by extravagance, gambling, or reckless speculation, but because he has a solemn promise to fulfil."

"Oh, it is only a promise!" exclaimed Rainald. "Then I scarcely think it can be binding."

"It is binding upon me," said Sir Hugh, with solemn emphasis. "I am fairly puzzled," thought Rainald. "He doesn't look as if he were hoaxing me, but the circumstances seem incredible." Suddenly an idea flashed across him, and he said, with some eagerness,

"Pray excuse the question I am about to put, Sir Hugh. I I can't help fancying that the promise you have made is connected with your newly discovered nephew."

"You are right, sir. It is. I have bound myself to give him my property. But understand! The promise was made before my daughter's birth-before my marriage with her mother." "Then I hold it to be cancelled," cried Rainald.

"I cannot so regard it," rejoined Sir Hugh. "I have already acquainted my nephew with my determination."

"Then the matter is settled," cried Rainald, springing to his feet, and pacing the room in great agitation. "A jest could never be carried so far," he thought. "This is terrible earnest."

"No, it is not yet settled," said Sir Hugh, who was watching him. "My nephew has not yet decided."

"Not decided to accept the property!" cried Rainald, incredulously. "I should think it won't take him long to come to a decision."

"Here he is," said the baronet, as the door opened and Clarence entered. "You will learn his determination from his own lips."

XIII.

CLARENCE ANNOUNCES HIS DECISION.

As Clarence slowly advanced he had to encounter the fierce glances thrown at him by Rainald, who now felt eager, and indeed resolved, to pick a quarrel with him.

Speak freely," said Sir Hugh to his nephew. "I have told Captain Fanshaw all."

"Yes, sir," cried Rainald, "your uncle has informed me of his intentions towards you. He declares that he conceives himself bound by a promise made before the birth of his daughter, to bestow the bulk of his property upon you. I cannot for a moment believe that, however beneficial the arrangement may be to yourself, you will allow such an improper disposition to be made, and deprive Miss Chetwynd of the property to which she is justly entitled."

"You will not dispute my uncle's right to deal with his property

"As

as he may deem fit?" rejoined Clarence, deeply offended. to myself, I have no explanation to give you. I came here to speak to Sir Hugh."

"Shall I retire?" said Rainald to the baronet.

"No, sir, remain," rejoined Sir Hugh. "But do not blame my nephew. If wrong be done in the matter, it is not by him."

"Let him act fairly and honourably, then," cried Rainald. “He has an opportunity of proving himself a gentleman, and I shall judge him by his conduct on this occasion."

"Had you waited for a moment, Captain. Fanshaw," said Clarence, sternly, "you would have seen that the hasty opinion you have formed of me is unjust and uncalled for. I have no intention of depriving my cousin Lucetta of any portion of her property. I came here to prevent the chance of misunderstanding between you and Sir Hugh, and I trust I have not come too late. I came to say that I absolve Sir Hugh of his promise. I came to say that I decline the gift of property to which I have neither right nor title; or, if it must be bestowed upon me, in accordance with the promise made to my mother by my uncle, I shall instantly restore it to Lucetta. This, sir, is what I came to say."

There was so much dignity in Clarence's looks and manner as he uttered these words, that his uncle regarded him with admi

ration.

Rainald did not hesitate a moment, but stepping up to him, offered him his hand, and sincerely apologised for his intemperate language.

During the scene just described the side-door communicating with the large drawing-room had been left partially open, though the circumstance had escaped the notice of Sir Hugh, and from this door, to the great surprise of all present, Lucetta now issued, closely followed by Lady Danvers, and more slowly by Mr. Mainwaring and Major Trevor.

Walking quickly up to her cousin, her cheeks glowing and her bright eyes glittering with tears, she yielded to an irrepressible burst of gratitude, flung her arms round his neck and kissed him, heedless of the presence of Rainald, who looked on in astonish

ment.

"Thank you, my dear cousin!-a thousand times thank you!" she cried. "You have acted nobly, most nobly, and have proved yourself a true Chetwynd. I have overheard all that has passed, and have heard nothing that does not do you the greatest credit. I know it was very wrong in me to listen, but I cannot feel sorry for doing so, since I should not otherwise have known you as I know you now. But I cannot allow you to give way thus to your generous impulses. I cannot-will not-accept all the property from you."

"Cousin," faltered Clarence, who was deeply moved, "I think you will understand me when I say that I will accept no part of this property. It is not mine by right, and I should hold myself in contempt if I could deprive you of any portion of it. Your father has bound himself by a rash vow, which he has worthily fulfilled. But I cannot profit by his rashness-least of all, at your expense. Little did I dream, when I first gazed upon your picture, that I should be able to say to you, as I do now, 'Be mistress of this old mansion, Lucetta-be mistress of those lordly domains-be mistress of all that your father would have bestowed upon me and may you long, long enjoy them-blest with every happiness!'

