ove of women

ely and a f

irs upon that

st, life hath

ockeries of t

nge is as the

ck, and crushin

rs-what they in

Ju

tened till his horse's feet ceased longer to give back a sound, when, overcome by the depth and strength of her feelings, she leaned her head upon the lattice and wept like a very child; at length she recolle

ry chamber, and there, hidden from every eye, indulge her feelings. At length the long, long day came to an end, and with it departed the youthful company on horse-back to their several homes. A gay and gallant appearance the cavalcade presented as it rode away from the castle-a youthful cavalier prancing by the bridle of each maiden, and a band of armed retainer

still was she that she seemed to sleep. But the soft influence of this gentle blessing was a stranger to her aching eyelids. Her soul was sad and dark! her sensitive spirit had been wounded! the wing of her heart was broken. Her thoughts rushed wild and tumultuous through her brain, and her young bo

, and filling her little room with an atmosphere like floating dust of silver. A glow of pleasure warmed her heart, and an exclamation of delight unconsciously escaped from her lips-it was so calmly bright, so richly beautiful! Like a blessing sent from heaven, the sweet moonlight

; and throwing back from her face the cloud of raven ringlets that had fal

t voice of Grace Fitzgerald, in a low

arcely knew what, in excuse, and turning

e!" exclaimed Gra

this lovely moon! Come stand by the lattice with me," she s

ents of diamonds; in the deep repose of the dark woods; in the majesty of the ocean, which sent its heavy, sighing sound to their ears with every passing breeze; in the glory of the glittering firmament,

onscious face, as with thoughtful eyes, her head resting in her hand, she gazed on vacan

in, and speaking in a tone of tender and affectionate sympathy; "dear Kate, I pity you!" She ge

ing to her increasing emotions, threw herself into her arms and wept there. How grateful to her full heart to find another into which it could freely empty itself! How happy, very happy was she, that that heart was, of all others, her

d all so unlooked for! Yet I know you will think me very silly; and I fear your natural spirit will

ed for you a dozen times to-day, when I saw how very unhappy you look

r those little lips so rich with merry speeches," pursue

when you must either laugh or cry, and one as easy for you to do as the other; so, trembling lest, in

h a glow of grateful energy in her manner. "I have not half known

now what a nice, good cousin I turn out

il to-morrow without you. You will stay with me,

tlessness, "perhaps, find you Lady Lester! Forgive me, cousin Kate," she instantly added, as she saw the expression of her face change; "I am a careless creature, to wound at one moment where I have healed at

well divined; shrinking with maidenly shame that the strength of her love and the weakness of her resolution should be di

n feelings by denying them. You will forgive Lester i

no-th

fore to-morrow's sun be an ho

hope; her love struggling with the respect due to her maidenly dig

what you say. Robert Lester shall kneel at your feet to-morrow morning,

ing my-" she half

ble of concession on your part mentioned; let me manage it my own

r mouth reprovingly, yet pleased and smiling wi

us feeling; and that, with all her thoughtless levity, she was susceptible both of the sincerest attachment and of the warmest friendship. Her words conveyed the germe of hope to the breast of her cousin. Her confident

owe it all to you," she said, kissing her.

ht to be angry with her, and is so foolish as to be so, how much the more readily then will he be brought to her feet! There is a spice of argument for you. Now, as Lord Robert has no cause in the world to be offended with you, it follows that he has every cause in the world to indu

ed to be gracious, sage cousin

" and she seemed to muse very profoundly for a few seconds. "

louring, and looking out of the lattice as if some int

y, and with a look of the

anything from you, mischief! Ho

their bosoms a boughten trinket, and s

Kate, attempting to

th it under t

in Gr

e," she sai

not wish you had a lover, th

the imperturbable re

heiress of a coronet could not be without admirers; but oh, if I knew o

cket, cousin," said

be done with

his gift of love to her who sends it, shall with love be

me send such a message to Lester, chil

to say-what you feel-what you wish, abo

she replied, with the

reluctantly; 'twill soon be back, with a prize worth a thousa

" cried Kate, with

cket. "Here is pencil and paper. Can you write by this moonlight? Lovers, methinks

