in sleep-and drained glass after glass to insure its soothing influence.

At length, he ascended the stairs to gain his room; but as he raised his eyes—there, at the top-in the corridor stands this smiling terror-it seems to pause at the door of his daughters' sitting-room, which he had never entered since Constance left him-and here he loses sight of his shadowy persecutor. Rendered desperate, he bursts open the door, but recoils with a loud cry, for there, in the space which he well remembered-ah! had he not cause there, where the portrait of his ill-used wife stood-now in her place, was this mysterious visitant ; once more a loud cry resounds through the desolate house, and is heard by the alarmed Mrs. Dawson and his own servant.

They hastened towards him, and found him like one entranced, gazing with looks of horror on the blank pier, from which Constance had removed her mother's portrait, having, however, left the frame.

Mrs. Dawson was the first to rally; she took the candlestick from his trembling and unresisting hand, and beckoning to his servant to follow, led the way to his room; then, desiring to be fetched when he was in bed, she gave him a composing draught, and quietly

took her station by the fire.

Contrary to his usual custom, he was passive under this treatment, and very soon fell into a refreshing sleep, which lasted till late the next day; when he arose, calm but languid, and, pleading fatigue, declined an interview even with his agent; and, under one pretext or another, kept Mrs. Dawson with him the greater part of the day.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Jaffier. Now, thank heaven!—

Pierre. Thank heaven! for what?

Jaffier. That I'm not worth a ducat."

Venice Preserved.

"THIS is very painful news, Constance," said Mrs. Templeton, handing her a note.

Very sad, indeed; what can be done ?"

"Go at once, my dear, and see if Mr. Stöpsel be still at home. Hark! I hear his voice-run and ask him to step here."

"We have had very bad news from our friend, Mrs. Stacey,"

"a seizure for debt;

she said, as he entered;

and we cannot tell what

we had better do. You would greatly oblige us, if you could call there before you go to business."

"Of course, madam, I will.'

"Thank you;" and having hastily dismissed him with the message, she and Constance looked at each other for a few minutes, in silent dismay.

Can you ascertain from the note where Mr. Stacey is ?"

Indeed, mamma, it is so incoherent, I cannot; but I expect he is at home, and that it is her alarm on his account which has so excited her."

"The best thing," said Mrs. Templeton, 'will be for me to go with Gretchen, and see how matters really are. So far as I can help them, it shall be done at once; but I fear the little I can immediately offer, will be of no use; let us hold a consultation of ways and means with Gretchen. There is no doubt but that we can give comfortable shelter to Mrs. Stacey and her little girl."

"Oh! easily, dear mamma; there is Helen's cot, will do beautifully for Isabel, and a small bed can be contrived in the same room for her mother; but you may leave that to me, while you go and see what funds you have."

But, alas! the funds were low, for this was towards the middle of February; and Mrs. Templeton, for the first time since she left the Priory, felt that she was poor.

When she reached the Staceys, she found all there distress and confusion; poor Mrs. Stacey looked the very picture of woe, nor did he look much better; while to all the sorrow that his wife felt, was added, in his case, the

consciousness that his imprudence, folly, and vanity had led to this catastrophe.

Mrs. Templeton soon ascertained that her aid would scarcely lessen the difficulty; for if the rent were paid, other claimants would become importunate, and press forward with bills to a very ruinous amount.

The landlord, who was by no means one of those dramatic, stony-hearted monsters, who sell the bed and turn the wife bonnetless and shoeless out of doors, listened respectfully to Mrs. Templeton's proposal that he should take that part of his debt which her means enabled her to discharge at once, and wait till an arrangement could be effected by which all could be cleared off.

"I am really very sorry, ma'am, to seem harsh, but I and my family depend chiefly on my rents. Upwards of half-a-year is due. Mr. Stacey will own that I have always been patient."

"I do," said Stacey, thus appealed to. 'My dear Mrs. Templeton, let the law take its course-it is but just; and were I the only one punished, I should say no matter how severe the penalty. But it really does cut me to the heart, to see my wife and child homeless, through my folly."

"That they shall not be for one moment,"