e to the haggard and worn expression that
disfigured the handsome features of her lover. So marked was the change
that one night seemed to have wrought upon Clifford, that even the
squire was startled and alarmed at it. But Lucy, whose innocent vanity
pleased itself with accounting for the alteration, consoled herself
with the hope of soon witnessing a very different expression on the
countenance of her lover; and though she was silent, and her happiness
lay quiet and deep within her, yet in her eyes and lip there was that
which seemed to Clifford an insult to his own misery, and stung him to
the heart. However, he exerted himself to meet the conversation of the
squire, and to mask as well as he was able the evidence of the conflict
which still raged within him.

The morning was wet and gloomy; it was that drizzling and misty rain
which is so especially nutritious to the growth of blue devils, and
the jolly squire failed not to rally his young friend upon his feminine
susceptibility to the influences of the weather. Clifford replied
jestingly; and the jest, if bad, was good enough to content the railer.
In this facetious manner passed the time, till Lucy, at the request of
her father, left the room to prepare for their return home.

Drawing his chair near to Clifford's, the squire then commenced in
real and affectionate earnest his operations--these he had already
planned--in the following order: they were first, to inquire into and
to learn Clifford's rank, family, and prospects; secondly, having
ascertained the proprieties of the outer man, they were to examine the
state of the inner one; and thirdly, should our skilful inquirer find
his guesses at Clifford's affection for Lucy confirmed, they were to
expel the modest fear of a repulse, which the squire allowed was natural
enough, and to lead the object of the inquiry to a knowledge of the
happiness that, Lucy consenting, might be in store for him. While, with
his wonted ingenuity, the squire was pursuing his benevolent designs,
Lucy remained in her own room, in such meditation and such dreams as
were natural to a heart so sanguine and enthusiastic.

She had been more than half an hour alone, when the chambermaid of the
hostelry knocked at her door, and delivered a message from the squire,
begging her to come down to him in the parlour. With a heart that beat
so violently it almost seemed to wear away its very life, Lucy slowly
and with tremulous steps descended to