"It is now," said he," one year on the last Festa d'Iddio since young Count Leonardo de Monte brought his beautiful bride to live amongst us. The last of a noble Venetian family, poor in fortune, but proud and independent in spirit, he left his native city, where he was unable to live in a manner suitable to his rank; and with his young wife and a few attendants, took up his abode in a deserted mansion, the Castel Monte, which has belonged to his family for many generations.

"They had few luxuries, and few of those enjoyments which wealth procures; but the purest affection enlivened their small household, and my eyes have never opened-nor perhaps has the sun ever shone upon-a fairer and happier couple than Count Leonardo and his gentle bride.

"She was his constant companion in every thing: they walked together, rode or studied together; there was but one sport in which the Lady Nina did not join: it was when pursuing his favourite pastime, he chased the wild wolf from his lurking-place among the thick woods; for Count Leonardo was the best huntsman in the district, and no rifle had a more unerring aim than his.

"The last winter was unusually severe. The wolves, emboldened by hunger, descended in troops from the mountains, and committed nightly depredations. The peasants made common cause against them, but no one was so daring in the pursuit as the Count. At daybreak, with his dogs and rifle, I have seen him pursuing the chase alone, and returning by our convent at nightfall, eager for the next day's sport. The Countess would gently remonstrate with him on the hazards to which his daring exposed him; but he would smilingly point to his rifle, and laugh away her fears.

"One evening he returned late to the castle : he was hot, fatigued, and covered with dust: his face was pale, and his eyes wild. He endeavoured to calm the terrors of his wife. He had been attacked by a fierce wolf, which had sprung upon him when he was unprepared for defence. His arm was torn, but it is nothing,' said he' a mere scratch;' yet he shuddered while he spoke, and a strange shivering seized his whole frame. The Countess, as she tenderly bound up his wound, conjured him, for her sake, to desist for the future from so dangerous a sport.

"He promised, as ifin compliance with her wishes; but

from that hour a strange and deep melancholy seemed to fall over his spirit, which filled her with wonder and anxiety. He wandered with her through the woods, and guided their fairy bark over the calm waters of the lake; and he was kind and gentle to her-kinder, perhaps, than he had ever been. Still, she felt that there was a shadow between them-that he had thoughts which she could not penetrate, and which were shrouded by a veil of mystery.

"In vain she tried by every art of innocent endearment, which had once been all-powerful with him, to discover the cause of this change. I have a secret, dear Nina,' he would say, and when a certain period has elapsed, believe me you will know all. Perhaps one day we may speak of this clouded page in our history as a tale of other days. You confide in me,-you trust firmly in my unchanging affection for you. It is enough; let us enjoy the present: the future is in the hand of God!"

(To be concluded.)

ENGLISH & FRENCH ACTORS & SHOPKEEPERS COMPARED.

[The Court Journal has lately been drawing comparisons between the stage, the shopkeepers, &c. of London and Paris, on which subject our own correspondent in the French capital has transmitted us the following few observations.]

With regard to the superiority which the Court Journal affirms French actors to have over English in genteel comedy, I cannot fairly decide the question, because it is long since I have seen a play in London. But I can with truth say, that French actors have in general, little of the polish of high life, and this cannot be wondered at, when it is considered that, notwithstanding the boasted liberality of the French, actors are not admitted into the society of gentlemen. They may indeed occasionally mix in the convivial parties of professed soiries, but familiar intercourse with good society, and especially that fairer part of it which can alone form the manners of a gentleman, is utterly denied them. French actresses are in a similar predicament; indeed they are, if possible, still more pointedly excluded. Yet, acquire it how they may,,they have infinitely more polish and grace! there is, in fact, a degree of natural gentility about them, which

goes far towards supplying that knowledge of high life that they have no means of acquiring. They have also a few excellent models; Mars-the inimitable Mars-and the graceful Georges, may be cited in the foremost rank of the Leontine Volneys holds decidedly the first place

veterans.

in the modern school.

As to English shop-keepers, I believe they are generally allowed to be the best in the world; but it is neither liberal nor just to exalt them by depreciating others. French tradespeople are inferior to the English in address, and in a knowledge of business generally; but I have never found any one who was disposed to deal with them fairly and civilly, that complained of their being either dishonest or impertinent; courtesy is in fact a characteristic of the French, and it is never dispensed with by the higher orders in their intercourse with those below them. The first nobleman in France would pull off his hat as soon as he entered a shop, remain bareheaded while he stood in it, and ask for what he wanted in the tone of a person receiving a favour rather than conferring one; but this condescension would be received with the respect it deserved. As to French shopkeepers not troubling themselves to procure any thing for you which they themselves have not got, the charge is utterly unfounded. My own family and several of our friends have repeatedly asked for articles, some of them of very trifling value, which were procured for us with the utmost promptitude. You know there are some of our countrymen, who by the bye, are no credit to it, that pique themselves upon exhibiting the most unbounded contempt for every body and everything that is not English. I have seen more than one of these worthies walk into a shop, and whistling as loud as he could, stalk over to the counter, seat himself upon it, and call in an authoritative tone for the articles he wanted. Do you think such behaviour would be tolerated even by the most civil London shopkeepers? I have, however, seen it practised more than once here, and when the hero has been compelled by respectful entreaties to leave the counter for a chair, he has frequently revenged himself by tossing over a heap of goods, buying nothing, and walking away with some impertinent observation, which has been resented only by a silent shrug when his back was turned. CHARLES B. -.

Paris.