CHAPTER V.

Since the birth of Cain, the first male child,
To him that did but yesterday suspire,
There was not such a gracious creature born.
But now will canker sorrow eat my bud,
And chase the native beauty from his cheek,
And he will look as hollow as a ghost.

SHAKESPEARE,

THE two following days, major Blandford presented himself at the castle gate; but lady Courteney, having ordered herself and sir Richard to be denied, he was obliged to retire without gaining admis

sion.

From a little turret at the south-west angle of the castle, whither she was now retired to sketch a view that had that morning particularly struck her, Geraldine beheld her lover depart, despair in his

sunk

sunk eye (over which the heavy brow fell gloomily impending), chagrin in his reluctant step, and overwhelmed with dejection. Her compassionate heart became instantly softened at the sight of his disappointment and distress- her bosom heaved with a tender sigh, and her eyes filled with tears, as she hurried, regardless of the beauteous scene she was about to delineate, from the turret to her chamber.

Fanny O'Grady, who was seated in the apartment occupied with some needlework, perceived her emotion as soon as she entered, and found no difficulty in divining the true cause, Unwilling however to notice or sooth her affliction, which sympathy or opposition might, she rightly judged, only tend to increase, she more prudently sought to give a new turn to her thoughts by diverting her attention to other objects; and with this friendly intent, began to expatiate on the beautiful trimming at which she was employed, and which, for elegance of design, must cer

tainly surpass any thing of the kind that would appear for the season. Nothing, to the keen eye of the penetrating Fanny, appeared more easy than the quick transit of a young lady's thoughts from a gallant beau to a gay dress, or would prove more likely than the possession of the latter to dispel her chagrin on the loss of the for

mer.

This sagacious woman had already observed Geraldine's predilection in favour of major Blandford, but conceiving it nothing more than the captivation of the imagination, and that the heart remained untouched, she hoped the transient emotion would expire of itself, if not inflamed by resistance. Not willing, therefore, to suppose him a person capable of creating any very lively interest, she affected not to perceive he was refused admission to the castle, and by this means gave the young lady no opportunity of complaint on the subject; on the contrary, assuming a gay air, she declared she must exert all

her

her energies to have the beautiful trimming complete against the next castle ball, which she hoped sir Richard would not fail to give, on the arrival of captain Plunket from the Continent.

"Why, when do you suppose he will arrive?" inquired Geraldine.

"Immediately I should imagine,” answered Fanny. "Has he given no intimation of the time we might expect him in his letter of this morning?"

"I have not heard there has been any letter from Charles Plunket," rejoined Geraldine.

"That is somewhat extraordinary," observed, after a short pause, the musing O'Grady: "but I am positive there has been a letter; I am too well acquainted with captain Plunket's hand to be mistaken; it was certainly his writing was on the superscription of the first letter which I saw sir Richard draw from the postbag this morning, while I waited in the breakfast-parlour for the pattern of

this trimming. Do, my dear child, inquire how he is, and when we may expect his arrival?"

"It may be so," said Geraldine; "for I have heard very little about my cousin Plunket since lady Courteney intimated to him that our correspondence was useless, as it only served to take off my attention from more necessary objects, and that my replying to his letters consumed the time which ought to be devoted to more serious studies; I must know, however, from my father when we may expect Charles."

"Do, my dear Geraldine, and that without delay, I entreat you. I am provoked that captain Plunket's letters should be considered of so little importance as to remain unannounced to the family, by all of whom he is so much beloved, and to whom his presence here will be so welcome. Poor Charles Plunket!" and indignant tears rushed to the affectionate woman's eyes at this tender ejaculation,

"he