now considered to be our due; so, after much pressing on our side, and some little reluctance on hers, she at length proceeded :

"It was not long after this change had taken place in the prospects of Louis Girardot, that a rumour of a new war, in which the emperor was about to embark, spread throughout the metropolis, and while many a young heart beat joyously at the news, many a fair young cheek grew paler. Louis had grown more restless in his manner of late; more of his time was spent with his gay young cousin, and when he sought our society he was more silent and abstracted than even Paquerette herself; and it was evident to all that there was something in his mind, which he was anxious to conceal.

"It was about the middle of winter when the final announcement of the approaching war was made public. It was one very cold morning, I remember well, and we were all comfortably gathered round the poêle in Françoise's little lodge. The good woman had brought the journal and was spelling the news from it, and when she had concluded, Melanie turned to Paquerette, who was copying music at the window, and said that it was a fortunate thing for her that he was not in the army, for it would no doubt be a hard campaign. And how many would depart who could never hope to return.

"I gazed at Paquerette as these words were uttered, and saw that her hand trembled violently. I had fancied that there was something bitter in the tone in which Melanie spoke, and I said to her laughingly, "Have a care, the war may reap better men than he.

of Louis when there is his gallant cousin ?'

What need

"Paquerette dropped the pen she held, and clasping her hands while she looked at me mournfully, exclaimed aloud, evidently forgetting that she was not alone,

"His cousin, his cousin! would to God he had never seen him!'

"I could scarcely conjecture at that moment, what could be the meaning of this bitter ejaculation, and was gazing on her as she sat silent and abstracted, wondering at the cause of her aversion to the handsome young soldier, when a shadow darkened the door of the lodge,

eye

and the young lieutenant himself stood before us. His fell upon Paquerette as he entered-she looked full into his face, and slowly arose. Her love was prophetic. His eye quailed beneath that glance, and his cheek grew crimson. He did not speak, but bowed to all around, and Paquerette was the only one who moved; she advanced towards him, and took, without uttering a single word, the arm which he extended at her approach. As he led her down the steps, I could see a shade of sadness steal over his open brow while looking down upon that pale face, and those upturned eyes gazing so meekly into his-I felt that the hour of bitter grief was nigh at hand.

"We were surprised at this sudden intrusion, and this still more sudden exit from the lodge, and we all crowded to the doorway to watch them. Round and round that court-yard did they slowly turn, and we could see each time they passed that Paquerette still preserved silence, and that the young man was pouring forth in a low tone torrent of words, accompanied by vehement gesticulation, for which he was so remarkable.

"He re-entered alone, and seemingly cheerful and contented, as if a heavy load had been taken off his mind. Paquerette had gone up instantly to her chamber. Of course we were not tardy in our inquiries

respecting the subject of his business. He seemed almost overpowered as he replied,

"Paquerette is a generous noble-hearted maiden. I did not think so much courage could be contained in so frail and delicate a form. It was but with a sorry heart that I undertook this mission.'

"What mission?' exclaimed I, in breathless alarm.

66 6

Only the announcement of my cousin Louis's determination to become a man at last, and to listen to the promptings he has long felt stir within him; but he feared the effect which the sorrow of Paquerette might have upon his resolution, and, therefore, deputed me to the task of breaking to her the unwelcome tidings. But he knew her not, however; she was calm to the last, she listened in silence while I delivered myself of all the well-digested arguments which Louis and I had been at so much pains to prepare together, all about his wish to rise for her alone, and such-like reasoning; and when I had ended, she looked in my face, and earnestly inquired,

"Does Louis himself desire this?'

"I was, in truth, overjoyed to be able to answer 'Yes,' for 1 should not have dared to have lied in answer to the searching glance by which she accompanied the words, and when I did reply, she merely exclaimed, in a low sad tone,

""Tis well-'tis well, then, there was no need of so much disguise.' "And so our conference ended, for she had scarcely uttered these words ere she had flown up the staircase which leads to her own chamber.'

