ned in
delighted sympathy to the hopes of my own young ambition." With a
sigh he turned away, and resolutely sat down to read and reply to the
voluminous correspondence which covered the table of the busy public
man. For Audley's return to parliament being considered by his political
party as secure, to him were transmitted all the hopes and fears of the
large and influential section of it whose members looked up to him as
their future chief, and who in that general election (unprecedented for
the number of eminent men it was fated to expel from parliament, and the
number of new politicians it was fated to send into it) drew their only
hopes of regaining their lost power from Audley's sanguine confidence in
the reaction of that Public Opinion which he had hitherto so profoundly
comprehended; and it was too clearly seen, that the seasonable adoption
of his counsels would have saved the existence and popularity of the
late Administration, whose most distinguished members could now scarcely
show themselves on the hustings.

Meanwhile Lord L'Estrange led his young companion towards a green
hill in the centre of the park, on which stood a circular temple; that
commanded a view of the country round for miles. They had walked in
silence till they gained the summit of the sloped and gradual ascent;
and then, as they stood still, side by side, Harley thus spoke,

"Helen, you know that Leonard is in the town, though I cannot receive
him at the Park, since he is standing in opposition to my guests,
Egerton and Leslie."

HELEN.--"But that seems to me so strange. How--how could Leonard do
anything that seems hostile to you?"

HARLEY.--"Would his hostility to me lower him in your opinion? If he
know that I am his rival, does not rivalry include hate?"

HELEN.--"Oh, Lord L'Estrange, how can you speak thus; how so wrong
yourself? Hate--hate to you! and from Leonard Fairfield!"

HARLEY.--"You evade my question. Would his hate or hostility to me
affect your sentiments towards him?"

HELEN (looking down).--"I could not force myself to believe in it."

HARLEY.--"Why?"

HELEN.--"Because it would be so unworthy of him."

HARLEY.--"Poor child! You have the delusion of your years. You deck a
cloud in the hues of the rainbow, and will not believe that its glory is
borrowed from the sun of your own fancy. But here, at least, you are not
deceived. Leonard obeys but my wishes, and, I believe, against his own
will. He has none of man's