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difference of religion is one for which many have died-for which I am ready to forfeit all. It is with sorrow that I do so, but with no hesitation. Under Aunt Edith I have never known what you speak of a miserable dependence.' Oh no! never one momentary annoyance that she could save me. Never! How much rather I would suffer any trial than ever hurt her kind and generous feelings!"

Lady Eaglescairn's attention was at this moment attracted by a slight sound, and looking hurriedly up, she saw before her the calm and mournful countenance of Lady Edith, with tears of very solemn emotion filling her expressive eyes, while she silently contemplated the scene before her. Beatrice, who had not yet perceived the entrance of her aged friend, was lying back on the pillow, a burning hectic glowing on her cheek, and her large lustrous eyes looking upwards with a glance of intense devotion,—which appeared in that lovely young countenance almost sublime,—so pure, so angelic that she seemed scarcely a being of earthly mould. Lady Eaglescairn had taken her hand, which she still held, with a look intended to be affectionate, and beside her sat an individual with his arms folded, his head down, and his whole face concealed; but when the entrance of Lady Edith caused him to look up, she with increased astonishment recognised Father Ambrose. A long silence ensued on all sides; but Lady Edith, having advanced to the bedside, and kissed Beatrice, who gave her a faint smile of gratified affection, then turned to Father Ambrose, and said,

in a tone of calm determination, "I need only point to that fevered countenance as a sufficient reason for requesting the absence of all strangers. Lady Eaglescairn, you are now doing what your own dreadful religion inculcates as a duty. That creed enjoins you, at every sacrifice of honour, hospitality, or kindness, to make proselytes. I forgive this attempt the more readily, as a kind Providence has rendered it unsuccessful. This is no time, however, for discussion, as my Beatrice requires rest and composure. It is at the risk of her life that she has been thus agitated; let me therefore close the curtains now, and remain with her alone."

A strange, almost triumphant smile gleamed in the eyes of Mr. Ambrose, as, with a courteous bow to Lady Edith, he stealthily, silently, but rapidly disappeared out of the room; and Lady Eaglescairn seemed quite absorbed in the occupation of removing a speck of dust from her dress as she slowly followed, muttering to herself, "If my son should die of the disappointment, he never shall marry that girl while she adheres to Lady Edith. Never! Yet what may be the fatal consequences to us all if he does not!"

Lady Edith's attachment to Beatrice was the exalted affection of a powerful mind without one thought for herself; but in the silence and darkness of her long attendance in the sick-room, she had ample time to meditate on her own difficult position, living within the very house of those whom she had detected in a design to steal from her the

affections of one dearer to her than life, and who were united in a yet worse conspiracy to estrange her adopted child from the sacred truths in which she had been so carefully instructed. Had Beatrice been less firm in her faith and affections, so that Lady Edith had found herself cheated of the dear girl's attachment, she must have sunk beneath the blow; for she could not have lived to witness Beatrice becoming like Allan, a convert to that superstition which destroys the happiness of its victims, prostrates their intellects, cramps their liberty, and perverts their whole sense of duty; but now Lady Edith reaped the benefit of having strengthened the understanding of her young pupil, so that the little trumpery affectations and superstitions of a false faith offered no enticements to her, and Beatrice had a mind to which beads, dolls, and perfumes presented no attractions.

CHAPTER XIII.

"Remind me not, remind me not,

Of those beloved and vanish'd hours,
When all my soul was given to thee; -
Hours that may never be forgot,

Till time unnerves our vital powers,

And thou and I shall cease to be."-BYRON.

THERE are times in the experience of every mortal when all things in life seem to run contrary to their wishes and hopes, when nothing on earth goes upon castors, and when even those most known and beloved in the world appear all combined to disappoint every sanguine expectation of happiness. During several days following the first attack of indisposition, the young and unbroken constitution of Beatrice was evidently conquering her bodily illness; but Lady Edith became astonished to perceive that her beloved charge, instead of becoming more composed by the gradual effect of time, grew much more agitated and excitable. The slightest noise startled her and brought a flood of scarlet to her cheek. To Lady Edith, meanwhile, her manner became not only more tenderly affectionate than ever, but there appeared in it a degree of nervous and demonstrative excitement, very different from their usual quiet matter-of-fact

intercourse. Beatrice often leaned her head now on the shoulder of Lady Edith, or clasped Lady Edith's hand in her own, while tears, wrung from her evidently by the deepest anguish, sprung into her eyes, and there seemed in her manner a sort of remorseful gratitude, a sort of sympathising concern for Lady Edith herself, as if some undeveloped misfortune were impending over her benefactress, which could be neither averted nor explained.

On mentioning this circumstance to Lord Iona, he expressed the most anxious solicitude that Lady Edith would probe it to the very bottom, as he evidently saw there was some scheme in agitation, which his father was under promise to conceal, and which eluded all his efforts to discover; and Lady Edith, in consequence, observing Beatrice one day unusually revived in bodily strength, but greatly depressed in mind, unable longer to postpone her anxiety, said with an expression of affectionate reproach, "My dear Beatrice! something weighs down your spirits to the very earth, yet I once your only friend must watch in silent suspense, without being told what your sorrow is! My dear child, why are not our hearts one, as in happier days? Formerly, my aged experience could assist you, while your joyous affection enlivened me. This would have been a wide and empty world to me without you! Who but yourself could have cheered my broken heart and prompted my anxious prayers? Now, dear Beatrice, your health and spirits are extinct, and why? I like direct answers, therefore give me one now.

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