look at the carnations; but the cherries are still to the good: wont you come till I gather you some?"

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"I have no relish for them now, good Parsley," answered Geraldine, in a desponding tone.

"You used to like cherries, my dear young lady," cried Parsley, who gazed as he spoke with an air of tender compassion on her dejected countenance. "I hope nothing unpleasant has happened that might spoil your relish for good fruit, or prevent your enjoying my fine blow of carnations."

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Nothing of any consequence, Parsley," replied Geraldine, while an involuntary sigh, that struggled from under the pressure of a heavy load on her heart, escaping at the same moment her lips, contradicted the assertion.

The old gardener, moved equally by grief and indignation at hearing his young lady sigh, returned-" God help you, poor

innocent! as the lamb that is led forth by the butcher to slaughter, so are you heedless of your present situation. I see it, and the dangers that beset you-I tremble for your safety-yet, base coward that I am, I dread to warn you of what may be, poor child! your destruction."

"What, good Parsley, can possibly threaten me with destruction?" inquired the amazed Geraldine, with rising emotion.

Alas! your danger seems to me but too certain, lady; yet I fear to tell you. Would to God your faithful friend, Mrs. O'Grady, had not left you!"

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Mrs. O'Grady, you know, will soon return; but what danger do you apprehend to menace me in the interim?"

"A danger that I greatly fear, and of which I would wish to warn you-yet I may be wrong; and though I were not, and that you actually stood on the brink of fate, yet knowing little more than the suggestions

suggestions of my own foolish fancy, I know not how to tell you what I think, young lady."

"You alarm me, Parsley," said Geraldine, with increasing emotion. "If any danger is impending over me, you need not hesitate to impart your fears: you may rely on my prudence."

"You have need, young lady (and you may take an old man's word, who has seen more than he is willing to speak of), you have need, I say, of greater caution than you can possibly possess at your tender age, to ward off the snares that on every side surround you. I would be willing to put you on your guard against these snares; but it is as much as my life is worth to speak on certain matters."

"Fear not, Parsley," replied Geraldine; you may rely on my secrecy, and trust me: torture should not wring from me whatever you repose in confidence."

"No, Miss, you would not blab, I am eertain; but could you command, when

sore, your seelings? when foul suspicion of a person would lurk at your heart, could you meet that person with unsuspecting confidence? when wrath for hidden wrongs would swell your breast, could you conceal it under a smiling countenance ?"

"I believe not," answered Geraldine. "I have not that absolute command over my feelings which would enable me to perform a part so deceitful."

"Then shun, lady, the confidence you seek: I dare repose it in your heart alone; there it should be concealed from all suspicion, otherwise it might betray you to

your ruin."

The gardener turned away as if willing to avoid further conversation; but Geraldine, trembling with foreboding disquietude, and urged by painful curiosity, followed and laid her hand on his arm.

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Stay, good Parsley," said she, "after having excited a terror which I cannot suppress, and awakened a curiosity torturing to restrain, you are not now going

to

to leave me a prey to suspense and anxiety."

"It is dangerous to trust you, lady. When the cold feelings of age, growing out of respect and duty, are difficult to be kept within bounds, how shall those of youth, flowing too from nature, and joining filial affection with compassion, be overcome? Impossible! you must not therefore be made acquainted with circumstances that would make your blood boil, and which could only serve to render you unhappy-ay, and perhaps draw on your innocent head a destiny that silence and prudence may ward off from you.”

"And why, Parsley," demanded Geraldine, impatiently, " excite, if you meant not to gratify, a curiosity that shall now make me quite unhappy? You have raised doubts in my mind that will constantly distract me; you have awakened fears to which the serenity of my days will be sacrificed."

"I am a poor, doting old fool, young