impetuous Irish nature; he was the light of her eye and the pulse of her warmly beating heart: how different was this passionate feeling from the calm, sisterly regard she had bestowed upon me. Now, indeed, I saw how Nelly O'Brien could love.

How she clung to Percy from her very inmost heart-how his approbation would make her eye glance brightly and bring the colour to her cheek, while an indifferent look or reply would turn it pale, and cast a shade or anxiety on her sweet features; now her every thought, word, and wish were for him, and for him alone!

Ah! Nelly, it is not wise to give such love as this to mortal man-not even to such as Percy Lascelles. Byron truly says,—

"Man's love is of man's life a thing apart,

"Tis woman's whole existence."

Well and truly did Percy love this fair and gentle Irish girl; but such love as hers it was not in his power to yield again—one only time there is for such feelings in every heart; and with him that season and those feelings had passed away, and for ever.

But no such suspicion ever occurred to this innocent mind; she felt that he loved her; thought only of her, and she was content. It did strike me once or twice, however, that one of Percy's few faults was growing upon him rather more than I liked to see-a kind of apathetic indifference, that had the effect of obscuring many of his best and noblest qualities.

Curiously enough, this struck me more in reference to his behaviour to Lady Duneden than on any other occasion. It may be that I was jealous of anything that looked in the slightest degree like neglect or in

difference to her; but I saw only too clearly that Percy was not the soul of devotion I should have been. But this may only have served to attract her still more strongly towards him: there are some women who do not care for too much affection, and prize most that love which looks as though it could easily escape their grasp if it so willed it; and thus it may have been with Nelly O'Brien.

Percy's old dislike to society had returned more strongly than ever; and though he would occasionally put a great constraint upon himself and accompany his fair fiancée to scenes of gay festivity, it was unwillingly done, and he was only too delighted when she would allow him to shirk the infliction, or accept me as her escort instead.

Perhaps she would pretend to pout, or be a little sulky, even after she had given the desired permission ; but a few whispered words from Percy would dispel the light cloud and bring the sunshine of smiles once more on her half-averted face; and as he carefully handed her into her carriage, and arranged her shawl or cloak with a fond parting clasp of the soft little hand, the tender glance of adieu that beamed on Percy Lascelles used to give me a strange feeling at my heart-strings.

Nelly never said anything on those occasions; but once or twice I detected a longing, wishful expression in her dreamy eyes, and more than once I have heard a sigh, very faint and soft, but still a sigh.

Miss Carew was still her kind and watchful companion; and I could see that the good old lady was sometimes anxious for her young cousin, and regarded her seriously and compassionately. Once she uttered some of the thoughts that were passing in her mind;

and I found that on many points our views were the

same.

We were sitting in the drawing-room one soft autumn afternoon. Lady Duneden and Percy were in the garden before us, leaning over a little tank that contained a quantity of gold and silver fish. They were great pets of Nelly's, and she had been feeding them with crumbs of bread.

Her occupation was finished; but still she lingered there with Percy, her soft eyes raised to his face with an expression of confiding love that told how utterly she was his in heart and soul.

He was talking to her in his calm, grave manner ; very kind and protecting he looked in his stately height as he gazed down on the slight young figure beside him; but there was a difference between them that I could not exactly analyse-I could only see it, and feel it. Her love was greater than his; and woe betide the woman when it is so. Chancing to lift my eyes, I met those of Miss Carew fixed on me kindly and earnestly. Colouring slightly, she again glanced at the pair in the garden, and said gently and sadly, "Dear Nelly, she is very happy now; God grant it may always be so, poor little thing!"

"Why do you say 'poor thing,' Miss Carew?" I inquired. "Do you not think Nelly will always be happy?"

"I trust she may, most sincerely," said the old lady, kindly; "but she will not be as happy as she is now. I fear that many trials are in store for my darling."

"Do you recollect one day, long ago, Miss Carew," I said, musingly; "we were discussing Percy Lascelles, and you said you thought his wife would find a good

many thorns opinion?"

her roses among

? Is this still your

Yes, Mr. Nugent, I think so still; I have seen no reason to alter my judgment on this point. I am convinced that Lady Duneden is not so dear to Captain Lascelles as another has been: he does love her truly and sincerely, but not as such a man can love, and has loved. I do not think Nelly has any idea of this, and I trust she may never discover it; it will be well for her peace that she does not, for I feel sure she would not calmly brook the knowledge that she was only second in his affection."

"But this she is not," I replied, hastily. "If Percy has ever experienced the feelings you imagine, they are long ago rooted out and forgotten. We all know that very few men ever marry their first love."

"But some never forget her," said Miss Carew; "and I rather imagine Captain Lascelles is one of those. At some period of his life I can tell that a heavy storm has passed over him; peace and calmness have returned to his mind, but there are signs by which a close observer can discern that a great desolation has once been there. I can read, too, in your countenance, Mr. Nugent, that my surmises are correct; but you need not fear that you have destroyed any confidence, to no other should I dream of speaking as I am doing to you. But you are a friend of both, and I feel sure that Nelly's happiness is still dear to you, though I can no longer cherish my once fond hope that it was for ever to be secured by your faithful guardianship.”

I was silent for a moment, for her remark took me by surprise.

"Then you knew all ?" I inquired.

"Only from my own observation; but that was quite sufficient. I do hope my darling Nelly will be happy in the choice her heart has made; but, oh! I did so wish it had fallen on you; I should have had no fear then."

"You amaze me, Miss Carew!" I replied; "to dream of preferring me to Percy Lascelles! In no one way do I feel myself worthy to be compared to him,-only in my devoted love for Nelly will I not yield to him; he could not love her better than I did."

"The day may come when Nelly will feel this too -feel it when it may be too late. Should this ever happen, Mr. Nugent, prove to her the brother you have always been: I know that she will never want a friend while you are near her."

"Never!" I replied, earnestly; "but believe me, Miss Carew, she will be happy with Percy Lascelles ; his disposition is noble and generous; he will love her well, and guard her tenderly. In her society his little peculiarities will soon wear away altogetherthey are but trifles, not sufficient to endanger any woman's happiness."

"Perhaps not, if she were of a less impulsive nature than poor Nelly; but she will not give herself time for reflection, and will keenly feel slights that never were intended as such, and will brood silently over grievances that had better be met at once and boldly. Now, in her present dream of contentment, she sees little of this, and might not credit it if warned of it; but it will happen, for all that. Captain Lascelles loves her, and now lavishes time and attentions upon her that blind her to the real view of his character: he is not a man that will long be at the beck and call