to his correspondence and future visits at the castle which he was likely to receive. To this displeasure in her father, and consequent prohibition of her kinsman's visits to the castle, the gardener now ascribed the sorrow which appeared to depress his young lady, and which, originating in a source that proved cause of general displeasure to the household, he respected her the more for her participation with their own feelings on the occasion."It would go nigh to break my old heart," muttered he, "to see my good lady's favourite boy, and her own sweet daughter, made unhappy by any intruder. But God help the innocent! of what avail here is their uprightness of heart (unless in the sight of Him who penetrates all hearts) when cunning and malice are employed against them!"

The mind of the gardener, busily occupied in revolving like reflections, continued in this way to think aloud, while pursuing his favourite occupation; and as

his

his thoughts carried him back to scenes long past, the warm feelings of youth revived with the retrospect, glared in lightning from his sunk eye, and glowed in sudden and indignant flashes on his pale cheek.

Meantime Pigeon, at the suggestion of lady Courteney, had been summoned into the presence of sir Richard, where he was obliged to undergo a rigorous examination on the subject of major Blandford's letter. Tom, supposing the letter safe in the bottom of the stream from all detection, and that none but the devil himself could give information against him, denied, with oaths and solemn asseverations, all knowledge of, or hand in the matter.

Lady Courteney, with well-affected composure, permitted him to proceed in this negation, till she perceived that sir Richard, overcome by his continued affirmations to the contrary, began to doubt his having actually conveyed the letter;

when

when entering on the examination herself, she put to the culprit such home questions, and called forth to his recollection such pointed circumstances, as obliged him, thus closely pressed, to throw himself on the compassion of the baronet, and make a full avowal.

Having however denied the truth at first, he obtained not now with his auditors the credit he deserved for this candid acknowledgment; but was supposed to equivocate still when he asserted, that filled with remorse for having been induced to take charge of this letter, and apprehending the bad consequences it might produce in the family, instead of delivering it to Miss Courteney, out of respect to whom he had determined to be silent on the matter, or returning it to major Blandford, who might readily procure another messenger, he had dropt it in the stream.

Sir Richard, simple of heart, and of such easy credulity that it required no

great

great degree of cleverness to impose on his good nature, appeared ready to yield implicit faith to this last account, as his lady could perceive by his relaxing countenance; but this clear-sighted dame, possessed of a more acute penetration than her husband, saw nothing in Tom Pigeon's detail of how he disposed of the letter, but the same prevarication which marked so fully his first denial of having received it from major Blandford: dismissing him therefore with a grave and angry rebuke, she dropt such observations on the shuffling conduct of the fellow, as caused the sagacious baronet to remark, as if he had made the discovery himself, that the postboy for his veracity was entitled to no credit.

Meantime the evening, with Geraldine in her solitary apartment, lingered on tedious and unoccupied till summoned to tea, at which she appeared with swoln face and eyes red from weeping.

Sir Richard, softened at her dejected appearance,

appearance, regarded her with tender compassion, and lady Courteney's severe countenance seemed to relax into something like sympathy." My dear Geraldine," said she, taking her hand with kindness, “you know I have no interest nearer my heart than that of your happiness; and if I am compelled to treat you with seeming harshness, be assured it is only for your good, and that my disposition is averse to such treatment. I should indeed, my dear child, be rendered quite miserable for the rest of my days, were I to see your youth, beauty, and fine estate, thrown away on a mere fortune-hunter, of which dangerous class major Blandford is, you may be certain."

Strange," exclaimed Geraldine, in a tone of irony, "that your ladyship, with whom for the last month he has been such a distinguished favourite, could have been so imposed on! I regret the discovery only as it brings into discredit your lady, ship's penetration."

VOL. 1.

H

Geraldine,