Mr. Maxwell was of the same opinion; but the dislike which the Earl bore to Fitzormond's uncle could, he feared, never be got over.

As he had anticipated, Fitzormond shortly became acquainted with Lady Louisa, and found it impossible to resist loving her; her conversation was so engaging, her manners so elegant, and her temper so gentle, that the most coldhearted being living must have been pleased with her. And the confiding innocent friendship with which she honoured him rendered the fascination complete.

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His visits to the house of Mr. Max-well, where he was sure to meet her, were frequent and long; there he had. the pleasure of walking with her, and attending to her lively and sensible remarks. The musick of her voice, the charming vivacity of her manner, and the irresistible loveliness of her smiling

blue eyes, had power to make him forget every thing but herself; even the fulminations of his uncle were in her society totally forgotten. But when necessity compelled them to separate, when Lady Louisa was obliged to return to the castle, and Fitzormond to his uncle, then it was that he lamented his dependant situation, and the inexorable temper of him who had it so amply in his power to contribute to his happiness; but who had repeatedly of late hinted his determination of abandoning him, and cutting him off with a shilling, if he dared to form a connection so offensive.

The frequent absence of Fitzormond from home had betrayed to his uncle the new acquaintance he had formed; and when the latter questioned him on the subject, and declared his dislike of every person connected with the Earl, the noble spirit of his nephew, which scorned concealment, would no longer

suffer him to disguise his real sentiments. He expressed his opinion of Mr. Maxwell and his family in the warmest terms of approbation; and of Lady Louisa, as a being of a superior order, to whom his heart had been entirely devoted, since the moment he had the happiness of knowing her excellencies; that nothing should tempt him to forego the hope he had entertained of making an interest in her heart; and should he be so fortunate, he should consider it a blessing which would supply the loss of every other good. He declared that his sincere respect and attachment to his uncle had been the only reason which had hitherto prevented him from throwing himself at the feet of her he so tenderly loved, and soliciting a return of affection; but he had hoped, when his uncle knew how very amiable she was, and how necessary to ensure the happiness of a nephew he had always professed to love, that

he should be able to obtain his consent to his addressing her, which would doubly enhance the satisfaction her acceptance of his suit would afford him.

In the utmost rage, Mr. Courland declared, that his aversion to the whole family was so firmly fixed, that nothing should alter it; that he had vowed never to relax his resentment of the affront he had received from the Earl, and was still determined to adhere to it; that, dear as his nephew had always been to him, he would cast him off from his affection for ever, without a particle of regret, if he continued to entertain sentiments so repugnant to his feelings. Did he think that his wealth should go to enrich the family of Belhaven ? or, that he would be mean enough to make the first advances towards a reconciliation with his greatest enemy? No sooner would he see his nephew perish, and his whole for-tune bestowed upon beggars.

The love Fitzormond talked of, he said, was romantic and ridiculous; that it was beneath a man of spirit to entertain; and that if he valued his friendship, he would dismiss it from his mind for ever if not, he was no longer to consider himself a nephew of his; and finally, he threatened to take measures that should prevent him ruining himself, and for ever disoblige him.

Much as Fitzormond loved his uncle, he could not brook this violent and contumelious language, or think of giving up that love which he found dearer to his heart than any thing else in life; sooner, he felt; he could resign his existence to please his uncle, than his af fection for Lady Louisa.

He now considered his uncle selfish and unjust in his resentments; and, therefore, no longer to be regarded in an affair which concerned his own happiness so intimately: he determined hence