ean, Grace?" exclaime

, in your nicest hand, my g

. What will h

k you love hi

him to think," she said,

hands. "Well, this love is an odd thing! What

cious of

o'd, and, not u

pants and glows with devotion. Oh, if this be love, I'll none of it. Here is the pencil, and th

aid, taking the pencil and placing her finger

uarter of an hour ago, that I should have had to coax you to sen

at least, to make characters with her pencil, when Grace, impat

Lester Robert, Robert Lester

n, hastily run her pencil through i

gotten wha

mory," said Grace, with a vexatious air. "No

s gift of love to her who send

t wri

r for

as a charm. Never so few monosyllables as I h

rer?" Kate now inqui

ure and swift," she said, fol

enclosing an azure field, on which, in exquisite enamel, were inlaid the crests of Les

NTE

f your raven ringlet

ill not,

ning her fingers through her auburn tresses; and, selecting one that was like a silk

d the dark cloud of her abundant hair, and intwining her finger in a jetty t

scarcely will you part with a strand to bind a note. There!" she added, clipping a beautiful ringlet that Kate had selected from the r

a few seconds tied, with great gravity, the mysterious knot she had mentioned, and gave the billet to her cousin for the

imply 'Lester, Castle Mo

t on the other. Love certainly does make his votaries skilful tacticians! Truly, now, is not this a proper love-billet-written in a lattice by the light of

Kate, with a little doubt in the tones of her voice.

sure you," said the good-humoured

he menials, f

n approaching her cousin's ear, she pronounced,

ar

er of a message to Lester!" she exc

!" replied Grac

contact! No, no! Have you for

N

ou propose so

aid, with a na?ve and pertinacious

very grave, but at length found it in vain to withhold her sympathy, and laughed with

ry little in love! I half guessed it! Doubtless ther

not half in earnest, "but if I were in love with him, is he not noble in person? handsome, gallant, and brave? Why may he not be worth

r's lad? Where is your pride of birth and rank, Grace Fitzgerald! Really, I should not wonder if, with your levelling

at I will give my hand where my heart goes, you may rest assured, c

prentice yet! I shall assuredly allow you to go to the good old earl, your fa

to this. I am not yet in love, so be not alarmed. I will sally forth a

face in its hood. At this crisis Kate's troubled countenance indicated a wavering purpo

orn me; let him go for ever first!" she

would be playing Niobe. Have your fe

; b

lay, how his may change, nor

en," she said, after

my success," she said, placing

ut you will not ventu

short trip down the path, and old Meredith's hut is wi

ainly go wit

or the

, I dare say. Ah, you arch girl! I verily believe you have an eye to your own interests, which ac

, in the slightly scornful ton

said Kate, apologetically, kissing

pposite window as I cross the lawn. Courage, dear cousin! Yo

closing the door upon her ere

to Castle More; pictured Lester's reception of the token; fancied his surprise, his rapture, perhaps his scornful indifference! No! she would not believe he could feel this, for she judged his truth by her own! Then, in her imagination, she heard his loud and hasty demand for his horse! she could see him on his swift course towards Castle Cor. He approaches! she can almost hear his horse's hoofs in the court! the next moment he is kneeling at her feet for forgiveness! Wonderful power of th

ant and bitter words of the offended maiden. With a fleet foot he reached the beach, hastened along the shore to his cot, and, crossing its lonely threshold, cast himself upon a block by the hearth, and buried his face between his hands. His heart heaved strongly, and he seemed to labour under deep and great emotion. It was clearly apparent that he was undergoing a severe menta

? Do I not think, feel, act, speak, like those whom men call noble? May I not, in spite of nature, yet become the builder of my own name-the carver of my own fortunes? By the light of the bright sun, I will no longer be the slave of others!

