'dian of extensive possessions, as well as the greatest blessing those enjoyments can bestow. The fox-hunting squires of days gone by, were certainly a libel on the race, but I hardly know whether they may not be deemed preferable to many rich landowners of our times, whose chief aim seems to be, to fritter away amongst-what they call, good London society, their time and substance in what is called the season; and, during the remainder of the year, use their house as a receptacle for stray grandees and idle fashionables, on whom they expend their hospitality to the exclusion often of old friends and near relatives, from whom nothing is to be gained in return, and who, being birds of a different feather, would probably be looked down upon with contempt by the rest "And the wives and daughters," interposed Mrs. Devereux, "what ruination to them must be this state of things! Albert, when you are in Parliament, as in all likelihood you will be next year, I trust you will not expose your wife to that deteriorating atmosphere, from which the most carefully nurtured mind can scarcely preserve, untainted, its original spotless purity." Mr. Devereux, did not agree with his lady on this point. On the contrary, he thought it said but little for the right-mindedness of that woman, who could not pass unscathed through the ordeal of even dissipated society; though it was far from his wish to recommend the pursuance of such a mode of existence. Albert told Mrs. Devereux, he hoped that for many years to come, Sybil and himself would find the society of one another sufficient to preclude the necessity of roaming elsewhere in search of further happiness; and, in contemplating his Parliamentary prospects, they had already meditated on his occasional hasty trips to town-his returns from such expeditions, after his brief absences, only enhancing their mutual enjoyment; in short, they fully intended, as far as possible, to personify that blest character described by the poet in the following lines : 66 Happy the man who to these shades retires Then in answer to the waving of Sybil's hand, the young husband sprung from the window with graceful alacrity, and in a few moments was by her side, his arm encircling her slender waist, as they gazed down into the crystaline waters of the river, which, fiercely and impetuously foaming, environed them with its spray, glitteriug like siivery drops in the sunshine of that bright February morning. Mr. Devereux remarked, that if his presentiments proved true, his son-in-law would one day find his talents somewhat interfere with the schemes of rural felicity he had formed. Such a gem would never be suffered, by those who discovered its value, to shine in secret, even if youthful ambition did not draw him forth. But the mind of Mrs. Devereux, was set perfectly at ease, at least for the present, and henceforth could give itself up to the new and pleasing Occupation now afforded by the maternal prospects of her daughter. And what with con | stantly watching her every movement-the frequent lectures she administered to the young mother expectant, while under her eye, followed up during their separations by letters of injunctions and category, added to the numerous important arrangements which engaged her time for several months, she was kept fully employed and amused, until she again repaired to Llewellyn Castle, in order to preside at the birth of a grandchild, with the comfortable feeling of selfimportance, which ever exercised its dominion over the good lady, that the success of the whole affair, both as regarded the mother and child, would be entirely owing to her individual skill, and careful exertions on the important occasion. THERE was certainly one little deviation from the preconcerted plan of Mrs. Devereux. She had fully intended that the expected infant should be a son and heir, and lo! in his stead, a little girl was placed in her arms; the first and last act of presumption, of which that sweet being was ever known to be guilty. But then, as the excellent lady herself sagely remarked, as if in extenuation of having been at fault in this instance-this was a point on which it was most likely to err-certainly one a little above human prescience! and then she composedly superintended the alteration of the baby's caps, and offered me her congratulations, on the prospect of my promised Sybil, being in readiness for my services-for the exercise of my educational talents, a year or two earlier than she would otherwise have been. But here, again, she was somewhat mistaken. The little being, now under discussion, did not prove the Sybil, but the Mary, of whom the reader, in future pages, will hear more-the worthy possessor of, not only the sweetest, but the holiest name ever given to woman-" the name endeared to every christian, from the relation it bears to our Redeemer's history,-the name long consecrated, as having been the first which was pronounced by Jesus after the resurrection." Right glad would Sybil have been to have passed over the next year, as rapidly as I shall convey my readers, again to preside over the birth of a second daughter-the long planned Sybil of Mrs. Devereux-a beautiful dark-eyed babe, the image of the mother, and a complete contrast of the fair little Mary. A year after, the cup of happiness of the young couple seemed filled to the very brim, for an heir was born to them. This event caused universal joy, and the hills and valleys echoed with the music of the bells of the neighboring villages, and the festive sounds of rejoicing from the grateful tenants and peasantry. HAVING thus in a cursory manner sketched the outline (formed by the birth of their children) of the first four or five years of Albert