you. He, whose name I have assumed, feels not half the passion, half the admiration I feel for you. My life, my fortune, are devoted to your service, and be assured; since I have gone thus far, I will not recede.

At these words he started up, and darting to the door, hastily locked it. Jacintha now shrieked aloud. "Listen to me, lord Gwytherin," cried she. "Though no feeling of humanity or virtue can sway you, yet let consideration for yourself,

a reflection upon the punishment you must draw upon your own head by offering me any further violence, deter you from it."

"I am well aware of the dangers I incur on your account," replied he,'with calmness; “and from the risk I run, I think you must be convinced of the violence of my passion." Then, again throwing himself at her feet, he exerted all his eloquence to try and melt her into tenderness. He again assured her Egbert did not feel for her half the adoration he did. He made her the most splendid offers, the most solemn promises....promises which, he said, he would bind himself in any manner she pleased, to fulfil. He represented how superior the advantages she must derive from a connection with him, would be to any she could expect from an union with Egbert. He hinted the probability there was of his marrying her himself, if he could perceive he had any interest in her heart; and, finally, proposed her setting off with him immediately for London, where a magnificent house, equipage, and servants, waited her reception....vowing she should never have reason to repent the loss of that protection she exchanged for his; and that she had better entitle herself to those proofs of his regard by a relaxation in her severity, than forfeit them by a coldness and contempt, which, though mortifying to his feelings, could not warp him from his designs.

Jacintha, stifling the terror occasioned by this declaration, looked upon him with scorn and disdain.

"I cannot think you, my lord," said she, "so abandoned, as you would wish to make me believe. I see your motive for doing so....you want to inzimidate me; but know, all your arts upon this