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of the port, to retain this post became a work of difficulty; and, with a word of adieu to Lucy, he drew away. On the return of the carriage soon afterwards, Mr. Ravensburg had resigned his steed to his groom, and was pacing the port, side by side, with Isabel de Laca.

"This night shall end it," murmured Lucy, closing her aching eyes when the unwelcome vision had passed. "An explanation shall take place between us, and I will return his love-gifts to him, or-retain them for ever."

In the evening, according to his promise to Lucy, Francis Ravensburg was on his way to the chateau occupied by Mrs. Chard, which was situated about half a mile from the town, when he encountered Captain Carew: the captain having been a dinner-guest at the chateau.

"A day too late for the fair, Mr. Ravensburg, if you are bound for Mrs. Chard's," was his accosting salutation. "They have left the house for the rooms. There goes the carriage," he added, pointing to the upper road.

Who have left it?" demanded Frank, haughtily.

"She seemed inclined to

"Mrs. Chard and Lucy, with Madame de Larme. She dined with us." "Miss Chard?" uttered Frank, interrogatively, looking as if he would willingly have cut the gallant captain in two. "Didn't I say so?" retorted the captain. remain at home-blooming for a whole evening alone, like the Last Rose of Summer-but I persuaded her out of the romantic idea." "Coxcomb!" muttered Frank between his closed teeth. shame of Lucy to be so changeable."

"But it is a

Retracing his steps, he called in at his apartments, to make some alteration in his dress for the rooms, whither he now determined to proceed. And there he found a letter waiting for him, summoning him to England on urgent business. His first care was to ascertain at what hour the first steamer for England quitted the port. He found one would leave for London at three in the morning, and secured a berth in it. Some few other preparations were necessary, and by the time they were completed, it was hard upon ten o'clock. He then took his way to the rooms, where he expected to find Lucy.

"By the way," he soliloquised, as he walked on with a quick step, "did not Isabel say something on the port to-day about their leaving tomorrow for England? It was just as that bustle occurred when little Judd was thrown from his horse, and I lost her afterwards. I do hope it is so she is the sweetest girl (I can never think of her as a married woman) I know-next to Lucy. By Jove! to have her as compagnon de voyage would reconcile one to all its customary inconveniences."

With the last consoling reflection he reached the rooms, and giving his hat to an attendant, entered the heated dancing-apartment. But his eyes roved round it in vain in search of Lucy, and he made his way to the card-room.

"Where is Lucy?" he inquired of Mrs. Chard, who was of course amongst the players; her anxious countenance betokening that her luck was not great.

"Do procure me an ice, Mr. Ravensburg," was her answer; "I am dying for one. Those servants never come into this room, where they are most wanted."

"But where can I find Lucy ?"

"The king again!" exclaimed the agitated woman. "Captain Carew, what luck you have! The ice, pray, Mr. Ravensburg."

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"And Lucy?" repeated Frank, bringing her the ice with all speed. Lucy? Oh, she would not come to-night; she remained at home. Some whim, I suppose. You deal, captain."

"You told me Miss Chard was on her way hither," cried Ravensburg, darting a ferocious look at the sparkling player.

"My good fellow, I thought she was.

But who is to be answerable for a woman's mind? It shifts as often as a weathercock. Game, Mrs. Chard."

"I would give a trifle if I could recollect where it was I saw that walking jeweller," ejaculated Frank. "I know it was at nothing creditable. The remembrance haunts me like a nightmare, and yet I can make of it nothing tangible. I must write to Lucy from London and explain," thought he; "it is too late to go there now."

"Isabel!" he exclaimed, seeking out the young baroness, " did you tell me, or not, that you thought of going to England ?"

"To-morrow, by the Dover boat."

"And I start to-night at three."

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Nay," she exclaimed, you are joking."

"I never jest with you, Isabel. I am called to London on business." "Then delay your voyage until to-morrow. It would be so delightful for us to travel together."

The very words he had previously uttered to himself.

"Papa and mamma can take care of each other, and you can take care of me," she laughed. "Don't say No, Mr. Ravensburg."

"It will make but little difference, only a few hours, in the time of my arrival in town," he soliloquised, " and I shall escape that horrid, long passage as well. I will wait-and in that case I can see Lucy tomorrow."

And communicating his decision to Madame de Laca, just as the music struck up a waltz, he placed his arm on her delicate waist, round which glittered a zone of jewels, and whirled her away until her head was dizzy.