"I declare this is quite a sentimental drama," said Lady Danvers, drying her tears, "and quite worth coming from Brighton to wit

"My happiness will be incomplete, cousin," said Lucetta, with much emotion, "unless you remain with us."

"Yes, yes, I must insist on that," cried Sir Hugh.

"I have no right to meddle in the matter, or I would say that I insist too," added Rainald.

"Such

"No, Lucetta," said Clarence, in a melancholy voice. happiness cannot be mine. It would be pleasant to me to dwell here, to be near you, but it cannot be. I shall leave this house immediately, never, perhaps, to return."

"Leave it-never to return!" cried Lucetta. "Indeed you shall do no such thing, you perverse creature. What is the use of discovering a cousin, and liking him—yes, liking him, do you hear that, sir?-if he is to disappear as soon as found? Why, you have only just seen me-only just seen Rainald—only just seen papaand yet you talk of leaving us. But you shan't go, that I can tell you, sir. Shall he, papa ?"

"Undoubtedly not, if I can prevent him," rejoined Sir Hugh. "Why have you come to this resolution, Clarence? Stay here, since all desire it."

"Stop with us and be happy," said Lucetta, taking his hand, and regarding him with a bewitching smile.

Clarence was momentarily subdued, but he successfully resisted the fascination.

"No, Lucetta," he said. "Even you cannot persuade me to stay."

Then pressing his lips to her hand, he relinquished it, murmuring, "Farewell, for ever!"

"Not for ever?" she cried.

"Yes, for ever," he repeated.

"Stay!" cried Sir Hugh; "I forbid you to depart."

"Forbid me!" exclaimed Clarence,, haughtily. "I do not re

cognise your authority over me. depart. Farewell, sir."

You may be glad that I do

And, with a valedictory glance to all around, he quitted the room; such determination being written in his countenance that no one attempted to detain him.

Lucetta burst into tears, and turning away from Rainald, threw herself into her aunt's arms. Her ladyship immediately produced her vinaigrette, fearing her niece was about to faint. All the rest of the company looked confounded, and a few words only were exchanged in whispers.

All at once the trampling of horses was heard outside, and there was a sudden movement towards a window that commanded a side-view of the drive. Clarence was then seen galloping off, followed by a groom charged with a small portmanteau.

"Is it he?" cried Lucetta, raising her head with a scared look. "Yes, he is gone," rejoined Rainald, who was among the spectators at the window, "and he has not once looked back." "Gone for ever!" ejaculated Lucetta.

And she again buried her head in her aunt's bosom.

When his nephew quitted the room, Sir Hugh withdrew from the others and sank into a chair. He was roused by a slight touch on the shoulder, and, looking up, beheld La Hogue, whose countenance wore a diabolical grin. How he came there Sir Hugh knew not, but there he stood.

"You have contrived to settle with your nephew, Sir Hugh," said La Hogue, in a low voice, "but you have not yet settled with me. My turn is to come. Clarence has shown himself very generous, and has given up a fortune and a fair lady, but your daughter's marriage won't take place without my consent."

End of the Third Book.

OUR NORLAND.

BY CHARLES SANGSTER.

WE have no Dryads in our woods,
No Fairies in the hills;
No Nereids in the crystal floods,
Nor Undines in the rills;
No jolly Satyrs, such as he
The gentle Spenser found
In that rare dream of chivalry
With which his muse is crown'd;

No sacred Fauns, no Druid Oaks,
No sylvan Deities;

No Ouphs to hold along the brooks
Their midnight revelries;
No Ogres guarding castle keeps,
No Witches wild and lean,
No crafty Syrens from the deeps,
Nor Genii from the green;

No mellow-throated Nightingales,
Drowsing the wilds with song,
While echo wakes through all the vales
The sweet notes to prolong;
No Larks, at heaven's coral gate
To celebrate the morn
In fiery strains, and passionate
Wild bursts of lyric scorn ;—

But we have birds of plumage bright,
And warblers in our woods,
Whose hearts are well-springs of delight,
Whose haunts the solitudes-
The dim, untrodden wilderness,
Where wildness reigns supreme;
God's solemn temple none the less
Than some stupendous dream;
Vast e'en beyond the thought of man,
Magnificently grand;

Coeval with the first rough plan

From Nature's artist-hand;
Deep within deep, and wild on wild,
In savage roughness rolled;

Grandeur on grandeur heaped and piled
Through lusty days of old.

The lofty cape, the stern-brow'd peak,
Round which the mists are curl'd,
As if nature gave us, in some freak,
The freedom of the world.

Broad inland seas and lovely lakes
Their tributes seaward pour;
And cataracts whose thunder shakes
The granite-belted shore.