nd;
in whose existence she has centred all the happiness of her
own. _That_ girl, with that very hand which has been so often
and so fondly kissed by a childless mother; _that_ girl
(cursed be her anger, for it was fierce, and her wrath, for it
was cruel!) hurled to a watery grave the only child of that
devoted friend, of that more than mother; and there she sits
by the side of her whom she has made childless; and she holds
the hand of the wife whose husband adores her, and whose love
she dares not check; there she sits, as if a mine was not
ready to spring under their feet; and even now a smile is on
her face, for some gay remark has been addressed to her, and,
like the Indian at the stake, she must die before she writhes,
and must look upon the deeds she has done, and the pangs she
endures, as if her nerves were of iron, and her heart of
stone."

A servant came up-stairs to tell Alice that her husband was
waiting for her in the carriage, and a moment after she was
gone Edward announced to us that everything was settled about
his standing for the county, and that he should start at six
o'clock the next morning for Elmsley. "Lovell will go with
me," he added; "he has not been well lately, and thinks the
change of air will do him good." And turning to Mrs.
Middleton, he continued, "Henry promises to help me in
canvassing, and as neither you nor Ellen can be with me, his
eloquence will be invaluable. You do not think Mrs. Lovell
will be annoyed at his going?"

"Not at all," answered Mrs. Middleton; "and we will ask her to
come and stay with us here during your and Henry's absence.
How long will it be do you suppose?"

"Not more than three or four days, I should imagine; and now I
must consult you upon a plan which my uncle and myself have
formed, but for which we require your sanction, and Ellen's
consent. The election will take place in about a fortnight,
exactly the time we had fixed upon for our marriage; Lawson
has just told us that the settlements could without much
difficulty be got ready by this day week; and if we were
married on that day, we could go and spend a week at
Hillscombe, and then join you at Elmsley, where my uncle is
quite determined to go for the election."

My aunt was preparing to make some objections to this plan,
when Mr. Middleton came into the room, and by assuming that it
was thus settled, and declaring that any further discussion of
it was unnecessary, put a stop to the conversation