And there stood Lucy Chard on the balcony of her mother's chateau ; there had she stood ever since seven o'clock, watching the road that led from the town, with a flushed cheek, and a heart sick with expectation. Every fresh footstep, sounding in the stillness of the night, was listened to; but long before its owner came in sight, the strangely-fine ear of love had told her it was not that of Francis Ravensburg. The stars came out, shining brilliantly. Lucy looked up at the constellations: she knew their places, where they were, or would be later in the year. The great bear, creeping on; the giant Orion, with its rapid strides; the lady in her chair; the united Pleiades, and the many others; some were there, some not: but she turned to look, in vain, for Sirius, beautiful amongst the stars. The sound of the church clocks, telling nine, was borne towards her on the breeze. "This is the impatience of a lover!” she exclaimed, with a burst of anguish. She took a costly trinket from her bosom, which he had placed there but three little months before, recalling his words as he did so. And she began reasoning with herself

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that he could not be false to her-oh never, never! And so the moments dragged by until the bells told ten, and then she laid her aching forehead upon the cold iron of the balcony. Had she ever heard the old Chinese proverb?

"To expect one, who does not come to lie in bed, and not to sleep: to serve, and not to be advanced, are three things enough to kill a man." To expect one who does not come: and he more to her than earth; to dread that even then, whilst she was watching in vain mockery, he was with her rival: shedding upon her the heaven of his presence; whispering passionate vows that once were hers, in her ear; pressing his coveted kisses on her lips! Reader, if you have never experienced this, do not attempt to guess at the anguish of Lucy Chard.

But

Her mother's voice aroused her long after, scolding her for being out there in the cold. Lucy entered. She could not avoid observing, in spite of the painful anxiety of her own feelings, that Mrs. Chard seemed to be unnaturally excited, pacing the room with a troubled step. full of suspense and suspicion about her lover, wishing, perhaps, to know the worst, she nerved herself to the task, turned her face from her mother, and spoke.

"Did you happen to see Mr. Ravensburg ?"

“See him, yes. Laca when I left."

He was at the rooms, waltzing away with Isabel de

A cold shiver ran through Lucy's veins, and her sight seemed to leave her; but save for the terrible paleness of her features, no outward emotion was visible. All her fearful doubts were realised; her worst jealousy was confirmed: Francis Ravensburg had deserted her for another. Lucy, you do not look well," observed Mrs. Chard; "you must have been out of your mind to stand on that balcony. The nights are chilly now. Take a glass of wine."

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"Not any, thank you," she replied. "I am tired, and will go to bed. Good night-

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"Oh," interrupted Mrs. Chard, "Mr. Ravensburg told me he was going to England to-night."

Lucy let fall the handle of the door, and turned.

"I think he said so. I hardly know. My luck has been wretched, Lucy. I wish to heaven I had never touched a card! I wish to heaven I had never played with Captain Carew!"

"But Mr. Ravensburg?" uttered Lucy.

"I don't recollect much what he said.

Going upon business, I think Go and ask the baroness to-morrow; no doubt she can tell you all about it."

it was.

"Good night, mamma," said the unhappy girl.

The steamer for Dover was to start at one o'clock the following day, but, previously to that, Mr. Ravensburg went to the chateau. Lucy was out. Mrs. Chard, alarmed at Lucy's pale cheeks and absent manner when she rose, had hurried her out for a drive, sorely, sorely against her will. He waited, hoping they would return; but at length he was obliged to go, for time pressed. Not with a quick step, however, for he still hoped to meet her, if but to have one single parting word; and upon encountering a great bathing-omnibus on his way he leaped upon its step, thinking it might contain Lucy, to the untold-of scandal of its chief

occupant, a "sister" from the convent of the Dames Ursulines, who was conducting some younger "sisters' to take their daily plunge in

the sea.

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But Ravensburg jumped off the step quicker than he had leaped on it, for the bell, giving notice of the starting of the steamer, was sounding in his ear. He tore along, and halloed with all his might. The steamer was putting off from the side, and its captain was already on the paddle-box.

"Heigh! boat! Stop, captain!" cried the bedizened Carew, who stood close to the steamer, his chains and his shining stones glittering in the sun. "Here's a passenger coming full tear. You'd better wait." "We are behind our time already," grumbled the captain. away there! Take care of them cords."

"Shove

"But here he is," screamed Carew; "it is Mr. Ravensburg. Just wait half a moment. I know he has important business in England."

"Make haste, then," roared the captain, directing his voice to the distance. "Hold hard a minute, lads."

"Thank you, thank you," panted Ravensburg to Carew, as he tossed his permit to the police-officer, and leaped on to the paddle-box.

