s conversation occurred between Lord L'Estrange and his ward,
the soi-disant Riccabocca and Violante were walking slowly through the
gardens. The philosopher, unchanged by his brightening prospects,--so
far as the outer man was concerned,--still characterized by the red
umbrella and the accustomed pipe,--took the way mechanically towards
the sunniest quarter of the grounds, now and then glancing tenderly at
Violante's downcast, melancholy face, but not speaking; only, at each
glance, there came a brisker cloud from the pipe, as if obedient to a
fuller heave of the heart.

At length, in a spot which lay open towards the south, and seemed to
collect all the gentlest beams of the November sun, screened from the
piercing east by dense evergreens, and flanked from the bleak north by
lofty walls, Riccabocca paused and seated himself. Flowers still bloomed
on the sward in front, over which still fluttered the wings of those
later and more brilliant butterflies that, unseen in the genial days
of our English summer, come with autumnal skies, and sport round the
mournful steps of the coming winter,--types of those thoughts which
visit and delight the contemplation of age, while the current yet
glides free from the iron ice, and the leaves yet linger on the boughs;
thoughts that associate the memories of the departed summer with
messages from suns that shall succeed the winter, and expand colours the
most steeped in light and glory, just as the skies through which they
gleam are darkening, and the flowers on which they hover fade from the
surface of the earth, dropping still seeds, that sink deep out of sight
below.

"Daughter," said Riccabocca, drawing Violante to his side with caressing
arm,--"Daughter! Mark how they who turn towards the south can still find
the sunny side of the land scape! In all the seasons of life, how much
of chill or of warmth depends on our choice of the aspect! Sit down: let
us reason."

Violante sat down passively, clasping her father's hand in both her
own. Reason! harsh word to the ears of Feeling! "You shrink," resumed
Riccabocca, "from even the courtship, even the presence of the suitor in
whom my honour binds me to recognize your future bridegroom."

Violante drew away her hands, and placed them before her eyes
shudderingly.

"But" continued Riccabocca, rather peevishly, "this is not listening to
reason. I may object to Mr. Leslie, because he has not an adequate rank
or fortune to pretend to