and a determined air that well harmonized with his words. At length he stopped short in his ex

the gentle and lovely: on those worthy of his heart's deep devotion, and to whom he can distribute the rich treasure of his love. He must degrade his pure and sacred passion by linking his fate with one of his own class, who may never appreciate him; or let his wealth of love exhaust itself on his own life, and consume it with its fire! Nevertheless," he added, with a sparkling eye, "the fisher's boy dares to love, and love high! Love knows no rank. I have placed my affections on a noble object, my gaze on a lofty eyry-and never will I clip the wing that once has taken so high and bold a flight. I love her! highborn as she is, I have dared to send my thoughts up to her! Yet, alas!" he continued, moodily folding his arms on his breast, and speaking slowly and bitterly, "alas! what shall this avail? Will she requite the daring love of a peasant? Will she not scorn-will she not laugh at me? Will she listen to the deep outpourings of my passion? No, no, no! She must mate with her mates, and s

lost in his feelings, so wrapped in the noble vision of the future his ambitious and ardent mind had pictured, that the old fisherman, who had slowly followed him from the cliff, entered without attracting his notice. Th

the short, s

you, my boy?" asked the o

esuming his wonted kindness of manner, and takin

class in speaking of those above them; "it was but a little outbreak of spirit; and you know it is not for t

ir slave, which is far worse! Never! 'Tis the language o

find it different when you get to be as old as I am. I h

ed it?" demanded the

to act what they will to? We poor fishermen have only

order! Before I do it, may my hand wither at the shoulder, my tongue palsy in my mouth! I should in

f thou shouldst take his li

e should t

ways on the side of the great, would say thy life was forfeited

n a tone of mingled shame and sorrow, "thou hast, fortunately, a spirit fitted to thy station-I pity thee! For myself, I will be no man's serf, no lord's m

taken possession of thee?" cried the

morrow I go from you!"

estitute in my

words. He buried his face in his hands and groaned aloud; then, with a sudde

insult, rather than thou, my more th

d the old man, pleadingly, as if d

and mother. If I be not a faithful son to thee, and protect not thy old age, may I fail to attain the rank and honour

ng meal from the vast storehouse that has ever fed us, and which never holds its life even from the undeserving. Go, my son: on the rocking wave, and in the silence of the lone deep, your heart will become calm, and peace w

n name. Would to God I were! perhaps I then might bear my humble lot mo

g in his breast, launched his little bark, hoisted the

e of his silent face was eloquent with the feelings that occupied his bosom. His mind was struggling between filial affection and ambition-between love for the highborn maiden and duty to his grandsire. The sufferings of the latter, who looked to his labours for his daily bread, were, if he should desert him, present and positive. The hopes connected with the former were altogether future and uncertain. Should he inflict a present evil for a future good? Would his filial attachment compare with his love? Which should he sacrifice? He fe

-starboard, or you

d lain all day at anchor in the bay, within reach of his hand, while his boat was gli

voice. "But you have a quick ear and ready hand to clear our counter as you did. What say you to serving his majesty, my lad? It's better than catching herring;

ll, and surveyed with delight the graceful spars, following them with his eye to their tapering tops, from which gay flags streamed in the breeze: he admired, apparently with all a seaman's gratification, the tracery and interlacing of the neatly-set rigging, and the snowy sails, some of which we

y for me! my destiny must b

his bosom; he thought of Kate Bellamont, and his eyes sparkled, an

aid the man, observing his hesitation; "

up in his boat, and extending hi

nter your name on

go wit

come al

randfather six months without labour, for which he was nearly unfitted on account of his age. If, he thought, at the end of six months, therefore, he should not be

p to windward to run under the vessel's bows. Instantly he shifted his helm, let

ng sheet!" said one of

-by," cried another; "he'll be alo

ass," added a third. "A wise lad

who had first hailed him; "but I am afraid we shall see no more of him than w

ove the battlements of the castle, and flung its scarf of silver far out upon the scarcely dimpled bay. From time to time he held his open palm to windward, in vain trying to catch a passing current. He threw back the dark curls that clustered about his forehead, and laid it bare to receive the faintest breath that might promise the return of the wind. But the air was motionless! His boat rose and fell on the glassy undulations, but moved not towards the shore, save by the slow landward heave of the sea. Springing upon the thwarts, he brailed up his sail and bound it to the mast, and then, bending to the slender oars, sent his light skiff over the water with a speed that mocked the idle winds. He soon got within the dark shadow flung by the cliff along the water far beyond the land, and run his boat on the beach beside his cot. The old fisherman welcomed him with a ki

