encreased. He was now advanced in years, but the same pensiveness of character remained with him; he had had the advantages of education, he had read the history of his country, and his harp and his memory were stored with the legends of its chieftains and princes. He would roam through the halls of GwynneArthur, he would sigh over the blasted hope of his youth, he would muse over the deeds of the heroes who slept within its vaults, and, mingling these images together, he would sometimes produce a strain" so sweet, so holy, and so impressive, whilst his countenance displayed all the melancholy heaven of his feelings, that the common people said he was either more or less than human; they feared him, they looked upon him as a gifted man, and gifted the minstrel certainly was--but not with supernatural powers.

It was through one of those ancient corridors which I have just spoken of, though now brilliantly illuminated by a number of wax-lights, that Lord Gwynne-Arthur hastened, with all the impatience of joyful expectation, to the

dressing room of the countess, and in a few moments he was locked in the fond embrace of his mother. Her happiness was extreme at this re-union with her son, and, after the first mutual enquiries had passed, she again clasped him in her arms, and wept tears of joy upon his bosom. Gwynne-Arthur had the advantage of appearing full five years older than he really was, which gave an air of firmness and dignity to his carriage, that he could not otherwise have been expected to possess; and, as his mother gazed upon bis fine graceful form, now matured and ripened into manhood, she thought of him as of the darling object in whom all her ambitious hopes were

centred, and saw, in perspective, the fulfilment of every wild scheme and aspiring project.

Mr. Jenkins, who had remained behind for the purpose of giving his noble friends an oppor-tunity of meeting in private, now entered the apartment, and received the countess's polite and sincere welcome.

"Mr. Jenkins," exclaimed her ladyship,.

"how much I owe you for the fidelity with which you have discharged your trust, you have brought back my son, safe, and uncorrupted, and, to a doating parent, what can be a greater happiness?" "Have you company to day, mother?" asked the earl, anxious, perhaps, to change the theme. “I observed lights in the saloon as I passed along, and the shades of persons moving about."

"A few fashionable friends," replied the countess, "who have kindly repaired hither to enliven our seclusion, and I think they will form a pleasing contrast to the ancient Cambrian gentry we shall presently be mixing with. I have not yet fixed on the day for a grand fête, at which we must entertain all our neighbours, tenants, and dependants, but as I know you are fond of character, you will of course receive much amusement.”

The earl now proposed retiring to dress for the purpose of joining the company in the drawing-room, which the countess at first objected to, alleging that he must be fatigued,

and requesting that he would retire for the night; but, on this point, the earl over-ruled her scruples; the gentlemen withdrew to make their toilettes, and Lady Gwynne-Arthur returned to the saloon.

There are many emotions connected with a return to the home of our youth, which, in a heart too keenly alive to every sensation of pain and pleasure, may create for a moment, at least, a dubious feeling between happiness and sorrow; and it is little wonder, if the emotion which glows in the bosom, should speak also in the countenance.

The earl did not wish this to be perceived, and turned from the earnest gaze that was bent upon him by his young protégé, whom c Mr. Jenkins had deposited in this apartment.

Valentine Meilheim, the French valet who had accompanied the Earl and Mr. Jenkins97 from Paris, was a poor friendless individuala whom Gwynne Arthur had met with in France; somme pleasing traits of character had recom mended him to notice, and though he was of

little use to him in the capacity of servant, the earl felt a happiness in affording him pro tection.

-Valentine was seated near the fire, for his

master judging that he must be fatigued by his journey, had dispensed with his services at the toilette, and allowed his English valet to supply his place; his eye was fixed upon the earl, who hastily turned away, and a blush stole over his face as he reflected that possibly his thoughts had been searched. When he raised his eyes> from the table, Valentine was at his side; he had taken a comb from the toilette, and was preparing to adjust a stray lock of the earl's fine auburn hair; by this means Gwynne-Arthur found himself wholly exposed to the intense scrutiny: which he had sought to avoid.

"Sit down, Valentine," said he, "Lawrence will do that, you must be much fatigued, sit down, 1 say, and rest yourself."

"Oh! my Lord," replied Valentine, in French, "were I a young earl returning to all the honours of a splendid heritage, with one