"I trembled as he spoke-none but myself knew, nor could possibly understand the depth, the grandeur of the love of Paquerette, and none, I thought, could succeed so well in affording her comfort under her misfortune, and I instantly flew to console her with the hope that she would unburden her sorrows in my bosom. She was standing at the window as I entered, gazing upon vacancy. Not a tear dimmed her eye, and she turned fiercely round as the sound of my approaching step fell upon her ear. She started and drew back, when I advanced, and stared for a moment in utter unconsciousness upon my countenance. I took her by the arm, and led her gently to the bed-that snow-white bed whereon we were seated when she had told me the story of her love. Once more were we seated there side by side, but with, oh, what widely different feelings! I laid her head upon my bosom, and warmed her ice-cold hands in mine, and presently she yawned and stretched forth her arms like one awaking from slumber, and said, in a low, hoarse tone,

"Louis is about to depart, Georgette; he has other visions of wealth and honour than those produced by his profession; my love, which, once, was all things to his soul, is now discarded for idle dreams of glory and of riches. His cousin says that 'tis for me that he longs to grow wealthy; for me, dost hear? for me, Paquerette, who would have given all the riches beneath the sun but to have recalled, for a short space, those days when we used to meet together unknown to all the world-when his words could reach my very soul, even when they were spoken from that dizzy parapet!'

"She hid her face upon my shoulder, and sobbed aloud, while my own tears fell thick and fast upon her beautiful head, and I could only press her more fondly than ever to my heart, while I exclaimed:

"Thou must take courage, dearest Paquerette. All young and ardent

souls pant for glory at a time like this. Louis will return. His love has made him ambitious; fear not, his love will make him bold, and he will come back to us covered with honour and glory.'

"She laid her hand upon my arm, and answered, solemnly,

"Deceive not thyself, dear Georgette, he will return no more. 'Twas all a dream then, and it is gone for ever-I shall see him no more. Knowst thou 'tis as if he were already gone? Dost thou remember the day when the dark-blue dove-the golden-eyed azurine-flew from my hand through the open window; we saw her yet for a long time as she moved among the house-tops, we knew that she was there, but she was our own no longer. She had dreams of her old liberty, and cared not to return. Thou canst not have forgotten how she tried her wing, timidly at first and with precaution, and then, when grown more bold, how she soared to the sky, and was lost to sight.'

"I used my utmost endeavours to restore her faith in Louis, but nothing could root out this persuasion from her mind. She saw him make all preparations for his departure; she witnessed the tumult of his hope-the wild ambition which had taken place in his bosom of all other feelings, with so much calmness and resignation, that I began almost to doubt if I had not exaggerated the power of her attachment.

"The day of his departure arrived. I had sat with him till very late on the previous evening, long after Paquerette had sighed forth her last farewell, and was up again with the sun to see him depart. How I remember the cold gray morning, and the desolate feelings I experienced, as I shivered along to the guard-house. The dripping eaves, the cold mist of the dawn, seemed to encompass me around like the icy breath of the grave; and I was so sad that I felt as if I were in reality about to bid an eternal farewell to Louis. He advanced to meet me with tearful and with a gasping welcome. I did not feel surprised at his sadness, for my own heart was like lead within my bosom. He was so overcome by grief, perhaps mingled also with self-reproach, at the step which he had taken, that he had grown more expansive than usual in his manner towards me, for he pressed my hand warmly to his lips, and exclaimed

"Dear and kind Georgette, ever good and generous, how shall I ever be able to repay thee? Watch over her, Georgette, when I am gone, as thou didst once, and with such fond care, watch over me, and if

"Emotion choked his utterance, and, pausing to brush the tears away, he resumed

"Tis strange-the hope-the buoyant courage, which my cousin has instilled into me are now deserting me when I most require them. I feel not as I should do at this hour, I am unnerved, and my thoughts all turn backward to the past, when they should be busy with the future. But then I have been all night long a prey to feverish visions, enough in truth to make a man superstitious who is about to depart he knows not whither, and to return he knows not when. I had paced my chamber in my restlessness and had opened my casement in the thirst for fresh air, ere I yielded to the necessity I felt of taking some repose, but had scarcely sunk into a troubled slumber, when I was awakened by the fancy that the face of the sweet angel Paquerette was bending over me, as I slept, and thought while I yet gazed in terror, that the vision faded into air. I arose then, for I could sleep no longer, and it was not till then-'

"The first roll of the drum interrupted his speech, and it was not till

the stunning din had ceased that he resumed, but hastily, for a moment was a treasure.

"I found upon the window-sill what thou didst so kindly leave with me last night, or I should have given it thee back again, believe me. Thinking I should not again see thee before my departure, I gave it into the hands of my cousin, who will return it to thee, for 'tis not seemly thou shouldst despoil thyself. I have kept but this token, which is of far more value to me than aught beside.'

"As he spoke he drew from his bosom a bunch of the scarlet geranium which I knew so well; the blossoms were tied together with a long silken mesh of jet black hair, and he kissed it with fervour.

