awn from generous
hope, and coloured with tender fancies. But alas for such castles in the
air! All had failed. She had only herself to blame. Instead of securing
Sophys welfare, she had endangered Sophy's happiness. They whom she
had desired to unite were irrevocably separated. Bitterly she accused
herself--her error in relying so much on Lionel's influence with
Darrell--on her own early remembrance of Darrell's affectionate nature
and singular sympathies with the young--and thus suffering Lionel and
Sophy to grow familiar with each other's winning characters, and carry
on childlike romance into maturer sentiment. She spoke, though briefly,
of her visit to Darrell, and its ill success--of the few letters that
had passed since then between herself and Lionel, in which it was
settled that he should seek no parting interview with Sophy. He had
declared to Sophy no formal suit--they had exchanged no lovers' vows. It
would be, therefore, but a dishonourable cruelty to her to say, "I come
to tell you that I love you, and that we must part for ever." And how
avow the reason--that reason that would humble her to the dust? Lionel
was forbidden to wed with one whom Jasper Losely called daughter, and
whom the guardian she so venerated believed to be his grandchild. All
of comfort that Lady Montfort could suggest was, that Sophy was so
young that she would conquer what might be but a girl's romantic
sentiment--or, if a more serious attachment, one that no troth had
cemented--for a person she might not see again for years; Lionel was
negotiating exchange into a regiment on active service. "Meanwhile,"
said Lady Montfort, "I shall never wed again. I shall make it known that
I look on your Sophy as the child of my adoption. If I do not live to
save sufficient for her out of an income that is more than thrice what
I require, I have instructed my lawyers to insure my life for her
provision; it will be ample. Many a wooer, captivating as Lionel, and
free from the scruples that fetter his choice, will be proud to kneel
at the feet of one so lovely. This rank of mine, which has never yet
bestowed on me a joy, now becomes of value, since it will give dignity
to--to Matilda's child, and--and to--" Lady Montfort sobbed.

Waife listened respectfully, and for the time was comforted. Certainly,
in his own heart he was glad that Lionel Haughton was permanently
separated from Sophy. There was scarcely a man on earth, of fair station
and repute, t