her voice to a firm and determined tone, "I can trace it to a more certain origin. I know the moment at which it commenced, and the cause in which it originated. It was scarce two months after my dear lady's death, when one morning, as you, my poor innocent child, with Charles and his tutor, were assembled in the breakfast-parlour, waiting the morning repast, and expecting every moment the appearance of sir Richard. The door at length opened, and he entered, leading Miss Freelove, whom he introduced as lady Courteney, and whom he desired you, Geraldine, to receive as your future mother. You were then too young, my dear child, to be sensible of your irreparable loss, or feel at that moment as poor Charles did this direful change. Indignant at the insult offered to the memory of lady Courteney in this premature marriage, the blood rushed in a violent current from the dear boy's heart to his face; and instead of the gratulation which the new-made lady lady might have expected on the occasion, he involuntarily exclaimed- Not lady Courteney-not your mother, Geraldine,' as he flung himself, urged by uncontrollable grief and bursting scorn, out of the room. "Sir Richard, who knew the goodness of Plunket's heart, and was well acquainted with his filial adoration of his late beloved patroness, was easily induced to pardon this failure of ceremony; but the lady could never forget or forgive the disrespect it manifested." "I have heard it constantly asserted,” said Geraldine," that it was my mother's wish, in order to provide for her friend, that sir Richard should espouse her." 66 Ay, so Miss Freelove and Kitty Hobbs would persuade the whole family to believe; but Ellison, who was also present, heard not a word of the matter. They succeeded, however, in persuading sir Richard it was the case, and she accordingly appeared, in the short time I have already indicated, as lady Courteney." "It was painful to you and Charles, my dear Fanny," said Geraldine," to see my deceased mother's place so soon occupied by another; but as my father would certainly have married again, I might, you are aware, have got a mother less affectionate." 66 "True," replied Fanny; " therefore never forget, my dear child, the respect you owe your father, and her who now represents your once-venerated mother. If gratitude maintain any power over her heart, she ought to love, as the child of her own blood, the daughter of lady Courteney. But to what a late hour have we, Geraldine, unconsciously pursued this subject! See! the moon, which shone yonder so bright when we first sat, has disappeared entirely: let us follow its example, and retire to bed. Good-night, my dear child! may you always enjoy the peace of angels, and the protection of Heaven !" CHAP. CHAPTER VII. Ask for her; And to her sweet hand see thou do commend MAJOR Blandford, though greatly chagrined at the repulse he had received from lady Courteney, and her continued refusal to admit his visits at the castle, did not abandon himself wholly to despair, but relied, and indeed with some appearance of probability, on the good-natured hospitality of sir Richard, to re-establish his former intimate footing in the family; yet as he knew that the baronet, though possessing great goodness of heart, unsuspecting integrity, and a disinterested nature, was, through the weakness of his intellects, governed by his lady, and that, without without first propitiating hers, there was no certain passport to his favour, he considered it might be premature, till the first effervescence of her rage should subside, and she threw out of herself the flag of peace, to seek the baronet's mediation, which she would not fail to receive kindly, as soon as she felt predisposed, from her own proper will, for an accommodation. In addition to this swelling hope, the sanguine major encouraged another not less pleasing; which was, that he had created a warm spark in the young lady's bosom, and that this spark, if not now inhumanly crushed in its birth, would kindle into a flame that could not be extinguished without some struggle; and when this flame (not opposed by reason, which at seventeen he judged to be very feeble, and fanned by the passions which he knew, from experience, to be then equally strong as the reasoning faculty was weak) would spring forth in despite of |