"Had we never loved so blindly- Never met, or never parted-" He could not conclude the verse; and for the succeeding week, which he passed in solitude and gloom, was in fact the broken-hearted lover. The adieus of the unfortunate Florence were read again and again; and, as by a strange fatality, so often was the name and image of her unconscious rival brought before the mind of Julian. By degrees the happiness which the jealous apprehensions of the one anticipated he should some day enjoy with the other, became a favourite subject of his speculations. He felt, it is true, while thus indulging them, guilty of a heartless infidelity to Lady Florence; but still the thoughts of Evelyn would recur to his mind, bringing with them almost a sanctifying influence; and, at any rate, a tranquillizing one. He thought of her in the sphere which she was so fitted to adorn the mistress of his home-the guardian spirit which was to direct his future life. At Oakwood, how would she throw life and lustre over its halls! what gladness would she diffuse! what good would she communicate! And then, what joy to place her in so fair a home! Pleasure danced in his eyes whilst these ideas passed through his mind. What happy anticipations! what a life was promised him of felicity and virtue! But, then again his brow grew dark; the image of the heart-broken woman he had loved interposed between these joyful prospects. Was he so soon to show the lightness of his vows-a cold forgetfulness of her and her misfortunes? It must not be. Her past devotion called for consideration. He would spend a period of widowhood, ere she should learn that he had dared to be happy with another. He would travel, and at the end of a year or two, return to claim his cousin for his bride; while, through the good offices of Blanche, the kindly feelings which he knew existed for him, should be kept alive, and fanned into a warmer na ture. A letter from Lady de Cressy made some change in these satisfactory arrangements. It told him that Evelyn was ill and suffering; that deep dejection had taken possession of the once lively girl; that she spoke much and anxiously of his continued absence from their happy circle, from which there was now no power to withhold him; and that although she had never mentioned his neglect with reference to herself, Blanche fully believed his inattention and indifference was the secret cause of all her sorrow. That day Julian passed in solitude, pacing with measured steps the marble length of Oakwood Hall; his night was fearfully disturbed and restless, but when his valet obeyed the summons of his unusually early bell, he was desired to order his travelling carriage and four horses to be at the door in less than two hours; and before a tardy April sun had well arisen over the fir-crowned hills of Oakwood, Julian was on his road to Riversdale. CHAPTER XIII. "Oh! weep for those, the weary'd, worn, On reaching the pretty village of Riversdale, Julian left his carriage, and proceeded immediately to the Abbey. He was ushered into the library, where he was soon joined by Captain Cecil and his son; and without waiting for any questions or remarks upon his sudden appearance, his story was at once and briefly told. With perfect and estimable frankness for it was joined with deep contrition - he gave them the history of his entanglement with Lady Florence, and the interruption it had offered to his affection for Evelyn. He |