beautiful? Did you ever see such a skin,— such eyes? And then her hands and feet ! Even Linton says she is perfection, which I have always intended my wife to be.'

"You appear to have studied the matter betimes. I question if your senior, Linton, has even pictured to himself what wife he will have.'

"Ah, he is so wise, so thoughtful,some of these days we shall see him with a magnificent queen-like woman hanging on his arm, grave and wise as himself."

"And why not a little lovely laughing girl like Rose?'

666 'No, no, not Rose. He shall not have Rose; he would not love her and pet her as I should do; Rose must be adored, positively adored and worshipped as if she was a goddess. Now, can you picture

Linton doing so?'

"I can picture Linton loving his wife with the conscientious devotion of both soul and body, with a love that comprises

his life; for when it is severed, it will be when his last sigh escapes his lips. Linton will love more with the spirit than the body, exalting the human feeling into one divine.'

""I daresay, ah! I daresay; but that is not how Rose should be loved the loveliest, prettiest, sweetest thing! Dearest Mrs. Lovel, my adopted mother, plead for me, speak for me; command Mr. Seaton to give her to me.'

"Without her own consent?'

"Ah! to be sure, that must first be done. You think I may speak to her-I long to do it, dear, lovely little Rose-how I should dote upon receiving her blushing consent! She could not refuse me, now, could she?'

"And though he demanded this question of me, I could see the dear, vain fellow had no doubts on the matter himself. He glanced at the mirror, and there was no disappointment as he turned away; on the contrary, an exultation, if I may so style it.

I

pray God he may not love the shadow of indifferent things to the slighting of the most important. He lacks depth of character, but is so full of love and heartiness, I find myself excusing him at every turn; nevertheless, he must not have my little Rose."

"A tide has turned in Ferdinand's love. Rose is now cold-hearted-demure-reserved. Ferdinand must be loved to idolatry, ere he surrenders his liberty.

"Would you believe it, dearest Mrs. Lovel, I have risen for three mornings running, early-very early for me-to obtain for her fresh flowers before the dew is off, and she has only thanked me.' "What did you expect her to do?' "I expected her to be full of blushing ecstasies, to say all sorts of pretty things to me, to imply still more-and yet all I obtained was "Thank you."

"She did not beg you to do this for her.'

666

No; but then she ought to have been the more grateful, don't you think so? If the gardener had done as much for her, she could not have been more impassive. Oh! she has no heart.'

"No heart! see her with her grandfather!'

"Of course she is very fond of him— too fond; one is apt to think she is perhaps a little afraid of him, or thinking of the future.'

"Now, indeed, you do not deserve Rose, thus belying so true an affection; giving a sordid motive to one whose whole thoughts are sweet as roses, and fresh as the dew that bathes them.'

"Do not be angry, dear Mrs. Lovel; I know I am a sad brute; but don't you think her heartless, not to love me?'

"Let me see,-you have known her one day over a fortnight, during which time you have paid her the most assiduous court-'

"Assiduous! my dear Mrs. Lovel, I have been her veriest slave; no dog could have been more faithful or devoted.'

"Well! 'tis sad; I suppose I must allow she is cold; perhaps she has no heart to give.'

"No heart to give! I should like to see the fellow that would dare to riyal me.'

"Pooh, pooh! vain boy; I mean that her heart was given away before she saw your provoking physiognomy.'

"If I thought that, I would never give her up, I would win her from every rival.'

"That is a sentiment I do not like; your love is of a very base sort, Ferdy, and not worth pining about. Go, quarrel with some one for a bit of the moon; you are not in love, and never have been, my dear.'

"Silly boy! his vanity has received a shock, and it will do him good; at present he loves nothing but himself, and I must