its honours! This is my world-these slimy rocks-this lonely bay; yonder hut my palace, and to fish for daily sustenance my pastime. This is my life-this my universe! What have I to do with aught beyond

cloak, standing immediately behind him. The grace of her attitude, and the easy decision of her whole manner, assured him that she was not lowborn. His heart would have whispered the name that was enshrined in it, but the figure was not tall enough for her

can aid you, that you have come t

replied, on his youthful face, on each lineament of which his bold character was written, while his ardent spirit spoke eloquently in every look. As he bent forward to catch her answer, with his bonne

ing voice of Grace Fitzgerald, intuitively shrinking within the shadow of the cliff as she add

ed, with surprise, as he

dy and spirit," said she

e served by one so humble?" he asked, in a ton

y, scarcely knowing in what way to interpret his word

g of you a favour; to ask you to execute a mission of deli

caste that separated them, sensibly affected him. It was the first time he had been so addressed by those above

eelings. She had, too, her own notions of what constitutes true nobility; and it is plain, from her conversation with Kate, that she was less governed by the social canons which regulate such things, and was infinitely more of a democrat than her haughty and beautiful cousin. That her heart had anything to do in the matter, though Mark was so han

eplied, with grateful em

Lord Robert?" she

forgi

e him-for-for-the sa

, I would not refuse her," he exclai

ad but little weight in this quarter in comparison with her cousin's. She then took

er forgiveness to Lord Robert. You will see t

of feminine pique in

m?" he inquired, in a voi

es

lied he, wit

of gentle reproof, placing h

, with an outbreak of terrible and ungovernable emotion, "you know not what it is to be-to be-" Here his feelings

reyed upon him. She sympathized with him with her whole heart; and with her sympathy there entered into her breast another emotion, which in woman's heart is so nearly allied to love, namely, gentle pity! When she saw that the first strong ti

spirit and determined will there is a wide road open to distinction; and in it men, humble as yourself, have won honourable re

she disdained to disguise, language can inadequately express. Its effect on him was electrical. He sprang forward, knelt at her feet, seized her hand, and, in the fulness of his heart, pres

ave him, so that you give him no opportunity of renewing his feud. In the morning, on th

for you at Castle More; but pardon m

all make it," she sa

t will be still mo

, as his words seemed to imply, she had found more favour in the young fisherman's eyes than her cousin. But, all at once, t

poke, "that you dislike my cousin Kate so much th

s, I recall every letter of them," he s

speak for you

k me very ungrateful

the father of Kate Bellamont. Re

seemed to take his words, and, in attemptin

and you, Mark," she said, with a laugh tha

o, lady," he added, in a grateful tone of voice, yet sadly, "I

ould need my-I would say, the assistance of

t he laid his hand upon his bosom with an el

in you, it becomes you to rise from this humble station, and win for yourself a name and station among men. Do not forget that the proudest names in England sprang from the lowest rank. My own maternal ancestor was a favourite groom of William the Conquer

ry of your words will shine like a star of hope to guide me through the future. God help me! Lady Grace, you shall never blush with shame for h

ed, significantly, and in a tone of raillery, not able, even

mble is ever in her thoughts," he re

l, and woo fame alone as your bride. There are some-there is one, Mark, who would rather see you honoured and ennobled by your own hand than-than-but no matter, I

t safely; if you would do my cousin Kate a favour, bear it q

aking, and were now at the foot of the pat

apid pace along the beach in the direction of Castle More. She followed him for a few moments with her eyes, and then, sighing unconsciously (for it is in vain longer to disguise the interest she felt in

had separated from Grace Fitzgerald. Then striking into a path that led inland, he followed it with undiminished sp

ner of Grace Fitzgerald, and asking himself a hundred times if she could mean anything; and when it could not be concealed from his penetrating mind that she did mean something, or affected to do so-the wish rose to his lips that Kate Bellamont had been in her place. Yet the very next moment, so contradictory is love, he congratulated himself

ng from the direction of Castle More; the moment afterward, he saw, by the light of the moon, two horsemen emerge from the wood, and rapidly approach the ruin. He instinctively drew to one side of the path to escape observ