**And a graphic picture that was considered by | those who saw it, and one which by its description is brought distinctly before the mind's eye. A dingy apartment was truly this den of the Irish Lord-one which, after all they have heard of his love of ease and comfort, would have somewhat surprised those of my English readers, who are not personally acquainted with the comparative uncivilization of the abodes of even the great in the sister kingdom, whose absentee owners seldom consider it worth while to expend much trouble or money on their improvement or embellishment-at least, so it was some thirty years ago. The furniture of this apartment was old fashioned, and gothic in the extreme, as well as scanty and dilapidated. Of the books indeed, which gave the room its title, there was a plentiful share, but these, though very seldom disturbed, had the same untidy, illarranged air, pervading all around, and which, blackened both by time and the atmosphere of the peat fire which smouldered in the ample grate, added as little to the enlightenment of the chamber itself, as to the intellects of its occupants. 1 Castlerosse, that he was solicited to stand for the county, which, owing to his talents and position as the nephew of Lord Castlerosse, was a natural consequence; and therefore when he presented himself before his uncle to demand his support and concurrence, the Peer merely rubbed his eyes, started as if aroused again-but not so unpleasantly as when his nephew had last disturbed him from his three years slumber-asked him gruffly, what politics had to do with painting, but seemed altogether not displeased with the proposition; and finally gave him carte blanche at his banker's for the necessary expenses, then relapsed into torpor; never troubling himself even to inquire, what were the political opinions of the future repre sentative of his family. Perhaps indeed he had forgotten that there were two opinions in the world. He knew that he was monarch of all he surveyed-his arm-chair his throne, his poker his sceptre; and as long as to that sovereignty, none disputed his right, what signified to him, seditions, tumults, wars, or dissensions? Little did he dream in his torpid listlessness, that probably Now in this picture, Hardress gave to all at that moment he owed this undisturbed reign that I have endeavored to describe, its darkest,--for the country was then in a very unquiet, gloomiest hue, concentrating with the skill of a Rembrandt the whole light, and throwing itas if reflected from the huge peat fire near which he sat on the figure of his uncle. And that same figure, with what characteristic fidelity was it portrayed! The tall, indolently reclining form, reposing in his large, but ill fashioned easy chair, clad in a dressing gown of scarcely a more modern appearance "Ungartered hose, and slippers down at heel," and hair, if not beard, certainly, "Unconscious of the biting steel-” the listless attitude, the happy, satisfied expression of perfect apathy, as there he rested, with lack lustre eyes turned upwards to the ceiling, as if he were communing with the spirits of slumber about to descend gently upon his senses, all were there to the very life, without bordering on the caricature. But the transient gleam of animation caused by his nephew's arrival, having soon died away, little more trouble or care did Lord Castlerosse give himself concerning him than he had done years ago; but this arrangement was perfectly satisfactory to that nephew. Having once established himself in a distant suite of apartments, they became the scene of a more extended character, than the quiet labors of the brush. They were soon the resort of friends and associates, introduced by Desmond to the levies of his former pupil, and now influential and tolerated patron. And here--but more especially at political meetings, held in different parts of the neighboring county, for Hardress by no means acted the part of a second recluse of the Castle, did he exercise the oratorical powers he so greatly possessed, and which soon rendered him the popular idol of those misguided, excited, rebellious beings, whose spirits he helped to in fluence. excited state-to the fact of his mansion being the head-quarters of the chief inciter of the popular frenzy, and that same instigator, his own nephew! Little indeed did he divine what orgies went on beneath his own roof! Old Dennis, however he might disapprove and mourn over these proceedings, was tonguetied. Out of regard to his own personal safety, he was forced to be silent, for mysterious, startling threats had been conveyed to him anonymously; and moreover the circumstance of much that went on, being sanctioned by the countenance of O'Conner the priest, prevented his speaking out. However, the election of his young master for a time emancipated him from any further responsibility. Hardress Fitz Hugh moved his quarters immediately to London, to commence. his