placid, though serious.

'You remember,' Ferdinand at length murmured, 'that we met, we met
unexpectedly, some six weeks back.'

'I have not forgotten it,' replied Glastonbury.

'There was a lady,' Ferdinand continued in a hesitating tone.

'Whom I mistook for Miss Grandison,' observed Glastonbury, 'but who, it
turned out, bore another name.'

'You know it?'

'I know all; for her father has been here.'

'Where are they?' exclaimed Ferdinand eagerly, starting from his seat
and seizing the hand of Glastonbury. 'Only tell me where they are, only
tell me where Henrietta is, and you will save me, Glastonbury. You will
restore me to life, to hope, to heaven.'

'I cannot,' said Glastonbury, shaking his head. 'It is more than ten
days ago that I saw this lady's father for a few brief and painful
moments; for what purpose your conscience may inform you. From the
unexpected interview between ourselves in the gallery, my consequent
misconception, and the conversation which it occasioned, I was not so
unprepared for this interview with him as I otherwise might have been.
Believe me, Ferdinand, I was as tender to your conduct as was consistent
with my duty to my God and to my neighbour.'

'You betrayed me, then,' said Ferdinand.

'Ferdinand!' said Glastonbury reproachfully, 'I trust that I am free
from deceit of any kind. In the present instance I had not even to
communicate anything. Your own conduct had excited suspicion; some
visitors from Bath to this gentleman and his family had revealed
everything; and, in deference to the claims of an innocent lady, I could
not refuse to confirm what was no secret to the world in general, what
was already known to them in particular, what was not even doubted, and
alas! not dubitable.'

'Oh! my father, pardon me, pardon me; pardon the only disrespectful
expression that ever escaped the lips of your Ferdinand towards you;
most humbly do I ask your forgiveness. But if you knew all------God!

God! my heart is breaking! You have seen her, Glastonbury; you have
seen her. Was there ever on earth a being like her? So beautiful, so
highly-gifted, with a heart as fresh, as fragrant as the dawn of Eden;
and that heart mine; and all lost, all gone and lost! Oh! why am I
alive?' He threw himself back in his chair, and covered his face and
wept.

'I would that deed or labour of mine could restore you both to peace,'
said Glastonbury, with streaming eyes.

'So innocent, so truly virtuous