brother, to a certain extent, succeeded in shaking her confidence
in his attachment. Her parents; frequently asked her the cause of her
apparent melancholy, but she only gave them evasive replies, and stated
that she had not felt herself very well since Henry Woodward's last
interview with her.

They now urged her to take exercise--against which, indeed, she always
had a constitutional repugnance--and not to sit so much in her own room
as she did; and in order to comply with their wishes in this respect,
she forced herself to walk a couple of hours each day in the lawn, where
she generally read a book, for the purpose, if possible, of overcoming
her habitual melancholy. It was upon one of these occasions that she saw
the fortune-teller, Caterine Collins, approach her, and as her spirits
were unusually depressed for the moment, she felt no inclination to
enter into any conversation with her. Naturally courteous, however, and
reluctant to give offence, she allowed the woman to advance, especially
as she could perceive from the earnestness of her manner that she was
anxious to speak with her.

"Well, Caterine," said she, "I hope you are not coming to tell my
fortune to-day; I am not in spirits to hear much of the future, be
it good or bad. Will you not go up to the house? They will give you
something to eat."

"Thank you, Miss Alice, I will go up by and by; but in the manetime,
what fortune could any one tell you but good fortune? There's nothin'
else before you; and if there is, I'm come to put you on your guard
against it, as I will, plaise goodness. I heard what I'm goin' to
mention to you on good autority, and, as I know it's true, I think
it's but right you should know of it, too." Alice immediately became
agitated; but mingled with that agitation was a natural wish--perhaps
it might be a pardonable curiosity, under the circumstances--to hear
how what the woman had to disclose could affect herself. Being nervous,
restless, and depressed, she was just in the very frame of mind to
receive such an impression as might be deeply prejudicial to the ease of
her heart--perhaps her happiness, and consequently her health.

"What is it that you think I should know, Caterine?"

Caterine, who looked about her furtively, as if to satisfy herself that
there was no one present but themselves, said,--

"Now, Miss Goodwin, everything depends on whether you'll answer me one
question truly, and you needn't be afeard to spake the t