and Sybil's union, there is much in the coloring of that period, which must not be neglected. The prognostics of Mr. Devereux, as to his son-in-law proving too shining a light to realise the lover husband's romantic vision of "The world forgetting, by the world forgot," were fully verified. Albert did not "unbeseem the promise of his spring." Solicited to stand for the county, he was elected by a large majority. His maiden speech, the following session on some important measure, produced an effect most auspicious to his future prospects as a parliamentary orator, for it displayed not only a strength of vigor and intellect extraordinary for one so young, but also gave evidence of a heart replete with sentiments of benevolence and pure morality, which drew upon him irresistibly, not merely the enthusiastic admiration, but the respect and esteem of those who listened to it. Soon this youthful Aristides found himself courted by the great-the truly great! Learn ed men-able statesmen, all held out the hand of fellowship, to the rising young man, whose talents and principles gave promise of so much usefulness; and Albert found these new associates truly accordant with his tastes. And honor and esteem were not alone bestowed on Albert individually. It is well said by an old writer that, "a wife should be a mirror to reflect the disposition of her husband," and so it was with Albert's wife at this period, as all who knew her may bear witness. Alike beautiful did her character shine as a wife, mother, and hostess. In accordance with the earnest wishes of Mrs. Devereux, which, indeed, in this instance, completely harmonized with her own inclinations and those of Albert, she only occasionally accompanied her husband to town. With what strange coincidences are events often linked together! The same day that gained for Albert the honors which finally induced him to fulfil this project-the day, I mean, on which he obtained the honorable official appointment, which rendered obligatory that step which in its end proved of such deep moment-that very day gives me the opportunity of once more introducing to my readers an individual, who has already been brought be fore their notice-one so closely interwoven with the events which sprang from that very step. Albert Lennard, the tory member for the county of Cardiganshire, stood up to address the house. Graceful in manner, easy in utterance, his voice clear and melodious, his sentiments benevolent, his style placid and digni fied, he seemed at first more likely to draw con verts than to force conviction; but, like the flowing of a mighty river, which calmly, but irresistibly pursues its course, sweeping away every impediment which art can raise, or im purity generate-so he, in language the most convincing and overwhelming, continued to pour forth his opinions, producing a powerful and marvellous influence on the minds of his hearers. . He resumed his seat amidst murmurs of applause more deep than loud, and ere these had subsided, there arose from the opposition benches a member, whose appearance afforded a contrast which must have struck most forcibly every eye. The young man who now came forward was of an uncommon height, but instead of the erect, noble carriage, which so peculiarly characterized the form of Aibert, the figure of the individual now under observation, appeared slouching, stooping and ungainly. He commenced speaking; his attitudes were ungraceful in the extreme-his delivery hesitating-his whole manner constrained. 66 Who is that?" whispered Lennard to his neighbor, as the tone of the voice struck familiarly on his ear. "Heaven knows!" was the answer, with a shrug of the shoulders from the person addressed. "Some wild man of the people probably, who would be more at his ease haranguing an Irish mob, I imagine, than when addressing his Majesty's Commons." She felt no desire to exchange for any new and untried pleasures, those dear and increasing delights in which she revelled in her beautiful home; and during her temporary visits to London, Albert's time was so fully occupied by his necessary avocations, and she so entirely acted up to another quaint maxim of conjugal excellence of "never going abroad but in her husband's company," that she had not mixed in any society, save the select few whom Albert, in his leisure hours, drew around him; to whose eyes the lovely and accomplished being they then beheld, pure from the contamination of vice or vanity in the midst of But Albert's attention was again turned upon the ensnaring world, appeared in the light of the speaker, and cries of "hear, hear,” were some fair planet which, elevated above the now rising, in lieu of the suppressed groans other constellations, diffused her mild lustre which had greeted his commencement. Graupon her husband's path alone, adding to its dually warming with the subject, his gesticu-' brilliancy with her silvery radiance. But as lations became animated, his eloquence impetime flew on, and the increasing ties and duties tuous, his style altogether most powerful and of a mother rendered such a plan of proceed- overwhelming. His countenance lighted up ing not only less feasible, but less desirable- | with fire-his keen, black eyes flashed from beg neath his marked eye-brows, and he swept all before him like a pent up torrent, after it has broken the bounds which restrained its onward courses. Now in strains of the most cutting irony now in sallies of Irish wit and humor-which, added to the drollery of voice and gesture he assumed, provoked roars of laughter - now again in splendid bursts of Demosthenes' oratory, which produced an almost miraculous effect! Plaudits long and loud succeeded from his supporters, and from