iving yourself, my poor sister, in this
supposed immolation on an altar of sacrifice; it is not for your child's
sake alone, though you fancy so. But Blanche Erminstoun will be
disappointed, revenge obtained, and pride amply gratified, and truly
"the heart is deceitful above all things."

Mr. Dacre entered the apartment as Gabrielle ceased speaking, for we had
not heard his modest signal, and he was unannounced. My sister colored
to the very temples on seeing the young pastor, and her hands trembled
in the vain endeavor to fold Lord Treherne's letter, which at length she
impatiently crushed together. I heard a half-smothered hysterical sob,
as, with a faltering voice, she bade our guest "Good-evening." Ah! when
the heart is aching and throbbing with agony, concealed and suppressed,
it requires heroic self-command to descend to the commonplaces of this
workaday world; but women early learn to conceal and subdue their
feelings, when premature sorrows have divided them from real or
pretended sympathies.

I read my sister's heart, I knew her secret, and I inwardly murmured,
"Alas for woman's love, it is cast aside!"

* * * * *

My sister's marriage with Lord Treherne was a strictly private one
(Gabrielle had stipulated for this), his lordship's chaplain performing
the ceremony. My thoughts reverted to Gabrielle's first marriage, when
the clerk gave her away, and she was clad in muslin; now she was arrayed
in satin and glittering gems, and a peer of the realm, an old friend of
the bridegroom, gave her lily hand at the altar to her noble lover.
Twice she was forsworn; but the desecration to her soul was not so great
on the first as on the present occasion, for then her heart was still
her own; while now, alas for woman's love, it was cast aside!

In a few weeks after the marriage we all departed for the Continent,
where we remained for the six following years, Gabrielle and myself
receiving instructions in every accomplishment suitable to our position.
It was charming to witness with what celerity my beautiful sister
acquired every thing she undertook, for she was as anxious as her lord
to adorn the high station to which she now belonged. Wherever we went
the fame of Lady Treherne's beauty went with us, while her fascination
of manner and high-bred elegance perfectly satisfied her fastidious
husband that he had made a wise and prudent choice. There was one
drawback to his lordship's perfect