withdrawing her from the subject, he again began to discourse on domestic concerns, spoke affectionately of Montchensey and Helen, and Hubert Gray, acknowledging the latter as his son; a piece of intelligence which evidently afforded her peculiar delight.

It was at this precise moment that Shakspeare, with Montchensey, Hubert, and Helen, joined them as if by accident, and were beyond measure gratified in observing the calmness, and even cheerfulness, with which Bertha received them, and entered into conversation; the change, indeed, appeared all but miraculous, considering the suddenness of its accomplishment, and the length of time to which she had been a prey to the most oppressive melancholy. To Shakspeare, in particular, whose unexampled kindness to her family had been mentioned by Raymond in the terms which it merited, she paid the most marked attention, giving him her hand with a look that spoke the depth of her feelings, whilst tears of gratitude trickled down her cheeks. Indeed, had she known the full extent of her obligations to this great master of the human mind, the sense of it might have

been too much for a frame delicate as hers, and which had just undergone a severe and agitating trial; for we have to inform our readers, that it was under Shakspeare's suggestion and arrangement that the fortunate experiment we have just recorded had been made. By his express wish he had been admitted to the presence of Bertha for some days previous to the expected arrival of Raymond Neville, and had cautiously communicated to her the intelligence of her brother's existence; but nothing seemed to shake her firm conviction that he was no more; that her conduct had occasioned his misfortunes and his death; and that she was nightly visited by his accusing spirit. Perceiving, after repeated trials, that neither argument nor persuasion availed aught, but rather irritated and confirmed her in her belief, he recommended to Montchensey the plan of a sudden excitement, of a sudden recall of the intellect to its former imagery and associations, an experiment which we have seen succeeded so completely as to disperse the mental hallucination like a dream.

It was still to be apprehended, however, that the advantage thus rapidly acquired might not

be permanent, and it became necessary, therefore, to watch, and instantly to counteract, the smallest aberration; and, in fact, notwithstanding Raymond Neville spent much of his time with her, frequently dining and passing the day in her own apartment, yet would the illusory ideas for the first fortnight often recur. They became, however, gradually more faint and transient, and at the end of a month, after years of partial seclusion, she once more returned to her place in the family circle.

Content and cheerfulness unalloyed now reigned at Wyeburne Hall, and beneath the cottage of Simon Fraser; and Shakspeare saw himself surrounded by those on whom, under Providence, he had been the means of conferring health and peace, liberty and happiness. Obligations great as these, might have been felt, indeed, almost oppressive from any hand save that of Shakspeare; but from him the blessing came doubled by the mode in which it was bestowed, so entirely did it seem the result of pure goodness of heart, unmixed with any sense of conscious superiority. He sate among them, indeed, with all the simplicity of the most un

pretending of mankind, yet not without exciting, at times, that sense of grateful awe, which we might suppose to be felt from the presence of a being of beneficence and intelligence beyond the lot of humanity; for when the vast range and depth of his intellectual and imaginative powers were considered, and these were contrasted with the sweetness, the gentleness, and simplicity of his disposition and manners, he appeared to be lifted a step above his species; yet were these latter qualities so openly and perpetually called into play, that any humiliating feeling of superiority was lost in a cherished affection for the man. There was that, in short, about Shakspeare which rendered him peculiarly delightful to the young, the ingenuous, and the unaffected; and, indeed, so strong was the expression of benevolence and kindness depicted in his countenance, that it uniformly attracted even the notice of children, whose paradise it was to play about his knees, and struggle for his approving smile.

That he should be, therefore, almost idolized at Wyeburne Hall, cannot, after what has been related, seem strange, nor that he should be in

a more especial manner an object of enthusiastic love and admiration both to Hubert and Helen. Indeed, long and secretly attached as these young people had been to each other, and favoured as that attachment now was, by the approbation of all parties, it yet appeared as if their approaching happiness could not be complete, unless their admirable friend were present to witness it; and it was accordingly agreed, that their union should take place before he left the Hall.

We have now, therefore, to add, that in consequence of this determination, preparations for the joyful occasion were immediately commenced; nor among the few friends who were invited must we omit to record that Ben Jonson was not forgotten. He arrived on the day preceding the ceremony, and only a few hours after Agnes Clifford and her sister, who were destined to be the bridemaids.

Never had Wyeburne beheld a `day of such rejoicing as the ensuing morning ushered in. Every eye in the village sparkled with delight, for Hubert and Helen had been the favourites of all, and blessings without number were now