nes
of confidence and friendship? His great ambitions had grown with his
successes, and as he rose higher and higher, his aims continued to
mount upwards; but here was a sentiment that dated from the time of his
obscurity, here a day-dream that had filled his imagination when from
imagination alone could be derived the luxury of triumph, and now it was
realized, and now--

Who is to say what strange wild conflict went on within that heart where
worldliness felt its sway for once disputed? Did there yet linger there,
in the midst of high ambitions, some trait of boyish love, or was it
that he felt this hour to be the crowning triumph of his long life of
toil?

"If I were not half ashamed to disturb your revery," said Lady Augusta,
smiling, "I'd tell you to look at that view yonder. See where the coast
stretches along there, broken by cliff and headland, with those rocky
islands breaking the calm sea-line, and say if you saw anything finer in
your travels abroad?"

"Was I in a revery? have I been dreaming?" cried he, suddenly, not
regarding the scene, but turning his eyes fully upon herself. "And
yet you 'd forgive me were I to confess to you of what it was I was
thinking."

"Then tell it directly, for I own your silence piqued me, and I stopped
speaking when I perceived I was not listened to."

"Perhaps I am too confident when I say you would forgive me?"

"You have it in your power to learn, at all events," said she,
laughingly.

"But not to recall my words if they should have been uttered rashly,"
said he, slowly.

"Shall I tell you a great fault you have,--perhaps your greatest?" asked
she, quickly.

"Do, I entreat of you."

"And you pledge yourself to take my candor well, and bear me no malice
afterwards?"

"It is a coldness,--a reserve almost amounting to distrust, which seems
actually to dominate in your temper. Be frank with me, now, and say
fairly, was not this long alley reylying all the thoughts of long ago,
and were you not summing up the fifty-one little grudges you had against
that poor silly child who used to torment and fret you, and, instead
of honestly owning all this, you fell back upon that stern dignity of
manner I have just complained of? Besides," added she, as though hurried
away by some strong impulse, "if it would quiet your spirit to know you
were avenged, you may feel satisfied."

"As how?" asked he, eagerly, and not comprehending to what she pointed.

"Simply thus," resumed