parliamentary duties, taking with him the unfortunate young being whom he had seduced from her home and duty-Norah Mahony; whose peculiar beauty had captivated his poetic fancy, and whose mind, originally pure and innocent, (for she was the child of respectable though poor parents) he had perverted from every right idea of good and evil, by the power of his wretched, misguiding sophistry; and whose affections he had beguiled in all the warm intensity of her Irish nature, by that magical influence, which subtle genius, even from the time of the first serpent, has been ever known to obtain over the unguarded heart of woman. Yes, the simple Norah Mahony, issuing from her lowly cottage door, with her face of innocent beauty, smiling from amongst her flowing yellow hair beneath the blue hooded cloak which encircled it-her naked, roseate, but still delicate feet, presented a picture which might well have drawn upon her, harmlessly, the pure eye of genius; but the perverted vision of Hardress Fitz Hugh fell upon her, and she was lost "He loved her, and destroyed her !" CHAPTER XXI. Come to us, bright one--sunbeam of the heart. And the glad household welcome, "Here art thou." A BRIGHT, Smiling picture was presented by an apartment at Llewellyn Castle, one evening about a week after the scenes I have been de proach to her mistress, for her connivance, at this shocking breach of nursery etiquette "What would your grandmama say, I should like to know, sir ?" But that grandmama would have had her sense of propriety more scandalized, had she been witness of a proceeding of another mem ber of the party, against this most respected the walls of Oakleigh Court to shake from their personage-one which would truly, have caused centre, with horror at the sacrilegious deed. Vividly before my recollection is that scene scribing. My readers must imagine to themselves, a large, well lighted saloon, which all the luxuries of wealth, and refinement, contri--the little damsel of four years and a halfbuted to embellish. But these were but as the golden frame, which I have too often since, beheld mockingly decorating many a picture of gloom, darkness, and distress. However, that which was then before my eyes, was one which would have been as lovely in itself, within no other setting than the walls of a cottage. Sybil the younger, with her long graceful limbs, the moulded miniature of her mother's her gait of the same stately bearing, leading the old lady through the door, and then with a determined air, closing it behind her, and returning with the triumphal air of a Joan of Arc, to receive the thanks of the community, for her spirited deliverance of them all, from this worthy torment. And Mary, with her pale, golden hair, ming Sybil surrounded by her three most beautiful children! no unusual sight indeed-and one on which my eyes constantly feasted; yet that night the spectacle afforded a heightened glowing with the locks of her little brother, as he of interest, which those will understand, who have been the observers of a family group, in expectation of the return of some beloved absentee; especially when that group is composed of beings too young in years, or too untouched by care, or sorrow, to anticipate such moments, with aught but unalloyed delight. Alas! how seldom is there to be found, a circle in which there are not hearts whose very brightest moments are dimmed by some shade of anxiety and doubt-some retrospect, which throws its dark shadow, over the brilliancy of joy-speaking of absent forms and countenances which once beamed in affectionate sym pathy with their emotion. In after life, the thoughts of death and bereavement will intrude and painful yearnings after that delightful fellow feeling, which never again can be enjoyed. But none of these sentiments were to be traced amongst the party assembled to greet the return of the successful member-the record of whose parliamentary triumphs I sat reading over again, for the fifth or sixth time; whilst tones of gladness and of glee sounded, and bright faces gleamed around me, all speaking of childhood's careless joy, and youthful woman's deeper, but equally ardent delight. And then, occasionally, there would come a sudden hush, and every soft breath was suspended, whilst Sybil's cherub boy of three years old, in imitation of his mother's action, would place his tiny finger on his rose-bud lips, to still the movements of his sisters, when some sounds, apparently like those so anxiously awaited, attracted their attention. hugged her in his little tight embrace-as if he would force the sympathy of his gentle sister, in his happy rescue, from the late impending danger-for he had probably discerned on her countenance, some little shade of doubt, as to the propriety of the bold deed of the brave little Sybil their sweet lips pressed together, with all the energetic fervor of infantine affection. which she vainly strove to subdue with a