,
darling; but here is Charles anxious to take you out to walk. With such
a prospect of happiness and affection before you both, you ought surely
to be in the best of spirits."

"Well, I can see why you evade my question," she replied; but she added
abruptly, "bless us, papa, bless us." She knelt down, and pulled Charles
gently upon his knees also, and joining both hands together, bent her
head as if to receive the benediction.

Oh, mournful and heart-breaking was her loveliness, as she knelt down
before the streaming eyes of her family--a Magdeline in beauty, without
her guilt.

The old man, deeply moved by the distress of the interesting pair then
bent before him, uttered a short prayer suitable to the occasion, after
which he blessed them both, and again recommended them to the care of
heaven, in terms of touching and beautiful simplicity. His daughter
seemed relieved by this, for, after rising, she went to her mother and
said:

"We are going to walk, mamma. I must endeavor to keep my spirits up this
day, for poor Charles' sake."

"Yes, love, do," said her mother, "that's a good girl. Let me see how
cheerful and sprightly you'll be; and think, dear, of the happy days
that are before you and Charles yet, when you'll live in love and
affection, surrounded and cherished by both your families."

"Yes, yes," said she, "I often think of that--I'll try mamma--I'll try."

Saying which, she took Charles's arm, and the young persons all went out
together.

Jane's place, that evening, was by Osborne's side, as it had been with
something like a faint clinging of terror during the whole day. She
spoke little, and might be said rather to respond to all he uttered,
than to sustain a part in the dialogue. Her distress was assuredly deep,
but they knew not then, nor by any means suspected how fearful was its
character in the remote and hidden depths of her soul. She sat with
Osborne's right hand between hers, and scarcely for a moment ever took
her sparkling eyes off his countenance. Many times was she observed
to mutter to herself, and her lips frequently moved as if she had been
speaking, but no words were uttered, nor any sense of her distress
expressed. Once, only, in the course of the evening, were they startled
into a hush of terror and dismay, by a single short laugh, uttered
so loud and wildly, that a pause followed it, and, as if with one
consentaneous movement, they all assembled about her. Their appearance,
howe