consequences of sudden calamity. Tears characterise a gentle feeling, but the blanched cheek, the sunk eye, and the parched lip of Nanny, mournfully testified that grief, like an ice-bolt, had entered into her heart, and paralysed her senses. She crouched on a low seat, motionless as death, her hair dishevelled over her face, and her eye fixed on vacancy, without the slightest evidence of observing what passed around. It appear+ ed, indeed, that "her beauty had consumed away," and as Matilda looked at her, with speechless emotion, it seemed as if years must have passed since she had beheld that haggard countenance in all the bloom of youth. After many vain efforts to attract her notice, Nanny at length looked up, with a strange ghastly smile, at Matilda, until, after some moments, a dawn of recollection seemed struggling into her mind, and beckoning her forward, she whispered, in a low bewildered tone, pointing to old Janet all Speak to her!-Tell her it was untrue!-We'll not` let Martha know that I cared about him!-Who put those things in the flower-stand? Oh! don't say it was me!" 66 Nanny!" said Dr Murray, in a tone of mild authority, which attracted her instant attention," there is a day coming when the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open. Those who are unfairly accused will then be acquitted, and any one who has told a falsehood against his neighbour shall be known and punished. I believe, when that hour comes, that your mother, your sister, and all of us who believe you to be innocent, will then rejoice in hearing the real truth. But there are many unfounded stories, and many evil reports in this world, and we must not break our hearts if they rise up against ourselves. You should be comforted when unjustly accused, by feeling in your own heart that it actually is untrue, and that you were never really tempted to do what is said. We commit sins every day, which are known only to God, and not to man-how much better it is if the Almighty sees we are not guilty, when man suspects that we are. Every sorrow in life is light and easy to endure in comparison of remorse; but a wounded spirit who can bear? We must value our good name and character in the world more than any mere earthly blessing; but still even that may be taken from us by the wisdom of Him who knows what is good for every one. Let us then be ready to suffer, though it were worse than death itself, not considering the loss as an accident, nor as the fruit of malice, but as the merciful correction of a Father, who knows what is best. It would be better, certainly, to weep for a short season and live for ever, than to rejoice in that mirth which is as the crackling of thorns under a pot, and ends in quick destruction. By the loss of friends, and the treachery of enemies, or in any way that may be surest, oh! who would not desire, on whatever terms, to be fitted for that country where no enemy ever entered, and from whence no friend shall ever go away!” Dr Murray continued his address, from time to time, in the soothing accents of kindness and pity, while Nanny seemed to listen; but it was difficult to say how far her mind followed his meaning, for she appeared stunned and stupified, without the power to express emotion, or to reflect on any thing but the weight of her own sorrow. Old Janet watched her countenance with intense anxiety, till at length she shook her head despondingly, and turned away, while tears started into Martha's eyes; but when Dr Murray at length proposed that they should unite in prayer, Nanny looked around with sudden recollection, and then slowly, with an air of deep solemnity and devotion, sunk upon the ground, and buried her face on her mother's knee, while she clasped her hands together with convulsive energy.. CHAPTER XV. I'll introduce you: Gentlemen! my friend. CRABBE. "ELEANOR!" cried Sir Richard, entering next day, when the whole party were gathered merrily round a blazing fire, and fixing a look of sly humour on his daughter, "I have charming news for you!-My good friend and kinsman, M'Tartan, has met with an accident on the road; and whether it be a spring broken, or ́ a fractured limb, is, I am aware, all one to you, since it must inevitably postpone his arrival here. But," added the Baronet, drawing a long breath, and trying to assume some appearance of gravity, "he has very stupidly forwarded this foreign Count of his, who may probably arrive in an hour. It will be an unspeakable bore, because my French is not in good repair now, and he speaks no English." "Delightful!" exclaimed Eleanor. "You know, papa, how I doat upon foreigners, so make him over entirely to my care. It wanted but this to make me completely happy-how enchanting it will be to have him for a partner this evening." "I have no objection, provided you don't take him as a partner for life!" replied her father, with a look of irrepressible glee, which seemed quite unaccountable to Matilda. "These foreigners are all so handsome and so insinuating that they invariably carry off our heiresses now; and if I had foreseen that you were to become the laird here, Your Honour should never have been allowed to learn one syllable of French!" "Oh! how barbarous, papa !—I would rather relinquish my mother tongue; and if the Count speaks only Italian, that would be irresistible." "I always feared this," continued Sir Richard, trying to look very serious; "we Englishmen have no chance in a drawing-room, when foreigners, with nine syllables to their names, like Count Constantine Ecatrinoslav, arise and shine in our hemisphere. I must ring for Martin directly, to give him a lesson of pronunciation, that he may announce our visitor properly. It will take some hours' practice at least to make him perfect; and Monsieur le Comte will arrive immediately, for, as Shakspeare says, By the pricking of my thumbs "What is he like?" asked Major Foley, turning towards the mirror, and pulling up his neckcloth. "You have seen him, I suppose ?" 66 Why, no. I never was in company with Count Constantine; but his description is set down here with a degree of accuracy that might have done for a passport. Tall, dark hair, florid complexion, grey eyes, and so forth." "Has he mustaches?" exclaimed Mr Grant, clasping his hands, and assuming a look of agonizing suspense. "Prodigious!" replied Sir Richard, laughing. "Then we are all undone,!" continued Mr Grant, giving a glance of condolence to the other gentlemen, and sinking back on the sofa, in an attitude of despair. "I am the last man on earth to be at all illiberal," |