And my Sybil! what a radiant smile was that, frown, as she turned from them, to greet the return of her heroic daughter! Again all was gladsome mirth, till a noise at last came, which was not deceitful, and a joyous rush from the room, left me alone, with glistening eyes. Ah! me-those happy, blessed notes; a mur. mura confusion of young voices; such sweet greetings-rejoicings! To what can I compare those mingled sounds of love, and joy, and gladness, which thrilled to my heart, truly participating in their unalloyed delight? * "The blessed household voices; I hear them still, unchang'd, though some from earth, Again the tread of coming feet echoes on my ear, and I see the tall figure of Albert Lennard, who holds in his arms his boy, who strokes with admiring fondness his father's face-that face, on which angels might have gazed with delight, irradiated as its beauty seemed to be, with happiness, springing from a source, as pure, as sacred, as any on earth-a husband's love, a father's joy! Sybil leant caressingly on one arm, his little daughters close following on his steps; all with eyes turned towards his countenance, as if eagerly striving to drink in a ray of its beaming light. And I can fancy now, I see him hasten with playful, mock terror, to turn and cling to the sanctuary of that mother's arms, which were so willing to receive and shield him from the de- My turn now came for a share of that enjoy. predating intentions of nurse-the former kill- ment, which I had hitherto only tasted by rejoy of Oakleigh Court, who now prowled about flection, and I received the cordial greeting, with murmurings on her lips, concerning," this due to an old friend and respected guest-for sad time of night, for Master Lennard to be out at that time, I was but on a visit to the Castle of his bed," to which was added the exclama--and what a sunbeam was that greeting to tion, intended to convey an overpowering re- my heart-would that I could feel it now! The little people, having accompanied their father into the dining-room, where supper was prepared, were at length yielded to the charge of Nurse "To bed the children must depart "Tis gone, and in a merry fit They run upstairs in gamesome race I could have joined the wanton chase." When the husband and wife joined me again in the saloon, where I sat long alone, but not lonely, sympathising as I did with them, in all the fancied delights of "the converse high" of the reunited ones, there was that chastened expression in their countenances, which told that more pressing matters than the careless joys of the present, had occupied them. Probably the moments past, and the careful future, had been under discussion; the latter comprising as it often does, the subject of plans, which, (however agreeable they may be,) seldom fail to press down, in some degree, the buoyant elasticity of the spirit. They each took a seat by my side, for the evident kind purpose of making me feel myself one of them, and then Sybil exclaimed: Now, Mademoiselle, you must hear what Albert's new honors have drawn upon us; even his intention of exposing his wife and children to all manner of evils, as Mamma will say, by taking for them a house in the great Babel, and removing them from the safety of Paradise." And then it was imparted to me, that very early in the spring, (it was now the beginning of August,) they were to adjourn to London, to remain stationary during the season, as Albert's appointment was one which would cause him for a time, to be much tied to the Metropolis. Sybil, as she talked over this arrangement, became evidently excited by the prospect of a change, which would indeed form an era in the existence of the happy recluse of Llewellyn Castle; and, as I beheld her under an influence tending so much to heighten her beauty-which in its repose, might perhaps have been sometimes considered, too classically statue-like in its character, my foolish vain heart rejoiced, that Albert was about to show to the world, the matchless gem he possessed-the crown jewel of all the treasures with which he had been so bountifully gifted. "But Albert, you must give Mademoiselle an account of Hardress Fitz Hugh's extraordinary debut," Sybil next exclaimed. My interest was then deeply excited, by Albert's recital of the sudden re-appearance of our old acquaintance, and the sensation he had made in the House of Commons; and with delighted amusement, Sybil again listened to the detail given, for the second time, by her husband, for my benefit, in much the same manner as it has already been recorded to the reader, of his Radical opponent's brilliant oratorical success, which was magnanimously and truthfully dwelt upon by Albert. At this success, I was not surprised; nor was Sybil, recollecting as she did, his early specimens of talent in that line, with which she had "How I should like the children to hear him tell the story! I often try, but never can make it so exquisitely