hand and
endeavoured to prepare her for the fatal intelligence, "All is not right
with Ferdinand," she immediately said; "there is some mystery. I have
long suspected it." She listened to my recital, softened as much as I
could for her sake, in silence. Yet her paleness I never can forget. She
looked like a saint in a niche. When I had finished, she whispered me to
leave her for some short time, and I walked away, out of sight indeed,
but so near that she might easily summon me. I stood alone until it was
twilight, in a state of mournful suspense that I recall even now with
anguish. At last I heard my name sounded, in a low yet distinct voice,
and I looked round and she was there. She had been weeping. I took her
hand and pressed it, and led her to the carriage. When I approached our
unhappy home, she begged me to make her excuses to the family, and for
two or three days we saw her no more. At length she sent for me, and
told me she had been revolving all these sad circumstances in her mind,
and she felt for others more even than for herself; that she forgave
Ferdinand, and pitied him, and would act towards him as a sister; that
her heart was distracted with the thoughts of the unhappy young lady,
whose name she would never know, but that if by her assistance I could
effect their union, means should not be wanting, though their source
must be concealed; that for the sake of her aunt, to whom she is indeed
passionately attached, she would keep the secret, until it could no
longer be maintained; and that in the meantime it was to be hoped that
health might be restored to her cousin, and Providence in some way
interfere in favour of this unhappy family.'

'Angelic creature!' said Lord Montfort. 'So young, too; I think so
beautiful. Good God! with such a heart what could Armine desire?'

'Alas!' said Glastonbury, and he shook his head. 'You know not the
love of Ferdinand Armine for Henrietta Temple. It is a wild and fearful
thing; it passeth human comprehension.'

Lord Montfort leant back in his chair, and covered his face with his
hands. After some minutes he looked up, and said in his usual placid
tone, and with an' unruffled brow, 'Will you take anything before you
go, Mr. Glastonbury?'

CHAPTER X.

_In Which Captain Armine Increases His Knowledge of the
Value of Money, and Also Becomes Aware of the Advantage of
an Acquaintance Who Burns Coals_.

FERDINAND returned to his hotel in no very go