onor and
distinction,--he, sat cold and reserved, while Richard dispensed life
and brightness on all around.

"Oh, how much this is like home!" he exclaimed, when the lateness of the
hour compelled him to depart; "how happy, how grateful I am, to meet so
kind, so dear a welcome. It warmed my heart, in anticipation, beyond the
Atlantic waves. I remembered the maternal kindness that cheered and
sustained me in my collegiate probation, and blessed my dawning manhood.
I remembered Edith's heavenly music, and Gabriella's."

He had become so excited by the recollections he was clothing in words,
that he lost the command of his voice as soon as he mentioned my name.
Perhaps the associations connected with it were more powerful than he
imagined; but whatever was the cause he stopped abruptly, bowed, and
left the room.

Mrs. Linwood followed him into the passage, and I heard her telling him
that he must consider Grandison Place his home indeed, for she felt that
she had welcomed back another beloved son. She was evidently hurt by the
chilling reserve of Ernest's manners, and wished to make up for it by
the cordial warmth of her own.

"There goes as fine a youth as ever quickened the pulses of a maiden's
heart," said Dr. Harlowe, as Richard's quick steps were heard on the
gravel walk; "I am proud of him, we all ought to be proud of him. He is
a whole-souled, whole-hearted, right-minded young man, worth a dozen of
your fashionable milk-sops. He is a right down splendid fellow. I cannot
imagine why this sly little puss was so blind to his merits; but I
suppose the greater glory dimmed the less."

Good, excellent Dr. Harlowe! Why was he always saying something to rouse
the slumbering serpent in the bosom of Ernest? Slumbering, did I say?
Alas! it was already awakened, and watching for its prey. The doctor had
the simplicity of a child, but the shrewdness of a man. Had he dreamed
of the suffering Ernest's unfortunate temperament caused, he would have
blistered his tongue sooner than have given me a moment's pain. He
suspected him of jealousy, of the folly, not the madness of jealousy,
and mischievously liked to sport with a weakness which he supposed
evaporated with the cloud of the brow, or vanished in the lightning of
the eye. He little imagined the stormy gust that swept over us after his
departure.

"Mother!" exclaimed Ernest, as soon as the doctor had closed the door,
in a tone which I had never heard him use to her befor