e say-breeze," said he, "and a sate upon the rocks--upon our
thyme-bank, where we've often sat happily, Alley dear, will bring me
to myself soon. I am tired, asthore machree, of all this noise and
confusion. Come away, darling, we'll be happier with one another than
with all these people about us."

His young bride accompanied him, and as they went, her happy heart
beating under that arm to whose support she had now a right, her love
the while calm and secure in its own deep purity, she saw before them,
in bright perspective, many, many years of domestic affection and peace.

There they sat in the mellow sunset, until the soft twilight had
gradually melted away the lengthened shadows of the rocks about them.
Their hands were locked in each other, their hearts burned within
them, and a tenderness which can be felt only by souls equally pure and
innocent touched their delighted converse into something that might be
deemed beautiful and holy.

Artless, humble, and happy pair! Sit on and enjoy the only brief glimpse
of this earth's heaven which you will ever get. It is the last time that
heart will beat responsive to heart, and soul tremble to and mingle with
soul between you.

Long before the hour of their, return, Felix had felt much worse than
during any preceding part of the day. The vivid and affectionate
hopes of future happiness expressed by Alley added to his concern, and
increased his tenderness towards her, especially when he contrasted his
own physical sensations with the unsuspicious character of her opinion
concerning his illness and the cause that produced it. 'Tis true he
disguised all this as long as he could; but at length, notwithstanding
his firmness, he was forced to acknowledge that pain overcame him. With
the burning chill of fever bubbling through his blood--shivering yet
scorching--he complained of the shooting pain in his head, and a strange
confusion of mind, which the poor girl, from some of his incoherent
expressions, had attributed to his excess of affection. With words
of comfort she soothed him; her arm now returned the support she had
received from his; she led him home, languid and half-delirious, whilst
she herself felt stunned as well by the violence as by the unaccountable
nature of his illness. On reaching home they found that the noise of
social enjoyment had risen to the outrage of convivial extravagance; but
the moment he staggered in, supported only by the faithful arm of
his wif