d smiling in his face; and Arthur
was at the table, turning over a book of engravings. I seated myself in
the nearest chair; and Mr. Hargrave, finding his services were not
desired, judiciously withdrew. Shortly after, the company broke up, and,
as the guests were retiring to their rooms, Arthur approached me, smiling
with the utmost assurance.

'Are you very angry, Helen?' murmured he.

'This is no jest, Arthur,' said I, seriously, but as calmly as I
could--'unless you think it a jest to lose my affection for ever.'

'What! so bitter?' he exclaimed, laughingly, clasping my hand between
both his; but I snatched it away, in indignation--almost in disgust, for
he was obviously affected with wine.

'Then I must go down on my knees,' said he; and kneeling before me, with
clasped hands, uplifted in mock humiliation, he continued
imploringly--'Forgive me, Helen--dear Helen, forgive me, and I'll never
do it again!' and, burying his face in his handkerchief, he affected to
sob aloud.

Leaving him thus employed, I took my candle, and, slipping quietly from
the room, hastened up-stairs as fast as I could. But he soon discovered
that I had left him, and, rushing up after me, caught me in his arms,
just as I had entered the chamber, and was about to shut the door in his
face.

'No, no, by heaven, you sha'n't escape me so!' he cried. Then, alarmed
at my agitation, he begged me not to put myself in such a passion,
telling me I was white in the face, and should kill myself if I did so.

'Let me go, then,' I murmured; and immediately he released me--and it was
well he did, for I was really in a passion. I sank into the easy-chair
and endeavoured to compose myself, for I wanted to speak to him calmly.
He stood beside me, but did not venture to touch me or to speak for a few
seconds; then, approaching a little nearer, he dropped on one knee--not
in mock humility, but to bring himself nearer my level, and leaning his
hand on the arm of the chair, he began in a low voice: 'It is all
nonsense, Helen--a jest, a mere nothing--not worth a thought. Will you
never learn,' he continued more boldly, 'that you have nothing to fear
from me? that I love you wholly and entirely?--or if,' he added with a
lurking smile, 'I ever give a thought to another, you may well spare it,
for those fancies are here and gone like a flash of lightning, while my
love for you burns on steadily, and for ever, like the sun. You little
exorbitant tyrant, wi