I were fortunately able to be of service to him during his painful illness, and he left the world in great charity with us and all Protestants."

"When was this?"

"At the time when I was making my last timber sales."

"Deeds that bespeak a spirit of goodwill are never thrown away," observed the Pastor. "They appeal irresistibly to the hearts even of those who hate us. Talking of Catholic acquaintances, there was Madame Barry died ten years ago with the best feeling toward

"Yes, she sent for me to her convent," said Jane, "that I might be with her in her last moments. She professed to have a mother's love for me, and so I believe she had. For this, and because she was my first instructress, I truly honour her memory. It was her desire that my third daughter, then an infant, should be called by her name. Of course I complied. To this namesake she made a singular bequest, namely, her crosses, reliques, and Romish missals, together with a sum of money. She also left a letter, in which she hopes that this child when of age would adopt the Catholic faith, and enter the convent in which she died. But of this I have at present little apprehensions."

"It was chiefly through her intercession that the estates of Rougemont are now in the possession of its lineal heir, instead of being confiscated to the state,” remarked Lady Letitia, "therefore there exist more than personal reasons why we should respect her memory."

And it was she who was mainly instrumental in

obtaining the Governor's leave for the interment of the Marquis' body on his own estate," said Lady Hester, "when by law it was doomed to lie with common felons."

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Pray don't slight the living to magnify the dead, good people," gaily interposed Mrs. Markham. “I believe Madam Barry would not have accomplished what you speak of without my aid. I must not have my good deeds forgot. I like to hear of them as you all know."

This provoked a laugh from the junior members of the party, whose merriment it wanted little to excite. They were too happy to be grave long. Their hearts were brimful of delight, and the turning of a straw was sufficient to call a thousand "wreathing smiles" upon their blooming faces.

"What have I said, pray, to set you all giggling?" cried Mrs. Markham, in assumed displeasure.

There was nothing in these words to account for the jocund peal of laughter that succeeded; but then her manner was very comical, at least so people like these, who wanted to give a vent to their overflowing spirits, might be pleased to think. There was nothing for it but to laugh too, which she did as heartily as the youngest present. They all laughed, even to the hoary Pastor. After that there occurred a jocund conversation, not important enough to deserve repeating, and while it was going on the party stepped out through the glass doors upon a terrace adorned with flowers, where they walked in the gayest humour imaginable until they reached the French windows of the saloon, through which they stepped, and joined the general company.

The next day was hailed with general rejoicing for miles around. During the minority of the heir to the estates the tenants had lost many benefits and privileges which the residence of a lord of Rougemont among them had usually conferred. Every habitan and cottager assembled in holiday attire to give a heartfelt welcome to the young Marquis, who met them in the front of his house immediately after his marriage, his fair bride hanging on his arm. There he addressed them in a short but animated speech, and they replied with an enthusiastic shout

"Vivat, Marquis! Vivat, Marchioness!"

He then led Lucy back to the front of the saloon windows, where his mother, now out of mourning for the first time during twenty-one years, stood richly dressed to receive her. The bridegroom's men, Lucy's brothers, and the bridesmaids, her sisters, were on the right of Lady Hester, and Mrs. and Mr. Lee on her left. Beside them stood Lady Letitia, Mrs. Markham, and other near and dear friends; and on an antique easy chair, in the midst of the group, sat the venerable Pastor.

Lucy bent her knee to the ground before him as he held out his arms to embrace her.

"Bless me, grandfather!" she tremulously exclaimed.

"I do-1 do-my good girl!" returned the Pastor, with emotion, stooping to kiss her forehead. "Thou art the worthy daughter of a worthy mother, and thou shall lived honoured and happy as she has lived!"

A dinner upon a grand and lavish scale had been provided in front of the house, of which rich and poor were equally invited to partake. Pavilions, festooned with

roses, had been erected for the occasion. Two cross tables at the upper end were set out with the gorgeous family plate belonging to the mansion, and here visitors of rank and the relatives of the Marquis took their places. He himself occupied the central seat, his wife being on his right, his mother on his left. A long row of tables stretched downwards from before him, pleasantly overshadowed by green boughs, and adorned with vases of plants breathing a rich perfume. Several hundred persons, men, women, and children, sat there; the men and boys in gay-coloured sashes, their summer hats of light straw lying on the grass beside them; the women and girls in jackets of many-coloured cloth, French head-dresses of the brightest hues, and their best moccasins on their feet.

The only drawback to the general satisfaction was this, that their young lord held the Protestant faith. But they were scarcely inclined to dwell upon this unpleasant reflection while his hospitable cheer invited their senses. Their attention was powerfully drawn to this good cheer, and his heresy was for the present overlooked by common consent.

The Pastor said grace while all stood. When seats had been resumed, the young Marquis arose, and pledged his tenants in a glass of sparkling ale. Each drained the pledge, and a loud "Vivat, Marquis!" again arose. Dinner then proceeded. As soon as it was over wine was freely distributed, and each board groaned beneath a weight of foreign and native fruits, mingled with confectionary.

After the entertainment the tables were removed, the trees hung with festooned lights-green, purple, crimso

and other colours; the cascades, fountains, and rivulets, illuminated with a surprising profusion of Russian lights, giving them, as by magic, the appearance of liquid fire; and every part of the grounds resounded with gay music.

The tenants were under no restraint whatever. They wandered about in this gorgeous fairy land as they pleased: here, in some retired alcove, partaking of foreign delicacies with whose very names they were unacquainted, there, dancing on the smooth sod. had there been such a day in Rougemont.

Never

On the lawn next the house the dancing was kept up uninterruptedly. The Marquis and his bride led off the first figure, and a bridesmaid and a young habitan the second.

Within the mansion the scene was dazzling. A long suite of rooms, consisting of the great saloon, the drawing and dining rooms, the ball-room, the conservatory and greenhouse, were thrown into one line. Delicate pilasters, wreathed with roses, and covered with gilding, shot up at regular intervals on each side along the whole length of the suite; the roof above was decorated with crowns and wreaths of roses and lilies; and both walls and roof were interspersed with a million of lights equally soft and brilliant.

The furuiture was of that magnificent and antique character, which insensibly carried the imagination back to the days of old romance. There were pedestals and sideboards of the rich time of Louis XIV.; carved chairs, of an earlier date, white and gold, covered with tapestry; enormous mirrors in fantastically-wrought frames; tables of red-veined alabaster backed with Ve