"I had not time to speak nor to deny, save by signs, any participation in the gift, for the drum again beat, and the conscripts were marshalled into marching order. He waved his hand once more, holding the bunch of flowers. His look of anguish I have never forgotten when he thrust the glowing blossoms into his bosom and seized his gun. I gazed into his face-a secret voice seemed to whisper that I was looking my last farewell. . . . . . I was right in my presentiment, for that same Louis Girardot -the painter-the poet-the pure-hearted--the gentle-minded, I never beheld again!

"I withdrew slowly and in sadness from the spot. As I passed through the arch of the Tuileries, I was accosted by the lieutenant, who came running at full speed, and arrived panting and breathless before me :

"I have been looking for you this hour and more,' exclaimed he, 'on the part of that greenhorn, Louis. He has sent me to return a trifle you left on his window-sill last evening, along with a bunch of red flowers which, forsooth, he keeps! But he is fool enough to declare that he will not avail himself of this, and my opinion, I may say it to you, for you are a true and gallant girl, that he is doubly fool to refuse what is so generously given, so kindly withal, and with such good intent. departs with scarce a single sous, and he knows not what a sorry life he will have to lead. Mon Dieu, better be the dog of the regiment than the gueux.'

He

"He drew forth the object of which he was speaking, and hurriedly sought to place it in my hand. It was a bag of coarse, dark canvass, heavy with the coin of which it was full. It is not mine,' exclaimed I, faintly, indeed 'twas not I who placed it there. It never has been mine. I have nought to do with the gift.'

"Mille tonnerres!' shouted he, this is no time for fine sentiments, there is the last signal-the clarions are ringing-thou'lt_give me the rest of all thy fine phrases when the campaign is over. Farewell, my girl, thou wilt better learn the value ere long of what thou seemest to despise. 'Tis well I am the only man among ye, and have some thought for the puling péquin.'

"The clarions rang once more--the lieutenant coloured to the very temples, and shouldering his sabre, ran with the speed of lightning to join the troop, and was in another moment lost to sight.

"For me, I remained rooted to the spot, nor heeded the jeers and gibes of the passengers, who took me for I know not what. The truth flashed across my mind. The secret of the dream of Louis-the vision which he had fancied to be some supernatural warning-that coarse canvass bag-belonged to Paquerette de Fontenay!"

TICK;

OR,

MEMOIRS OF AN OLD ETON BOY.

BY CHARLES ROWCROFT, AUTHOR OF "TALES OF THE COLONIES; OR THE ADVENTURES OF AN EMIGRANT."

CHAPTER XIX.

NOTWITHSTANDING my usual impetuosity, I walked my horse down to the ford slowly; for the recent conversation of which I had been the unpremeditated auditor had given rise to new and pleasing hopes; and I felt a desire for leisure and quiet to analyse my feelings. Even the interruption of leaping over one or two hedges and ditches discomposed me; and I experienced a sort of irritation which is apt to beset one when any obstacle intervenes to disturb one's musings.

Various conflicting thoughts assailed me. I felt a glow of vague delight as I dwelt on the words uttered by the beautiful "Lavinia ;" and at the same time I was dissatisfied with myself for having come to the knowledge of them as a listener-unintentional as it was-in a way that might be considered mean and surreptitious. Then I began to speculate on who "Lavinia" was? Was she the daughter of the old gentleman in the brown wig, against whom my father had conceived so violent a prejudice at the sale? Moreover, the brown wig had positively outbid him, and bought the land as it were froin under his very nose; and the indignation which so signal an affront excited still festered in my father's breast, and he felt more mortified than he cared to express at having been thwarted in a favourite project by a stranger of seemingly no pretensions -except a strength of purse which my father heartily despised.

Besides, some instinctive feeling told me that the characters of my father and him of the brown wig were diametrically opposed to each other; the latter priding himself not only on his possession of an abundance of those much-coveted representatives of wealth bearing the signature of "Henry Hase," but also on his custom of paying readymoney for what he bought-a practice which was altogether opposed to my worthy father's habits and predilections.-Altogether I by no means felt confident of the smoothness with which the parties concerned very naturally desire should accompany affairs in which the heart is engaged; and I began to be tormented with the doubts and fears which are the usual concomitants of a nascent passion. As I revolved these thoughtshaving passed through the stream at the ford almost without being conscious that the water rose as high as my legs-I found myself opposite the green bank which had been the witness of my morning's adventure. There was no creature in sight; so silent and still was all around me that the garden and the country about seemed to be absolutely uninhabited; and I experienced a strange feeling of loneliness as I passed slowly on by the side of the river.-I did not like to stop lest it should look particular, and as if I had some design in taking that course, which, as I June.-VOL. LXXXIII. NO. cccxxx.