those who advocated the very liberal sentiments which his speech conveyed. The orator had created too great a sensation for his name to have remained for any length of time unknown; and Albert would soon have learnt it, even had he not, on a further glance, been convinced of his identity, that it was Hardress Fitz Hugh who stood before him, the nephew of Lord Castlerosse, who that day, for the first time, had taken his seat in Parliament, as the radical representative of the county of in Ireland. The readers made familiar with the character of the young Tory member, will have no difficulty in following him in imagination, into the society, in which, as a finished gentlemen, as well as a talented and high-minded man, it is most natural he should mix. To the virtuous home where all holy blessings and sacred ties joyfully await his return, they shall soon accompany him, but I must delay that pleasing sketch until I have fulfilled my duty, as a faithful narrator, and tracked the steps of another character-namely, our old acquaintance Hardress Fitz Hugh, on quitting the scene of action, in which he had shone forth as conspicuously -and to those who witnessed his debut, as unexpectedly, as the sparkle of a diamond unwittingly brought to light by the chance stroke of a lapidary on some rough, unpromising stone. Would that we could find his light, sparkling with a lustre, as pure as it was dazzling! I will not being neither capable nor desirous of the undertaking-attempt to give a full coloring to the picture of contrast afforded by Hardress Fitz Hugh, and his rival star of that any, by describing, as might be done, by an abler hand in such matters, the style of friends and partizans amongst which they separately made a triumphant retreat from the House that day, or to decide on the merits of the cause they had defended and advocated; nor do I now wish to follow Hardress Fitz Hugh into his social haunts. It is more with the private characteristics of the man that this narrative is connected, and into them an insight may best be given, by a glance at his home-that is to say, his London domicile at the present time. With perhaps as much astonishment as the inmates of Oakleigh Court in former days, beheld the uncouth, uncivilized Irish youth develope himself into the talented embryo genius, or with equal amazement to the wonder with which his Majesty's Commons listened that day to the rich strain of eloquent oratory, hitherto unrivalled, from the lips of the ungainly Irish democrat, would the beholder have been filled on intrud | ing himself into the abode of Hardress Fitz Hugh. Let us now imagine him entering an apartment, whose very atmosphere seemed to breathe of Genius, Beauty, and Love, in its most refined character; Genius and Beauty displayed in those choice specimens of that most wonderful gift, nature has bestowed on man-Painting and Sculpture. And where was the third attribute-the Love of which I spake? Was Hardress a second Pygmalion, able to breathe into the pictured or sculptured forms, his hand had created, the life of that passion, without which Genius and Beauty themselves are cold and worthless to the human heart? To look upon the man as there he stood, appearing to the visible eye, a strange anomaly to the character of all around him, it might have been questioned, whether aught, save some supernatural power, could have enabled him to excite love in any breast. Some unknown power then he did possess; for never did the incense of that feeling rise with a more ardent, and spontaneous flame, than that which encircled Hardress Fitz Hugh-emanating from the heart of the being whose presence gave to the beauty of that apartment, the life of Love. "Norah!" exclaimed Hardress, after standing for a moment at the door, a sudden flash of animation illuming his countenance, his eye fixed on one spot of that apartment," At your peril move not! Stir not for your life!" And the form of her to whom this singular greeting was addressed, moved not-stirred not, save with those inward emotions, which the will of man has no power to control. The bosom, which before only heaved at intervals, with a gentle sigh, now rose quick and high; the eyes, before so fixed and passionless, turned eagerly upon the speaker, lighted up with an expression, in which the spirit of love, in its utmost power, was fully personified, and hurrying to a seat placed before an easel, on which a canvass was stretched, bearing on its surface the first outline of a picture, the orator, just returned from the House in the full flash of excitement and triumph under the tumultuous escort of a party of fiery, democratic allies, applied himself to his brush and pallet, with the enthusiastic and absorbing energy of a second Reubens, or Guido. But in order that the readers may have before their eyes a clearer idea of the subject, which had thus suddenly and keenly attracted the magnetic power of his genius, I must be more explicit. The object on which the glance of Hardress Fitz Hugh, had rested, on the first entrance, was the figure of a woman kneeling on the ground, as motionless as many of the pictured forms around it-as beautiful in its outline. The face was bent towards the ground, and was partly concealed by the long hair which streamed over her person in tresses of that peculiar pale auburn so rarely seen, but which man's imagina tion confers on our first parent Eve, and which Guido has chosen in his famous painting of the Magdalene. And in the attitude-the whole aspect of the form we are describing, could there have been found a more fitting model for an artist, desiring to embody a similar conception? And it was in the character of that fair penitent of old that Hardress was