interesting as he contrived to render it. But I suppose," she added archly to her husband, "it will be quite out of the question, for us red hot Tories, to breathe the same atmosphere with this shocking Radical." Albert laughed; but did not give his lady any hopes of his progeny being allowed to benefit by the private exercise of the honorable member's eloquent oratory, and another subject was soon brought forward, in which I was most particularly concerned; for it treated of Sybil's de sire, that I should now, without much further delay, enter upon the duties which would oblige me to be a regular inmate of their house. I was now, as I before stated, merely on a visit, having come to keep Sybil company, during her husband's absence; Mr. and Mrs. Devereux, being also away from their home on a little visiting excursion. Sybil and I had been discussing this desired arrangement very seriously, since my arrival; for though Mary was only five years and a half old, therefore, full young to require a governess, Sybil descanted much-not only on the additional enjoyment to herself of having for a friend and companion, her dear Felicie, as she affectionately styled me-but on the means it would afford of lessening the domination of Mrs. Armstrong, the nurse, who strove hard to esta blish her power as firmly over the children under her care, as well as over the mind of the young mother, as nurses generally contrive to do. Fain would the old woman have pursued the same despotic course, which reigned over the nursery arrangements at Oakleigh Court; however, at Llewellyn, it was not so easy to accomplish her desires. The very atmosphere that pervaded that spot, was indulgence and liberty, gentleness, and peace, and a freedom from aught savoring in the slightest degree of oppression. The only obstacle to our scheme, was Mrs. Devereux. Sybil had felt silent scruples at the idea of depriving her mother of her companion, ere she herself had made up her mind to do so. There would be also some difficulty in gaining that lady's approval of a step, contrary to her formed plan, which was, that till Mary had completed her ninth year, my services in her behalf, were not to be put into requisition. At that age, "her daughter" had stepped from the nursery to school-room discipline--and what could be better, than strictly to follow every minutiæ of that system which had been pursued in her case? Still Sybil, and indeed, Albert-for they mu, tually agreed on the subject-now trusted that Mrs. Devereux would be inclined to look more favorably on the proposition; for though Mary might very well have continued "Till in her eyes, their ninth blue summer shone," to range at large, free from school-room straint, if like her mother, the country wa 1 n .sh all be her home, yet in a London residence, this would be far from expedient, and they were sure, Mrs. Devereux would agree in this idea; indeed, Sybil laughingly declared, that she was not certain whether the good lady would not consider it prudent, to put her also under such awful guardianship, as the imposing presence of her dear Felicie. I was rather curious to see, in what way Mrs. Devereux would bear the intelligence of the formerly so much dreaded change in her daughter's existence; but all turned out well on that point. Both the parents soon arrived at the Castle to spend a short time and take me home, and then the plan which had been formed in consequence of Albert's appointment, was imparted to them. was truly a strange sight to me, to watch Mrs. Devereux under the complete influence of this little child-subservient to all her wishesblind to her every fault; viewing the younger Sybil with such different eyes, from those with which she had regarded her own child. And such is often the case with grandmothers, especially with those who have been long without young children of their own. They feel not the same responsibility towards another person's child; and probably, that is the cause of their generally giving way to the selfish gratification, of which, when their own offspring were in question, they deprived themselves, from a bounden sense of duty-the liberty of indulging a grandchild to the very utmost; and the little Sybil bid fair, I soon perMr. Devereux had long regarded it as a step ceived, to be as much spoilt as her mother had which must eventually occur, and probably been tutored. She was an engaging, spirited had prepared the mind of his lady for it; for creature, and wound herself so completely she was certainly somewhat inflated with pride round the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Devereux, and glory at her son-in-law's success, and did that the arrangement was finally made, which not now appear very unwilling, that "her daugh- for many reasons, I have never ceased to regret ter" should be seen by the world as his wife. for I have ofttimes been tempted to attribute Besides, what could she now fear for that