my unbelief? It is a mysterious maze,
and I shall never get out of it; a curse to know that the most we
can ever know is, that we know--nothing. Yet I will go on with this
marriage. Pale as that brow is, I must see it encircled by the coronet
of a countess; I must see her, as she ought to be, high in rank as she
is in truth, in virtue, in true dignity. I shall force the world to make
obeisance to her; and I shall teach her afterwards to despise it. She
once said to me, 'And is it to gain the applause of a world you hate
and despise, that you wish to exalt me to such a bawble?'--meaning the
coronet. I replied, 'Yes, and for that very reason.' I shall not now
disturb her."

He was about to leave the room, when he! noticed that her bosom
began suddenly and rapidly to heave, as if by some strong and fearful
agitation; and a series of close, pain-fed sobbings proceeded from her
half-closed lips. This tumult went on for a little, when at length
it was terminated by one long, wild scream, that might be supposed to
proceed from the very agony of despair itself; and opening her eyes,
she started up, her! face, if possible, paler than before, and her eyes
filled as if with the terror of some horrible vision.

"No," she said, "the sacrifice is complete--I am your wife; but there is
henceforth an eternal gulf between us, across which you shall never drag
me."

On gazing about her with wild and disturbed looks, she paused for
moment, and, seeing her father, she rose up, and with a countenance
changed from its wildness to one in which was depicted an expression so
woe-begone, so deplorable, so full of sorrow, that it was scarcely in
human nature, hardened into the induration of the world's worst
spirit, not to feel its irresistible influence. She then threw her arms
imploringly and tenderly about his neck, and looking into his eyes as
if she were supplicating for immortal salvation at his hands, she said,
"Oh, papa, have compassion on me."

"What's the matter, Lucy? what's the matter, my love?"

But she only repeated the words, "Oh, papa, have pity on me! have mercy
on me, papa! Save me from destruction--from despair--from madness!"

"You don't answer me, child. You have been dreaming, and are not
properly awake."

Still, however, the arms--the beautiful arms--clung around his neck; and
still the mournful supplication was repeated.

"Oh, papa, have pity upon me! Look at me! Am I not your daughter? Have
mercy upon your daug