y, acquired a pretty accurate
knowledge of their language and customs; and he preached the glad
tidings to them, whenever an opportunity presented itself. His present
intention was to accompany William with his sister, on their journey to
Fern Vale; and, while spending some little time with them there,
endeavour to do some good with the aborigines in that neighbourhood.

CHAPTER X.

"Ah, what is love? It is a pretty thing,
As sweet unto a shepherd as a king."

GREENE.

"Cease, cease these jars, and rest your mind in peace."

HENRY VI., _Part_ 1, _Act_ 1, _Sc._ 1.

When we left John Ferguson after his departure from Strawberry Hill, we
attempted to depict his feelings; as well as the motives which
influenced the minds of the Rainsfield ladies. In the resumption of our
narrative, we will follow our hero in the continuance of his mental
aberration. His misery and dejection were intense; and such were his
sufferings, that he moved about his station a mere shadow of his former
self, and kept himself exclusively to his own place; attempting to
relieve his feelings by engrossing his mind on his avocation. Tom
Rainsfield, in the meantime, had learnt from his sister-in-law the cause
of John's estrangement; and deeply sympathising with his friend, he made
his visits to Fern Vale as frequent as possible, to cheer and enliven
him in his dullness. Tom imagined if he could but induce him to banish
his despondency, he would be enabled to make him feel there was a chance
of his succeeding in overcoming Eleanor's scruples in breaking faith
with Smithers; by inducing her to look favourably upon his addresses. At
the same time, he felt the delicacy of his task; for he had no warrant,
on which to ground his assumption of his friend's attachment; though
(notwithstanding that John Ferguson had not breathed to a creature his
love for Eleanor) he was perfectly convinced, he was irretrievably lost
in the passion. Whether or not Tom had been enlisted into the services
of his sister-in-law, we will not stop to consider; or in fact can we
pretend to say; though, from the earnestness with which he proceeded
with his scheme, we are led to imagine that, possibly stimulated by his
own inclinations, he was, nevertheless, acting under the guidance of
that astute and pertinent directress. He had laid down certain plans for
operation; and had so far succeede