dale, with sudden and visible emotion, | taining the distinction which his her eyes filling with tears-" and he tutors had so confidently anticipated was invited to dinner here to-day, but for him. The Earl had had, up to has an engagement which all who that moment, no knowledge whatever know him must respect him for keep of young Ayliffe's being at the Uniing. Do they not, dear Mr Hylton ?" versity; and how this fact, and that "Indeed, my dear Duchess, they of his defeating Lord Alkmond, would do!" replied Mr Hylton, with corres- be received by the Earl, was a problem pondent emotion. "I shall never for- which Mr Hylton was about to solve get yesterday or rather, the day with some trepidation; and that trebefore! I am, however, thinking pidation he had communicated to Lord anxiously about-you know whom! Alkmond. "But," said his lordship, What will he say of it?" "I will answer for my grandfather. When he first hears it all, he may be a little angry about the concealment, but that can be most amiably accounted for: and then, if I know the nature of the blood that runs in our family, he may be somewhat dissatisfied with me for my failure, but towards my distinguished opponent will feel as becomes a gentleman." How differently turned out events from those for which these excellent persons were preparing! -The Earl of Milverstoke was dead. "Let us drink health and prosperity to the new senior wrangler," said the Duke, somewhat abruptly, glancing significantly at the Duchess and Mr Hylton; "for he is an honour to your University, Mr Vice-Chancellor and gentlemen! Come, my dear Alkmond' “Indeed I will - with my entire heart," he replied, eagerly; "I shall ever feel an inexpressible interest in Mr-Southern." The Heads all looked at one another with a well-bred air of mystery, as though they had hit upon a problem that would bear discussing by-and-by On the next evening it got noised about, that Lord Alkmond, Mr Southern, and the strange-looking person with whom he walked about so much, had all dined together, that afternoon, at the Inn and it somehow or other got known, that conversation was particularly restrained and formal, so long as dinner was on the table, but seemed afterwards more earnest. And the next day the whole party quitted Cambridge in a carriage and four! Such, indeed, was the fact; and their destination was Milverstoke-whither Lord Alkmond anxiously hastened to give an account of the defeat which he had sustained, to his grandfather, and prepare him to hear by whom, in the mysterious and wonderful course of events, that defeat had been occasioned, Mr Hylton promising his assistance in the enterprise for he knew, better even than the high-minded and frankhearted young Viscount, the bitter mortification which was in store for the Earl; who appeared long to have set his heart upon his grandson's ob For some time before Mr Hylton's departure for Cambridge, the Earl's health and spirits had been greatly depressed; which Mr Hylton and his lordship's medical attendant attributed to the excitement and agitation occasioned by the Ayliffes' return to Milverstoke, and anxiety about Lord Alkmond's success at the University. As to the former, immediately on the Earl's hearing of their return, he sent a message to Mr Hylton, requesting him to take a chaise and bring with him Ayliffe and his wife to the Castle. This Mr Hylton did; and the Earl's manner in receiving and addressing them, was signally characterised by dignity and kindness. "Remember always, Adam," said his lordship, "it was not I who caused your arrest on the charge upon which you were tried, nor placed you in the situation which led to your being arrested. You were fairly and openly tried by your equals, as every Englishman must be, who is charged, whether rightly or wrongfully, with an of fence. I, who had no part in your trial, verily believed you guilty : I do declare it upon my honour-I do assure you of it solemnly before God; "Then may God Almighty bless you both, my poor persecuted friends! bless you here and hereafter, and prepare you for that day which I feel is drawing awfully near to me! Pray for me while I am with you; and when I am dead, continue in a kind and forgiving spirit, and be gentle to my memory. He that will succeed me will behave more worthily in his station than I have. I am not deserving of such a grandson! But I am faint, and must bid you farewell. Give me your hands, my friends; and when you return home, you will find here a little token a-piece for you, of my good-will, and an earnest only of what I will do for you!" Then he gave and I continued to believe it, till the | his lordship that all was forgotten in extraordinary confession of the crime, the joy of their returning, and with by the man whose shameful cruelty the bloody stain of guilt for ever first led you heedlessly astray. No blotted out. man could force my understanding, Adam, to believe that you were innocent, when I conscientiously believed that you were guilty, or guilty, if I had really believed that you were innocent; but I freely own, humbly and penitently, before God, that I have, ever since you were charged with my unhappy son's death, felt, until lately, a most unjustifiable and unchristian animosity and vindictiveness towards both you and your exemplary father. Through the teaching of Mr Hylton, and the blessing of God, I have, I trust, been greatly altered, and regard my past conduct herein with down right shame and grief. But Christ my Saviour hath looked upon me in mercy, and (I trust) softened a heart which was a heart of stone. I hope that the consolations of religion are yours, and that they have been during your banishment; and now that you are returned, I hope that peace will attend you both, nay all of you, for the rest of your days. I am myself a great sinner," here the Earl became greatly affected, turned pale, and paused for a while; then he proceeded in a broken voice-"I am, alas! a much greater sinner than you think of, or than probably any one knows of, but my kind, pitying friend, Mr Hylton. But I have repented—yes, in dust and ashes; and may God accept of my repentance! I am not much longer for this world. Would I had led a better life, and set a better example to those around me. And now, do you, both of you, heartily forgive me, my friends. my long-oppressed, my excellent and greatly pitied friends?" continued the Earl, in a very moving manner. Both Ayliffe and his wife, whom the Earl had made to sit down near him when they entered, were in tears all the while that the Earl was speaking; for there was something indescribably touching and solemn in the tones of his voice and the expression of his countenance. They fervently assured to each