Year: 1876

as II this was not a6 mucn your nOuo ds uiLe
1 should feel quite hurt at your making any
distinction"


"But other people may, you know"


"That is of very little consequence. do
not see that it is the business of any one but
ourselves should consider it very unkind
of you to 20 and live elsewhere, whether |
was married or single. If ever marry, !
shall take care that my wife is the same mind
as myself, but I think it highly probable that
I will live and die bachelor So set your
heart at rest on that point"


"You are very kind" said I. "And if
Olive consents to the arrangement, it shall be
as you propose. I, for one, have no desire to
leave the old homestead"


II should think not, indeed" rejoined my
brother. "It would be an anwarrantable de-
sertion on your part. And remember, once
for all, Phil" be added earnestly, as he laid
his hand on my shoulder, "between US there
is no question of mine and yours; it is all ours.


"That is all very we'll at present, Rudolph
but if you marry, and have an heir"


II tell you, don't expect to marry" be
interrupted, little impatiently. $50 we'll
leave that possibility out"


Every WE'LL" said I, I won't allude to it
again and meantime I'll rest content with
the state of affairs as they stand"


This colloquy left US in excellent humor
with each other. greatly appreciated my
brothers generosity, and doubted not that
Olive would be as pleased as I was with the
prospect Of residing at Lyndon, for which she
had always felt so strong an attachment.


The summer wore on. I paid frequent Wis.
its to my betrothed, and began to urge upon
her the expediency of appointing some de6n'
ite time for, our wedding. She seemed at first
little reluctant to comply, but on my press
ing the matter, consented to name the fifteenth
of October as the day. ......sr . ...


I was now, of course, in the seventh heav.
en- of happiness. Ny prospects seemed un'
checkered by cloud Olives department to
me was full of gentleness and sweetness, and
if she still appeared rather more reticent of
expressing her feelings than wished her to
be, I was willing to attribute this to her maid
enly reserve and not any lack Of affection for
me. That she should love me as passionately
as l now did her, I could scarcely expect.
NY whole soul was absorbed in my devotion
to her. excluding almost every other consid'
Grafton, and certainly casting everything else
completely in the shade: I had no eyes, no
thoughts, no hopes, for anything but her and
the future we were to spend together, was to
my anticipation never-ceasing theme of un-
speakable delight. My old, moody, captious
self had vanished. I scarcely knew myself
in the joyous mood now wore. My heart
was filled with peace and goodwill to my fel'
low men, and all the world looked bright.


While was in this halcyon frame of mind,
I got letter from sSeiwyu, who was now pur-
suing his profession, with what success l
knew not in his chambers in London. He
wrote to tell me that he had been little out of
health lately, and that if it would prove agree
able to my brother and myself, he would take
advantage of a general invitation l had given
him at our last parting, and pay US short
visit; adding, that he doubted not that our
society and country air combined would not
fail to recruit him speedily. I showed the
letter to Rudolph before replying.


"Shall bid him come, Rudolph? You
are host, you know, though was unceremo-
NOUS enough to invite him without your
leave"


"You know, Phil, I have told you often
enough that there is no such distinction be-
tween us--I second your invitation, of course.
Tell your friend we shall be most happy to
receive him, whenever he comes Is he aware
of your approaching marriage?"


81 suppose not. I'll write to him about it,
and ask him to stay over the time, shall 1F


"Certainly, as far as I am concerned. |
suppose he can accompany US to Bath"


had actually forgotten that was to be
married in Bath; it seemed so much more
natural to look forward to the ceremony ta'
king place at Lyndon. However, I answered
my friends epistle at once, telling him all my
plans and cordially pressing him to come at
once and remain with us as long as it suited
him to do so His next communication came
speedily, and was very BRIEF but satisfactory.
"MY DEAR PHrL-I had no idea you were con-
templating the momentous step you are about to
venture upon taking, or should nothave been so
indiscreet as to offer my company to you at such
| CO ind oa
ever, I think must yield to the temptation, and
run down for at least couple of days to see you
in your new character Of Benedict. 1 wish
might see your Beatrice, but you tell me she re-
felicity, trust I may have that pleasure. I will
be with you, D. ", on Thursday next, and wish
ing you all manner of happiness, remain


'Your very sincere friend,


"RALPH T. SELwYN."


"a couple of days that's nonsense" said
l, on reading this note. "We'll keep him q
couple of weeks, at least; and I'll carry him
to Bath and introduce him to Olive, for l
should like them to know each other"


1t seemed as if, of late, Rudolph and I had
changed characters He had become grave
and quiet, and even little reserved, while I,
in the exuberance of my joy, talked freely,
laughed frequently, und was in spirits for
anything. The prospect of seeing selwyn
added to my happiness. I felt an unfeigned
affection for him, unshaken by separation, and
was, besides, very desirous representing him to
my betrothed. b.. 49,.


Could I, alas have foreseen the fatal con-
sequences of the acquaintanceship longed
to establish-could l, in my blindness, have
caught even the faintest glimpse of the future
that Law before us-how different would nv