"Yes," added the sailor-captain, "you may thank that gentleman for being taken to England to-day, Mr. Ravensburg. I should have been some yards up the harbour."

Ravensburg looked to the quay, and again nodded his thanks to Captain Carew; but on the latter's countenance was so strange an expression of triumph-of triumph over him—that he stood aghast. But he thought it might be the glare that deceived him, and, descending to the deck, he clasped the offered hand of Isabel de Laca, and seated himself beside her.

"Do you see that steamer?" demanded Captain Carew, an hour afterwards, of Lucy, pointing to the Dover boat, which had now traversed half her distance, as he stood at the north-western window of Mrs. Chard's drawing-room, which commanded a wide expanse of sea. Lucy turned her eyes towards the Channel.

"You are looking at the wrong one-what a beautifully clear day it is!-the one on the left is coming from Dover; the one on the right is nearing it it is the latter I mean.'

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"What of it?" questioned Lucy.

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"It contains Frank Ravensburg and his lady-love," whispered the captain, fixing his eyes on Lucy's crimsoned and rebellious countenance, as he seized her hands. "He is there with Isabel de Laca; his dearest Isabel, as I heard him call her last night. Such terms can only exist between the closest and sweetest ties: even I have not yet addressed such to you."

The words were bad enough, but to be thus kept face to face with that man was, to Lucy, horrible.

"Unhand me, Captain Carew," she indignantly exclaimed. dare you so address me?-how dare touch me?"

you

"How

He dared to do more, for he bent down and kissed her, still keeping her a prisoner.

"Marry first, Lucy," he said, unheeding her anger-" marry first, and the triumph will be yours. We will go forth and blazon our happiness in his face; we, the loving bridegroom and bride.”

But the climax of indignation gave Lucy unnatural strength; she wrenched her hands from him, and pulled the bell-rope violently. "Begone," she cried, spurning him with her foot; and I order the servants to thrust you forth."

"another moment,

He seized again her trembling hands, he looked in her agitated, indignant countenance, and spoke in slow and measured terms:

"Do so, Lucy Chard; but know, that by so doing, you destroy your mother."

There was truth, terrible truth, in his words and aspect; and Lucy, with a sensation of fear that approached to suffocation, motioned the coming servants from the room, and sinking on a chair, signed to him to explain himself, but to approach her not.

It was a humiliating position-a violation alike of human and of nature's laws for a mother to be kneeling at the feet of her only child, suing for forgiveness, praying to be saved from poverty and exposure; yet in the autumn we are writing of, in the chateau inhabited by Mrs. Chard, that scene was enacted.

"Take all, take all !" cried the ill-fated girl, clasping her hands in agony, and, in her turn, kneeling to her mother. "Sacrifice my fortune to his rapacity; I will never think of it, never ask for it; but oh, spare me!"

"He holds bonds for all, Lucy," returned the miserable woman. "I, your sole guardian, have violated my trust. Money, estates, jewels, furniture, all have long been his; but God knows that when I in my madyours, I did it with the hope that I might redeem what I

ness staked
had lost."
"Oh this play!-this infatuation!" moaned Lucy.
so blindly rush on to their ruin ?"

"How can people

"Make the worst of it, Lucy: you cannot know half its horrors, the hell it creates. Reproach me-spurn me-it will be relief compared with what I have of late endured."

"I would give my very life for you, mother, to ensure your happiness," she faintly said; "but I cannot sacrifice myself to this man."

"It would be no sacrifice, Lucy," pleaded Mrs. Chard: "did I think so, I would never urge it. Your girl's thoughts have been wound round Francis Ravensburg, and all others appear to you distasteful. But now that he has forsaken you, gone to England with that Spanish woman, whom he is about to make his wife, would you be so lost in respect to yourself as to let him retain his hold upon your heart? Would you let the world suspect it?"

Lucy pressed her hands upon her eyes; upon her throbbing temples: it seemed as if it would be a mercy could she shut out for ever the light of day.

"Unless you consent to marry him, Lucy, when he will return all my bonds, retaining only such as belong to you, there must be an exposure, she exclaimed, passionately; "no earthly help can avert it. For the poverty I should care comparatively little, but I will not survive exposure. Lucy! I speak calmly, rationally, firm in my own purpose. Child! it is a fearful thing to deliberately destroy a mother."

Captain Carew entered, an accepted suitor. Mrs. Chard had murmured some heartfelt words of thanks to Lucy, and Captain Carew ad

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