r
that animate or depress our own, and to reflect that they have
all vanished--ah, whither? But however saddening the reflections
occasioned by such contemplations, however much vaster the interests
involved in them, they do not affect us with half that wretched sorrow
with which we gaze upon the wreck of a human mind. In the former case,
that which has passed away has performed its part; on every thing
terrestial "transitory," is written, and it is a doom we expect, and
are prepared for; but in the latter it is a shrouding of the heavens;
it is a conflict betwixt light and darkness, where darkness conquers;
it is an obscuration and eclipse of the godlike. We therefore feel no
desire to dwell upon this part of our history, but, on the contrary,
to glide over it as rapidly as is consistent with the development of
the tale.

Next after Faith, the faithful Felix noticed, with disquietude, the
alteration in his master, and many were the sad colloquies he held
with Rosa on the subject. Holden in some way or another was connected
in his mind with the cause of Mr. Armstrong's melancholy, for although
for several years the latter had not been remarkably cheerful, yet it
was only since Holden's acquaintance had become intimacy, that that
melancholy deepened into gloom. The simple fellow naturally looked
round for some cause for the effect, and none presented itself so
plausible as the one he adopted.

"I wish," he had repeatedly said to Rosa, "that the old man would stay
away. I'd see the divil with as much satisfacshum as him. Miss Faith
too, I am sorry to say, is out of her wits."

One morning when Felix went up stairs, in answer to his master's bell,
he could not avoid remarking on his altered appearance.

"I hope you will 'scuse me, sir," he said, "but me and the servants
very much alarm about you, sir."

"I am obliged to you, Felix, and to all of you, but really there is no
occasion for any alarm," said Mr. Armstrong.

"The case is the alarmingest when the patient doesn't know how sick he
is. There was my old friend, Pompey Topset. He was setting up on the
bed, when I come in to see him, smoking a pipe. And says he, says
Pompey to me, says he, Felix, how do you do? this child never feel
better. Then he give one puff and his head fall on the breast, and
the pipe jump out of his mouth and burnt the clothes, and where was
Pompey! He never," added Felix, shaking his head, "was more mistaken
in all his life."

Mr. Arms