daugh- one of the drops of bitterness, mixed in our cup ter? She beheld her flourishing like "a goodly of sorrows in after days, to the step to which I cedar tree," in all the strength and beauty with now allude. I mean the request of the grand which her culture, had caused it to abound-parents, and subsequent consent of Mr. and Mrs. what now could shake its firm basis, or wither its beauty? With regard to the scheme in which I was concerned, she received the suggestion, somewhat timidly hinted, with approbation and magnanimity. Yes, it would decidedly be expedient, that owing to this unforeseen change of circumstances, my settlement in the family should be anticipated; this was an emergency which set matters on quite a different footing; and in the amusement, and occupation now afforded to the good lady, of discussing plans and arrangements, she became easily reconciled to this bouleversement of some of those theories, which had been so long established in her mind. Perhaps it was chiefly out of gratitude to the real disinterested kindness of the motives which prompted Mrs. Devereux to coincide, without a murmur, on a point which interfered so materially with her own comfort, the premature relinquishment of a companion, to whom long acquaintance and custom, had attached her, that the parents on their part, consented to a request of hers, which was anything but agreeable to their feelings; namely, that the little Sybil might accompany us to Oakleigh Court. She had ever been the grandmother's favorite amongst the children, owing probably to the striking likeness she bore to her mother. The little creature, therefore, departed with us, to the delight of both her grand-parents and myself. I was curious to see Mrs. Devereux's management of a child of her tender age, when quite under her own control, and away from w the domineering influence of Mrs. Armstrong. piBut if I had expected any Mrs. Trimmerism in jojer treatment, I was perfectly mistaken. Inwiteed, I was not a little amazed at all I saw, for sad r mode of proceeding was likely, if carried of hi for any length of time, to prove the utter tion, ation of the character of her grandchild. It' Lennard, to their being allowed to retain the young Sybil for an indefinite period at Oakleigh Court. Many plausible reasons were brought forward by Mrs. Devereux, to aid the cause. First of all, with regard to the child herself, the grandmother dwelt seriously on the extreme excitability of her temperament. It was very much, she said, what she had observed in her own Sybil, during her childhood; and what an injurious effect would it not have produced upon her, had she been taken to an exciting place like London, where she must have incurred the risk of being in constant intercourse with other children. Then even her being in the house with a governess, was mentioned as an objection by Mrs. Devereux; for though she felt perfect confidence in my discretion and judgment in a general way, and gave me full credit for every right intention; "Nature," she said, "must be Nature still; and a governess could as soon refrain from teaching, as a dog from barking, or a cat from purring. And then, to her affectionate daughter and considerate son, was pathetically described, the sad loneliness which my loss would occasion Mrs. Devereux. In short, for I must no longer dwell on such apparently trifling incidents, the point was gained, and little Sybil was left an inmate of Oakleigh Court, when early in the following February, I accompanied the Lennards to town, where, in a fine, large house close to Hyde Park, we took up our abode. CHAPTER XXII. THE Lennards did not plunge with avidity into all the gayeties of the season, though im mediately after Sybil's presentation at court, all the best houses were thrown open, with empres sement not only to do honor to the young States- | and affections; in her eye no heaven, in her man, but also to grace their rooms with the pre- gesture no love." sence of his lovely wife, whose striking beauty had not failed to create a sensation in the circles of fashion, amongst which she now appeared for the first time. Perchance some who now beheld Mrs. Lennard for the first time, might have turned from her perfect beauty, and with greater pleasure, because with less of awe, have looked on some less fair dame, seemingly more tinctured with humanity; but there was one amongst this. common herd of star gazers who had seen the lovely vision otherwise, who had witnessed those eyes illumined with the fire of light and life-to him indeed a heaven! had beheld that form floating before his sight in wild and ever varying movements. From every gesture of that perfect figure, he had once felt, too truly emanating, love ineffable; and though its recol Even had Albert desired any such general dissipation for himself and Sybil, he was too much engaged with his important avocations to be able to spare much time for its pursuits; therefore, the