depicting the being before him. This was, however, no sudden thought of the moment. The painting had been long designed -long begun; but his ambitious genius, bent on its proving a work of perfection, rivalling, if possible, that of the great Italian master, had been so fastidious, that again and again he had abandoned his labors in a fit of angry impatience. It was, therefore, in obedience to his commands, that Norah Mahony, the lovely but unhappy creature he had addressed by that name, had been engaged during his absence in studying according to his directions, the attitudes and positions requisite for his purpose. With this intent she had unbound her luxuriant hair, and with an anxious zeal, which spoke more of love than mere obedience, strove to infuse into her aspect and posture, those characteristics which the artist had described as most favorable to his ideal conception of the subject he wished in her to represent-that moment, when the convicted sinner, having heard from the gracious lips of the holy Judge, words of merciful forbearance, and the gentle but solemn admonition, to" Go, and sin no more," in lieu of the awful condemnation she had expected, stands no longer "in the midst," but sinks at His feet, smitten, indeed, to the very earth with sorrow and shame, but even still more overpowered by wondering love, gratitude, and hope. Miserable, mocking task! to be undertaken by the wretched Norah, for the sake of him who had perverted her mind, stifled the warnings of her conscience, and turned her so far out of the right path into the ways of sin, and the bonds of iniquity, that he could set her to act and study and dwell upon the touching story of her more blest prototype, in impious confidence, that it would awaken in the heart of the wretched girl no desire, like her she personated, to "arise and sin no more.' But the young girl had indeed brought the task to perfection, if no spark of nature was in the attitude in which Fitz Hugh had surprised her, or in the countenance pale as if from intensity of startled thought, which she had at first turned towards him. Alas! had there been any feeling approaching in reality to the character he wished the unfortunate Norah for a brief space to personify, his presence, soon dispersed the charm; and when Hardress-having executed with masterly facility, those touches necessary to give the peculiar position of the figure, raised his eyes hastily to the face, impatient to catch that expression which he had never before beheld on it, the contrast it now afforded, glowing with attributes so discordant, with those he wished to pourtray, startled him into a loud roar of laughter, and throwing down his pencils, and putting aside the easel, with a gesture of drollery, he exclaimed: "Faith! my Norah Creina, is that a countenance for a penitent Magdelene? Ah! but you're a sinner yet, every bit of you my girl! so get up, I've done with you!" She obeyed with joyful alacrity; smiling, The following is the outline of the career of Hardress Fitz Hugh, from the time we lost sight of him, to that which again brings him before our notice. We heard of his having been removed from the peaceful domicile of Mr. Melville - for which he had become so unfit an inmate-to Cambridge, where he equally distinguished himself for brilliant scholarship and dissolute behavior. To such an extent, indeed, did he carry his profligate course, that at last it became too glaring to be overlooked, and a hint was considerately conveyed to Lord Castlerosse, that it would be as well to advise his nephew to withdraw from the university—at least for a time-the high authorities, out of regard for his great and promising talents, being unwilling to to resort to more decided measures. These great and promising talents too, alone prevented the morbidly indolent Lord from washing his hands forever of a nephew, who had thus for the second time entailed upon him the trouble and annoyance of having his quiet broken in upon by a disagreeable correspondence. This clause moved the uncle not only to look with more indulgence on those less grati fying points of his nephew's composition-not now for the first time forced upon his noticeand to reflect that his failings could not be much worse than his own had once been, but it even aroused him to the exertion of ringing for Dennis, the steward, who had been the original means of opening his eyes to the germs of genius in Hardress's nature. Having confided to the old domestic, the present state of affairs, with regard to the hopeful scion of his house, Lord Castlerosse, ordered that pecuniary arrangements should be made without troubling him further about it, for discharging the different debts, which the young man had incurred, and also to enable him in obedience to his peremptory commands, to re pair to the continent for an exile of two years; during which period his lordship insisted, on pain of total disinheritance, that he might not be annoyed by his graceless nephew. The steward promised to execute his commands, and being as we have before seen, a man somewhat superior in mind, he ventured to suggest that if the comparative subordination of a university had proved no check upon the propensi ties of his young master, he would find none in the wide range and enervating soil of the continent, was his-that gift divine, which preserves the indication, and retains the voice of Heaven within us, however man may pervert it: "A beam etherial, sullied and absorbed, "At any rate, I shall be saved the annoyance of having accounts of the vices of this troublesome youth, thrust continually before my eyes," was the reply of the affectionate relative. But if this full-grown man of twenty-one, still requires some