the garden of the mansion when they all were alarmed by the report of a pistol. Amid the stillness of the night, it came up

orge, "can that be Flora

she has in her possession th

pale, and trembled sligh

ry; "for God's sake

ce he made towards the house, passing over beds, and plantations,

et whistle past his head in tolerably close proximity. This supposition gave him a clue to the direction at all events from whence the shots proceeded, otherwise he knew not from w

had passed his head in such very dangerous proximity, and consequently he made wi

ich was wide open, and lights burning on the table within. He made towards it in a moment, and entered it. To his astonishment, the first objects he beheld were Flora and a st

, are you

is hold, and lo

ns, it is Mr. H

you not

ed apparently lifeless upon the floor. To raise her was the work of a moment, and then Mar

de, as the affianced lover of Flora, supporting her fainting form. There was Henry doing equal service to his mother; and on the floor lay the two pistols, and one

what has happene

d Henry. "Some one summon th

of doing so; and he rung it so loudly and so effectually, that the two servants who had bee

has fainted. For God's sake, let who can give me some

d Marchdale, "that a strang

as he spoke, who, before

as you are to me, and yet no str

d, but are thrice welcome-none can be more welcome. Mr. Marc

know you, sir,"

you," replied

rsons had some sort of antagonistic feeling towards each other, which

fired, and that, since then, they had remained where they were, in a great fright, until the bell was rung violently. This was no news at all and, therefore, the o

and so would Flora have been; but Mr. Hollan

, do not now take her from me, after so long an absence. Flora, Flora, look up; do you

ng her to consciousness; it broke through the death-like trance in which she

is Charles-i

and clung to him like some terrified child

Charles Holland, "do not de

been ill,"

l i

rly mad," ex

ght, nor was that surprise at all lessened when Flora made an e

me, Charles, for ever! Oh! never

ildered," s

me unworthy; think what you will, Charles

is a d

e had never met, you would be hap

y these words of so grea

en is my jud

en, then, what

oming up to her, took her han

t been

ha

sho

upon it, Henry

did-

will come again-it will

let?" interposed Mr. Marchda

have hit it, u

with such a look of intense surprise, that

planation is due to you

n here," said Charles. "Pray what

y; "you shall hear soo

w, from every promise made to me of constancy and love; and if you are wise, Charles,

at in another clime I said with joy to you. When I forget you, let what trouble may

-no more!" s

which shall be stronger than others in which

said Henry.

t until you tell me you love another, I am yours till the death, and then with

obbed b

the unkindest blow of all

" echoed

said Henry; "she

ied. "Farewell, Cha

imed, with animation. "It is the fi

t be th

no-oh

e able now, Charles, to show

asting me

ill be the way to sho

wildly, as she added

ingled out as one lost and accursed. Oh,

e to the table, at which he clutched for support.

he mad,

not, oh, do not make his lonely thoughts terr

Holland. "I pray you come with me

wil

ll know all; then you can come to a judgment for yourself. This way, sir. You cannot

arrived in England, and made what speed he could to the house of a family whom he admired for their intelligence, their high culture, and in one member of

sleeping or waking-well might

ra, he followed Henry from the room, his thoughts were busy in fancying a thousand vague an

ible strangeness and horror of that which he had to tell him, and consequently he found himself closeted with Henry in a smal