ce, of course, cease with
this letter,--until, at least, we may all meet, with no sentiments but
those of friendship and esteem. I desire my compliments to your worthy
uncle, in which Mrs. and Miss Beaufort join; and I am sure you will
be happy to hear that my wife and daughter, though still in great
affliction, have suffered less in health than I could have ventured to
anticipate.

"Believe me, dear Sir,

"Yours sincerely,

"ROBERT BEAUFORT.

"To C. SPENCER, Esq., Jun."

When Sidney received this letter, he was with Mr. Spencer, and the
latter read it over the young man's shoulder, on which he leant
affectionately. When they came to the concluding words, Sidney turned
round with a vacant look and a hollow smile. "You see, sir," he said,
"you see---"

"My boy--my son--you bear this as you ought. Contempt will soon
efface--"

Sidney started to his feet, and his whole countenance was changed.

"Contempt--yes, for him! But for her--she knows it not--she is no party
to this--I cannot believe it--I will not! I--I----" and he rushed out
of the room. He was absent till nightfall, and when he returned, he
endeavoured to appear calm--but it was in vain.

The next day brought him a letter from Camilla, written unknown to
her parents,--short, it is true (confirming the sentence of separation
contained in her father's), and imploring him not to reply to it,--but
still so full of gentle and of sorrowful feeling, so evidently worded
in the wish to soften the anguish she inflicted, that it did more than
soothe--it even administered hope.

Now when Mr. Robert Beaufort had recovered the ordinary tone of his mind
sufficiently to indite the letter Sidney had just read, he had become
fully sensible of the necessity of concluding the marriage between
Philip and Camilla before the publicity of the lawsuit. The action for
the ejectment could not take place before the ensuing March or April. He
would waive the ordinary etiquette of time and mourning to arrange all
before. Indeed, he lived in hourly fear lest Philip should discover
that he had a rival in his brother, and break off the marriage, with
its contingent advantages. The first announcement of such a suit in the
newspapers might reach the Spencers; and if the young man were, as he
doubted not, Sidney Beaufort, would necessarily bring him forward, and
ensure the dreaded explanation. Thus apprehensive and ever scheming,
Robert Beaufort spoke to Philip so much, and with suc