And in what different situations were they. Herself surrounded with difficulties; leading a life of solitude amid the bustle of the metropolis; unknown, and unnoticed; obscure, and friendless: and Major Douglas courted, followed, flattered, and admired; moving in circles of gaiety and fashion; whose notice conferred favour, whose presence moved applause. He was only waiting in town the recovery of the Sovereign, who was indisposed, to be presented on his return from abroad; when royal favour would be added to the popularity that already followed his steps. All this popularity and eulogium were only so many appeals to Eliza's feelings; and it was well for her, that her duty divided her thoughts with these strongly revived impressions.. Mr. Massenburg's recovery was slow: his health had been too long declining, for it to be speedily re-established; still it improved, and Eliza watched the progres sive amendment eagerly and anxiously. The acceptance of her endeavours to amuse him was in itself a degree of success, and a cordiality and confidence was gradually establishing between them, before unknown to either. Eliza was one day passing down Bondstreet, when she was struck with the sight of a child, seemingly between three and four years of age, crying violently: a few people were gathering round her, and by their eager questions, as to her name and place of abode, evidently added to the child's terror. Compassionating her grief and tears, Eliza stooped, and in that soft voice, which few who heard could resist, drew the little girl's attention to herself, who threw her arms around Eliza's neck, and, almost suffocated with sobs, exclaimed, "Send these men away! don't let them touch me! Take me to my mother!" Eliza was much distressed; a crowd was gathering round them, and she be came sensible that she was an object of general scrutiny. Her pale cheek crimsoned with the consciousness, and she looked round for some place of refuge; a confectioner's shop was close at hand, and, raising her young charge in her arms, she carried her in. But one eye had seen her, that she had not seen; and one heart had throbbed, that thought never to have throbbed again; and that eye and that heart belonged to Major Douglas. CHAPTER XV. Much have I struggled-much endured. I found H. NEELE, YES, Major Douglas, the idol of public favour, had returned from those perils which war and climate had threatened. He came to adoring relations, to an admiring world, with every outward good, yet wanting that within-a heart at ease. Nor yet could he taste the alleviations a pure sympathy might have afforded, for pride forbade the expression of agony; and secret were the pangs which wrung his heart. It was only in those fits of absence, into which he fell, and which no efforts could prevent, the cessation of a wearying cheerfulness, the smile of nature changed into the smile of compulsion, these were all the expressions which devouring misery might find. Instead of the elastic spring of foot, his tread was firmer, his air sterner, his countenance less subject to those rapid changes, which had once distinguished it; the tones of his voice, from its once gentle cadence, had become more commanding. He could not shake from his soul its sadness: travel, and war, and conquest, and repose, had been alike insufficient : yet often when the gaze of a fond mother met his eye, and he remembered that he could not suffer alone, his voice melted into tenderness; and he would make that most distressing of all efforts to seem the thing he was not. There no more existed that joyous expression, that carries undisputed conviction of a heart at ease. There was still the same kind consideration for the wants of others; but in actions |