one at his heels, to whip him into decent behavior, (good luck to him who undertakes the office) in Heaven's name find some one to be the bear-leader, without tormenting me any more upon the subject-endeavor to pro-ents of this most extraordinary youth! There cure a travelling Mentor proper for the purpose." Thus it was again Dennis's task to execute this momentous commission of finding a guide and monitor for Hardress Fitz Hugh; and as the eagle, has the power of snuffing the scent of carrion, so did the individual, who had been his former selection-the man Desmond-hurry forward with eager assiduity to offer his services on the occasion; being, as he said, on the point of leaving Ireland, to travel in foreign parts, and on the look out for exactly such a situation, as the one in question appeared to be. Dennis looked somewhat shyly on this proposition, retaining no very favorable remembrance of the manner in which this person had fulfilled his duties as a preceptor, nor of the example, he had afforded his pupil. He recollected also having seen of late, in the newspapers which found their way into the steward's room, the name of this man mentioned, as taking a conspicuous part in affairs somewhat at variance with the qualifications requisite to form a suitable companion for a wild youth. But Desmond had a powerful and influential ally ready to favor his cause-one whom Dennis had neither courage nor inclination to resist; for the good steward was a devoted Roman Catholic, and the patron of Desmond, was his priest, who, of course, held his mind, soul, and judgment in strict obedience. So Desmond crossed the channel, empowered with credentials which were to certify to the offending, collegian, that he was the escort for his continental travels, provided and sanctioned by his uncle. We need not pause to detail the mutual delight with which the former tutor and pupil again met and renewed their acquaintance, nor the strict fellowship which immediately sprung up between them. Desmond found his ex-scholar had become even more enlightened on many points than himself, more calculated to form a partizan and leader in certain machinations, in the organization of which Hardress, indeed, soon became the principal actor, instead of the tool his ci devant tutor had designed to make him. Young Fitz Hugh, truly found a wide range for kindling into full perfection, every fiery power of his mind and soul. France, Jacobinical and immoral, proved the hot bed of principles and opinions which already were springing up too luxuriantly in his nature-Germany, metaphysical, and sophistical, the disperser of every substance of even an erring religion, into the noxious dust of Socialism and Deism-Italy the forcing-house of every voluptuous, ardent and enervating passion. Still there mingled with all these evil propensities one attribute which was of a very different description-for genius In Italy how he revelled and fed on the glorious elements of nature and of art-how congenial was all around to the taste and talit was, and also in Germany, that the talent of which he had given such precocious signs, was perfected in its singular and original excellence. And thus a strange mixture of man, demon, and angel, he returned to his country, after a three years' absence, in the company of Desmond. During that period no personal communication had been carried on between the uncle and nephew, but liberal pecuniary means had been afforded Fitz Hugh; so liberal, indeed, that without much self-denial he had been enabled to refrain from abusing this munificence, by exceeding the remittances. Therefore with more assurance did Hardress, on landing in Ireland, direct his course to the Castle rackrent of his noble relative, awake him from his three years' sleep of "dumb forgetfulness," and claim for himself a welcome, as a dutiful and obedient nephew, who had even outstaid his term of probation, and now returned, penitent and reformed. Although, at first, Lord Castlerosse gave him such a reception, as a sluggard usually bestows upon one who takes upon himself the thankless office of arousing him-that is he showed very plainly, if he did not express it in words, that he wished Hardress at Jericho or any other far off region of the world; still that youth wormed himself not only into the mansion of his uncle, as a tolerated inmate, but as a favored member of his family; for instead of the wild roué, with a riotous crew at his heels, to turn his "Castle of Indolence," into a scene of uproar and discomfort, the Earl was electrified into animated surprise, by beholding in the nephew-whose awkward appearance had not at first sight, gainsayed his expectations-a being who gradu ally unfolded himself into a spirit of genius and talent; both by the tone of his conversation, and the surprising specimens, he displayed before the astonished eyes of Lord Castlerosse, of his proficiency in an art, of which, in his own waking days, the Peer had been somewhat of a connoisseur and diletante. And when the amateur artist, ventured to express, how grateful he would be, for some corner of the house, in which he might be allowed to pursue his studies for some time, in the strict retirement of his uncle's abode, he was given a carte blanche to appropriate any part of the mansion for his own use, and was even permitted the following day, to commence painting the Peer in his library-the indolent man really enjoying the operation, which obliged him to remain passive for an hour or two in his arm chair, whilst he listened without the exertion of more than occasional monosyllabic replies, to the rich and amusing flow of eloquent talk, which Hardress poured forth in order to beguile the tedium of the sitting. |