a small sealed packet, and they withdrew, leaving him much exhausted. They found in each packet bank-notes to the amount of £500. When Mr Hylton had set off for Cambridge with Adam Ayliffe (whose accompanying him was not known to the Earl), Lady Alkmond, who was, from the first, acquainted with the secret concerning him who had become unexpectedly so formidable a competitor with her son, resolved, being left alone with the Earl, and seeing his subdued and gentle temper, herself to break the whole matter to him; and this she did so judiciously, and with such winning tenderness, that the Earl expressed only great, very great surprise, but no anger whatever. He was, on the contrary, much affected by the silent unostentatious generosity of his daughter, the Duchess of Waverdale. When the news came that Lord Alkmond had been defeated, and by young Ayliffe, Lady Alkmond shed a flood of tears; and with a mother's fondness lamented the grievous disappointment of their proud and ambitious hopes. When she had sufficiently recovered her self-possession, she went to the Earl, and broke the tidings to him as gently as possible. He was then lying in the bed from which he was destined never to rise, and received the intelligence with perfect calmness, though a faint flush at first overspread his fine yet wasted features. The first words which he uttered, after tenderly folding his arms round Lady Alk. mond, and kissing her, were these:"This God hath done, and as a scourge for my pride! As such I humbly receive it. God bless the youth Ayliffe! may God bless them both! Oh send for my grandson! my daughter! my friend Hylton!" The next day the doctor told Lady Alkmond that he had noticed a striking alteration in the Earl's countenance, and advised her to prepare for a great change. Other medical assistance was sent for, and an express despatched for Lord Alkmond, the Duchess of Waverdale, and Mr Hylton. The Earl's solicitor was also summoned, and remained alone for some little time with his lordship, who caused some additions to be made to his will. Getting rapidly fainter and worse, his lordship directed his confidential servant to go in the coach to the cottage of old Adam Ayliffe, with an entreaty to him to come, in remembrance of a promise which he had made to the Earl of Milverstoke some time before. On hearing this the old man trembled, and covered his face with his hands for some moments. Then, with a solemn countenance, getting his hat and stick, and putting his Bible under his arm, he said to the servant, Ay, I will go with thee to my Lord!" When the Earl saw him, it was about evening, and the sun was setting. Its declining rays shone softly into the magnificent chamber in which lay the dying nobleman. “Adam, see—it is going down!" said Lord Milverstoke in a low tone, looking mournfully at Adam, and pointing to the sadly splendid spectacle of the sinking sun. "How is thy soul with God?" said the old man, with great solemnity. The Earl placed his hands together, and remained silent for some moments. Then he said, "I would it were, good Adam, as I believe thine is!" Adam," said the Earl gently, "thou speakest somewhat sternly to one with a broken spirit but God bless thee! Thy honest voice searcheth me! Wilt thou make me a promise, Adam?" said the Earl, softly placing his hand upon that of Ayliffe. Ay, my Lord, if I can perform it." "Wilt thou follow my unworthy dust to the grave? I would have followed thee, hadst thou gone first?" "I will!" replied Adam, looking solemnly at the Earl. "And now give me thy prayers, dear Adam! Pray for him that-is to come after me-for I go-and "- He paused long, and his eyes remained closed. After a while, he faintly murmured, "Peace !-peace!" Lady Alkmond, who was at the other side of the bed, observed a great change come suddenly over the Earl's face. While Adam was opening the Bible, and adjusting his glasses to read a Psalm, she hastened round, leaned over the bed, and kissed the Earl's forehead and cheek, grasped his thin fingers, and burst into weeping. But the Earl saw her not, nor heard her; he was no longer among the living. The Earl of Milverstoke left to the Ayliffes the muLificent bequest of ten thousand pounds, which he styled in his will "an humble peace-offering." He also directed that all the land which had been purchased on his account from old Ayliffe, should be reconveyed to him free of every charge: and be queathed twenty pounds for a tablet to be erected in the church to the memory of old Adam Ayliffe, the inscription on which was to be written by Mr Hylton. Concerning him, his lordship said that he left the Rev. Henry Hylton his affectionate and his most unworthy blessing; grieving that he had made the Earl most solemnly promise to leave him no legacy what ever, on hearing from his lordship that such was his intention. But his lordship left Mary Hylton, the daughter of his dear friend the Rev. Henry Hylton, five thousand pounds. It cost that venerable man a great effort to comply with the wishes of the young Earl of Milverstoke and his sorrowful relatives, that he should bury his late friend. But he did; and old Adam Ayliffe went as one of the mourners, and stood with a majestic countenance, only a few yards from the spot where, within three months' time, he was himself laid, that he might take his rest beside her whom he had loved, till both- till all mankindshall rise at the sound of the trumpet of the Resurrection. He died with noble calmness. His very dead countenance diffused a living peace around the room, for its expression was that of a heavenly serenity. Him, also, Mr Hylton buried; the Earl of Milverstoke joining with Adam Ayliffe and his son, in following the honoured remains of the old patriarch through a little concourse in the churchyard, who wept silently as they passed. All those here mentioned are long since mouldered into dust, their kindred dust. They are dead, but have not perished, being only asleep. Perhaps already they see no longer through a glass, darkly, but face to face: knowing no longer in part, but even as they are known. We, who have come after them, see also, at present, as they saw, only through a glass, darkly wherefore we look for full clearness hereafter only; and till our sleeping time come, walk trembling, but hopefully. : CONCLUSION OF NOW AND THEN. PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH. THE LILY AND THE BEE AN APOLOGUE OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE OF 1851 A NEW EDITION, CAREFULLY REVISED, WITH NOTES, AND A PRELIMINARY EXPOSITION BY SAMUEL WARREN D. C. L. F. R. S. HUNC CIRCUM INNUMERA GENTES POPULIQUE VOLABANT. -Eneid, vi. 706-710. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS MDCCCLIV |