.

"It grieves me," said she, "to see you, in the bloom of youth and
health, immure yourself in a living tomb, and refuse the consolations
you would receive from intercourse with your species."

"I want no more of the world," answered the sufferer; "it has no
pleasure or enjoyment for me."

"But, my dear, you should not allow your feelings to overpower your
better judgment," remonstrated Mrs. Stanhope.

"Ah, my feelings!" said Louise, bitterly, with tears rolling over her
pale cheeks; "they have been my destruction. Had I always controlled
them, I had not been the miserable creature I am to-day."

Mrs. Stanhope hardly understood this passionate outburst, but she still
strove to soothe and comfort her afflicted friend.

"Your brow is hot and feverish," said she, rising to depart. "I caution
you to calm yourself and take some rest, or severe sickness will
prostrate you ere long."

"And why should I fear sickness or death," asked Louise, in a hopeless
tone, "when the only calm for me is the calm of the grave, the only rest
its dreamless slumbers?"

Mrs. Stanhope gazed on the suffering face with tearful pity, and turned
away. On opening the hall door, she encountered Col. Malcome, pacing to
and fro on the icy piazza. He started suddenly on beholding her, and
asked if she came from Mrs. Edson. Mrs. Stanhope answered affirmatively.

"And how have you left her?" inquired he, with an expression of strong
anxiety and emotion on his features.

"She seems deeply afflicted," returned Mrs. Stanhope.

"Does she still persist in refusing to see her friends?" asked he.

"She is thus disposed, I regret to say," was Mrs. Stanhope's reply.

"Would you do me the favor to return, and entreat her to grant me a few
moments in her presence?" inquired he, in an earnest tone.

"I will perform your request with pleasure," she said; "but I fear I
shall bring you naught but a gloomy refusal." Thus saying, she reentered
the apartment of Louise.

"I am come with a petition, Mrs. Edson," she remarked, approaching her
side, and laying a hand softly on the bowed head. "Will you grant it
your favor?"

"I must hear it first," said Louise.

"Col. Malcome is walking on the piazza; he wishes to see you."

"Go and tell him, in another and a darker world I'll see him; never
again in this," answered Louise, starting to her feet, her whole frame
trembling with excitement and anger.

Mrs. Stanhope was astonished and alarmed at her appearanc