ad experienced during his illness, convinced her he
was not indifferent to her. Harland, therefore, had permission to visit
as an accepted lover; the Governor, unapprehensive of any further danger
respecting his nephew, readily consenting to free him from his
interdiction.

With an exultation he neither strove to repress, nor wished to conceal,
Harland received the intelligence of his enfranchisement, with the
Marchioness's invitation; nor would the Captain, by unnecessary delays,
add to his impatience to behold Louise. Sir Henry was with his sister;
the Captain and Frederick therefore accompanied him to the
Marchioness's.

Louise, now authorised by her patroness' as well as Sir Henry's
approbation, received Harland as the lover of her choice: and his
entreaty that she would unite her fate to his before they quitted St.
Helena, was no longer refused. Louise was too ingenuous to conceal the
sentiments of her heart; and as she presented her hand, the chastened
delight which sparkled in her eyes, and the blush that suffused her
cheek, told a tale to Harland, which amply compensated for all the
anxiety he had suffered on her account.

At his ardent request, the Marchioness appointed an early day for their
nuptials; and Harland, more enamoured than ever, in the evening bade
adieu to Louise, and returned with the Captain and his youthful
companions on board; his heart replete with every pleasurable sensation
that love and the gayest illusions of hope could inspire. But short was
his promised happiness--the succeeding morning, on going to the
Marchioness's, he found that worthy lady and her daughters in tears, and
the family in the wildest confusion: Louise was not to be found; nor
could the least trace be discovered to direct them to the place where
she had fled, or been forced!

"I have dispatched a servant for Captain Howard and Sir Henry," said the
Marchioness, still weeping; "and have likewise sent for the Governor; as
I strongly suspect it to be Ferrand who has torn the sweet girl from my
protection."

The name of Ferrand recalled the suspended faculties of Harland: his
brow contracted, fire flashed in his eyes, and in dissonant terms of the
maddest passion, he vowed the destruction of his rival!

At this moment the Captain and Sir Henry arrived: the pallid countenance
of the latter spoke more forcibly than language his concern at this
accident, as, with trembling lips, he entreated the Marchioness to
explain the