idante I should readily assist him. Douglas has
not the penetration to perceive it, but I can. Can any young lady be
mixed up in the affair? If so, I may be at a loss to discover." In the
meantime, the secretary, now thinking it time to follow Douglas to
gentle sleep, commenced to prepare for retiring, further soliloquizing:
"That look puzzled me last night, I must make good my word." Here he
stopped short and was soon enjoying sound sleep, in order to feel
refreshed for the duties and social demands of another day. The coming
day intended to be almost a repetition of the past. Morning, public
parade; afternoon, on the race course; and evening in the mess-room. Sir
Thomas Tilden's arrival was always hailed with joy, being marked with
grand festive honours, balls, parties and suppers. To these seasons the
officers and many of the leading citizens looked forward with fond
expectation. Beautiful ladies met in their ball-room the gallantry and
chivalry of Fredericton. Nothing but gaiety on every hand. Such events
marked the order of society in the capital of New Brunswick over half a
century ago.

CHAPTER IV.

LADY ROSAMOND'S REVERIE.

In a small but exquisitely furnished apartment in Government House sat a
young and beautiful lady. The room commanded a north-west view, showing
a bright and silvery sheet of rippling water. This was the private
apartment of Lady Rosamond. It is the hour when she is occupied in
writing letters and attending to the many little matters demanding her
attention. An open letter lies upon her lap. Lady Rosamond is listlessly
leaning against a dressing-table, with one hand partially shading her
beautiful face. Quickly turning round to look at some object beyond
gives a full view, which reveals a tender sadness resting in the depths
of those powerful dark eyes. Lady Rosamond is in a deep study--one which
is not of an agreeable nature--one which she is not most likely to
reveal. Alternate shades of displeasure, rebellion and defiance, flit
across her brow, which remain, in quiet and apparently full possession,
until reluctantly driven forth by the final ascendancy of reason, at the
cost of many conflicting feelings of emotion and deep despondency.

Again Lady Rosamond reads the letter very slowly, as though to find, in
each word and sentence, some other meaning which might allay her present
distracting thoughts. Vainly did the reader search for relief. The
diction was plain, clear and defi