Opera, the houses of the Ministers, and those of a few connections and friends, formed at first the limits of their society. But even this restricted taste of the cup of pleasure seemed sufficient for Sybil, to judge by the excitement it occasioned to one so new to its delights. Surrounded by every circumstance-lection had since faded into a mere fair remempossessed of every attribute combining to render the draught enchanting-often even to the most sober-minded-no wonder was it, that her very freshness and inexperience in such enjoy ments, seemed to make the present mode of life almost intoxicating to her senses. Albert would laughingly ask me, as he contemplated the sparkling, exhilirating mirth with which his young wife would return home on such nights of gayety, whether it were not well, these outbreaks of dissipation were limited, and that Mrs. Devereux did not behold her daughter under the influence of the charm. Truly in such a case, the good lady might have thought that all her labor of years was frustrated, and that her pupil was infected by the contagion of dissipated manners. But the husband experienced no uneasiness on the subject. He was delighted to witness his beautiful wife's enjoyment-proud to watch the admiration she attracted, and prouder still of the nature of that admiration. For there was, in the description of her beauty, something so serenely chaste-so imperially distinguished, breathing through the very naive and gracious affability of her deportment, towards those with whom she held intercourse, that as he once remarked to me, with a face of radiant satisfaction, she seemed like "some bright, particular star," on which all might gaze admiringly, but ever with uplifted eyes, as on a statue of loveliness, to which there was no nearer approach; and this I truly believe was very much the sentiment inspired by the beauty of Mrs. Lennard, on its first becoming a mark for public criticism. At the opera on one of the first nights of Sybil's attendance, as she sat in queen-like majesty, the aim for many an opera glass, her own glance perambulating, between the acts of the performance, over the brilliant circles, with what was, in reality, the absorbing interest of a novice, but which was interpreted by those who watched her as the inspecting gaze of a sovreign queen of beauty-many, doubtless, applied to her attractions something of the same character aptly given by a writer to the divine statue of the Venus at Florence, "a personification of all that is graceful, elegant, and beau-f tiful, not only abstracted from all human infirmities, but elevated above all human feelings bered dream of his fancy, again did it now flash upon his sight. Rapt, entranced, Hardress Fitz Hugh, gazed upon Sybil Lennard; for it was before his sight that suddenly had beamed forth, as the cynosure 'of every eye, "his morning star of memory," and with so strange an effect did the suddenness of the apparition strike him, that with his vision fixed as it were in a trance upon her face-it seemed that he was trans ported back in every feeling and circumstance over the many years that had elapsed, during which she had been lost to his sight, and that he again beheld, as in past days, the young girl, Sybil Devereux-the laughing Hebe, his genius had created-the symmetrical Atalanta, bounding by his side, in all her floating gracefulness -the beauty melting into tears at his recital in remained unbroken, he wished for nothing furthe garden of roses! And whilst this trance ther than thus, "To stand apart, And gaze for evermore !"" A strange delight and, comparatively speaking, a pure, tender, tranquil flame filled his soul, whilst thus he revelled in the dream of the past; for though even in his early days, his nature affection, usually belonging to the young, yet was little tinctured with the calm, soft purity of what were his feelings then, when estimated with the fierce passions of his manhood? Truly the cool river to the lava flood might not be deemed a greater contrast. And Hardress Fitz Hugh felt all this, when the shadowy vision dissolved into reality. Yes, and he felt that she, the idol of his passion, was beyond his reach forever. Not because her imperial beauty lifted her so far above him; for through her perfect beauty, which, since he had last seen her, had matured into that of the splendid woman, he could still trace the same Sybil, whose every turn and glance he had once made so much his own-whose countenance was as familiar to his mind, as the air he breathed-the sun that brightened his path. It was no external change that created the barrier between them, but she had become another's! a wife- a wife! hateful name to him, though he would fain have persuaded himself it formed but a flimsy veil of separation; still it was a name which, in spite of all the scorn he would willingly have called forth to crush it, in imagination, beneath his feet, he felt gall |