broad day, and asks his friends to visit him. At the theatre, he was observed with her by Lady Augusta Welborne."

"Is it possible?" cried Sir Thomas; "then all our hopes of an alliance in that quarter, are at an end."

"Not so," returned Covert; "at least, as far as the lady is concerned. I can assure you, that in spite of this last deliberate insult on the part of Gerald, she still loves the misguided young man, who persists in rioting in sensuality, when he has only to seize the opportunity of securing a woman who really loves him, making a brilliant match, which would restore him to his proper position in the world, and turning out a useful member of society."

Covert then described in a very graphic manner, Lady Augusta's romantic attachment for Gerald, saying nothing of course respecting the compact into which he had entered. The baronet was astonished to learn, that his son, in spite of his irregularities, had inspired

Lady Augusta with a sincere affection. Under Covert's skilful management, all his worldly ambitions for uniting his family with that of the Earl's, revived, and he fairly cursed. his son for casting away such golden opportunities.

"What!" exclaimed Sir Thomas, "Lady Augusta Welborne really loves my son, and can forgive his immoralities, and yet this wretched boy persists in his evil ways! Can nothing be done?" he asked, suddenly. "You are certain he has contracted no legal marriage with this woman? I would make any pecuniary sacrifice to save him."

Covert affected to ponder some minutes, and then said, as if the idea had just struck him :

"My dear Sir Thomas, you know that I love my cousin, and that I wish to save him, both for his sake, as well as to prove my gratitude to you for all your benefits, but I am afraid his infatuation for this woman is so intense, that it will be impossible to break

the connexion. There is one way, to be sure," he added, "but you might not be willing to agree to it."

"Name it," said Sir Thomas.

"The danger is, you see," continued Covert, "that he may take it into his head to marry this girl at any moment! and then, not only are his prospects for ever destroyed, but he is probably wedded for ever to these low reformers, whose doctrines he has embraced, and your estate will eventually be made a nest for chartists and socialists to harbour in. Gerald, I believe, already looks forward to this, and purposes turning the Hall into a sort of reformers' college, or Agapemone."

"Blast him!" cried the Baronet; "I would burn it down first. Tell me this last resource of yours."

"The only way to break the chains which this Delilah has cast around him, is to separate him from her for a time. You informed me once that you are bound by the title-deeds of your property to make Gerald a

liberal allowance when he comes of age, which will happen in five months. Now, it is my impression that as he has no other resources. but the scanty income settled on him by the late Lady Lindor's will, that Gerald is only waiting till he comes of age, to marry this Miriam Groves. He may be under the impression that a union before this period, would cause him to forfeit the allowance due to him from the estate, or, he may desire to give his marriage the further sanction of his majority. Do you not agree with me that this is a very probable solution of his delay in marrying a girl with whom he appears so infatuated ?”

Yes," said the Baronet, grinding his teeth. "What can be done in five months?"

"The period is short, I admit," continued Covert, "but that is all the more reason for

prompt action. Are you aware that the father may legally control the son, while the latter is a minor ?"

"Yes," replied Sir Thomas, "I know that, but Gerald has always been disobedient, even

from childhood. I remember in this very room, at seven years old, he refused to drink a glass of wine when I ordered him, because, he said, his mother did not wish it. He has thwarted me, and taken his own way in everything hitherto. It's not very likely that he will obey my commands, now, when I tell him to have nothing more to do with this girl, and to marry Lady Augusta Welborne."

No," replied Covert, "but you can exert

your parental authority in this way. Lay before a medical man the chief incidents in your son's career, and we shall have no difficnlty in procuring authority for his restraint, on the ground that he is not capable of manaing his own affairs."

Sir Thomas started. This was quite a new idea to him.

"I do not say," .continued Covert, "that Gerald is, but that there is great danger of his becoming so, if not placed under a mild restraint. Look at the cause of his expulsion from college-his insult to the bishop in his