Venetia

e over him now with irresistible power. A day of enjoyment had terminated, and it left him melancholy. Hour after hour he paced the moon-lit cloisters of his abbey, where not a sound disturbed h

ngly to Venetia Herbert was her unusual life, and the singular circumstances of her destiny that were not unknown to him. True he was young; but, lord of himself, youth was associated with none of those mortifications which make the juvenile pant for manhood. Cadurcis valued his youth and treasured it. He could not conceive love, and the romantic life that love should lead, without the circumambient charm of youth adding fresh lustre to all that was bright and fair, and a keener relish to every combination of enjoyment. The moonbeam fell upon his mother's monument, a tablet on the cloister wall that recorded the birth and death of KATHERINE CADURCIS. His thoughts flew to his ancestry. They had conquered in France and Palestine, and left a memorable name to the annalist of his country. Those days were past, and yet Cadurcis felt within him the desire, perhaps

sed and even proposed. The fresh air was grateful to him; he bounded along to Cherbury, and brushed the dew in his progress from the tall grass and shrubs. In sight of the hall, he for a moment paused.

itely beautiful. Perhaps her countenance to-day was more pale than wont. There seemed a softness in her

early,' she remarked, 'and

she would not delay the conversation on which his happiness depended? He could scarcely doubt which vers

e so kind to me and so much intended for my happiness. I do not love suspense; but indeed last night I was too much surprised, too much overcome

wn Ve

d not love me, Plantagenet, more unhappy than I have even been these last

etia! my Vene

I have learnt to do this; it is very sad, and very

amaze

ed, but in a tone mournful and

away five years

have pard

It was well for you to be away; and I rejoic

cked to have b

mma's. You were very young; you did as all would, as all must do. H

e! a

agenet. Events will happen in five years, e

in a voice of some anxiet

ild; you find me a woma

uspense is awful. Be brief

erplexity. She could not comprehend th

ded, after a short pause;

h you passed at the hall and walk

her, I shall ne

n you were once at Marring

, a

our house shut up. W

etia; it wa

etia in a solemn tone; 'and never h

d Cadurcis, very pal

et, I have

and for an instant hi

d in a gloomy vo

with astonishment. 'Who cou

replied Cadurcis; '

et that I have a father, why this concealment then? I know that I am not the child of shame!' s

ould almost welcome, you would speak to me; you would tell me all. I have sighed for this; I have longed for this; I have prayed for this. To meet some one who would speak to me of my father; who had heard of him, who knew him; has b

ther?' said Lord Cadu

speak, they tell me her heart will b

ou no f

you my

or Ma

tells me that he lives, a

your father; th

gy. 'Of what else? For what do I live but to think of him? Wha

A

h, what a shade! what a glorious, what an immortal shade

odlike,' observed Lord Cadurcis

m dilated with enthusiasm, and involuntarily withdrawing her arm

laimed. 'And what sho

hat is grand and noble could be breathed

th increased bitterness. 'As for his conduct, your mother is a

, in a softened voice; 'a

, as a thousand oth

replied Venetia,

e to being a cherished mistress? More ho

er me he has breathed forth the hallowed blessing of a parent! That transcendent form has pressed his lips to mine, and held me with fondness to his heart! And shall I credit aught to his dishonour? Is there a being in existence who can persuade me he is heartless or abandoned?

ly have proved a passion; who appeared to him barely to comprehend the meaning of his advances; for whose calmness or whose coldness he had consoled himself by the flattering conviction of her unknowing in

watch the gradual development of this bud of sweet affections, waiting, with proud anxiety, her fragrant and her full-blown love. But now it appeared that her coldness or her indifference might be ascribed to any other cause than the one to which he had attributed it, the innocence of an inexperienced mind. This girl was no stranger to powerful passions; she could love, and love with fervency, with devotion, with enthusiasm. This child of joy was a woman of deep and thoughtful sorrows, brooding in solitude over high resolves and passionate aspirations. Wh

munication which interested me,' he

assumed, were not lost upon Venetia. She endeavour

brought me here only to inform me that you have

e, and looking on the ground, 'to thank you for you

ton! The best thing your mother can do is to lock you up in the c

uietly, 'but one who is acting as she thinks right; a

urf surrounded by shrubs; Cadurcis walked up and down this area with angry step

ng that you cannot marry me because you love another? Is not that other, by your own account, y

cannot love you as a husband should be loved. I can never love you as I love my father. However, it is useless to talk upon this subject. I have not even the power of marrying you if I wished, fo

you on your pare

only feel it. But, whatever your opinion may be of my father

henever I choose; quite convinced that, however you esteem that opinion, it will not be widely different

to have acted as you have so singularly proposed. I do not wish to marry, and marry I never will; but were it in my power, or in accordance with my wish, to unite my fate for ever with another's, it should at

is synonymous with infamy, and which no one dares to breathe in civilised life; whose very blood is pollution, as you will some day feel; who has violated every tie, and derided every pr

arrest her flight. He remained rooted to the ground, muttering to himself the word 'boy!' Suddenly raising his arm and looking up to the sky, he exclaimed, 'The illusion is vanished! Farewell, Cherbury! farewell, Cadurcis! a wider theatre awaits me! I have been too long the slave of soft affections! I root them out of my heart for ever!' and, fitting the