mother or her cipher of a father. I will then
tell her all my history, and open to her all my secrets: I will only
conceal from her my present fortunes; for even if rumour should have
informed her of them, it will be easy to give the report no sanction;
I have a right to that trial. When she is convinced that, at least,
neither my birth nor character can disgrace her, I shall see if her love
can enable her to overlook my supposed poverty and to share my uncertain
lot. If so, there will be some triumph in undeceiving her error and
rewarding her generosity; if not, I shall be saved from involving my
happiness with that of one who looks only to my worldly possessions. I
owe it to her, it is true, to show her that I am no low-born pretender:
but I owe it also to myself to ascertain if my own individual qualities
are sufficient to gain her hand."

Fraught with these ideas, which were natural enough to a man whose
peculiar circumstances were well calculated to make him feel rather
soured and suspicious, and whose pride had been severely wounded by the
contempt with which his letter had been treated, Clarence walked into
the park, and, hovering around the house, watched and waited that
opportunity of addressing Lady Flora, which he trusted her habits of
walking would afford him; but hours rolled away, the evening set in, and
Lady Flora had not once quitted the house.

More disappointed and sick at heart than he liked to confess, Clarence
returned to his inn, took his solitary meal, and strolling once more
into the park, watched beneath the windows till midnight, endeavouring
to guess which were the casements of her apartments, and feeling his
heart beat high at every light which flashed forth and disappeared,
and every form which flitted across the windows of the great staircase.
Little did Lady Flora, as she sat in her room alone, and, in tears,
mused over Clarence's fancied worthlessness and infidelity, and told her
heart again and again that she loved no more,--little did she know
whose eye kept vigils without, or whose feet brushed away the rank dews
beneath her windows, or whose thoughts, though not altogether unmingled
with reproach, were riveted with all the ardour of a young and first
love upon her.

It was unfortunate for Linden that he had no opportunity of personally
pleading his suit; his altered form and faded countenance would at least
have insured a hearing and an interest for his honest though somewhat
haug