CHAPTER XV.

DISCORDANCES.

"But here upon this earth below,

There's not a spot where thou and I

Together for an hour could breathe."-Byron.

It was impossible that the discordant elements of social life assembled at Ashley Hall could harmonize for an instant. Of the family party gathered around the breakfast table, the pale, beautiful India assumed a mask of smiles-Mr. Ashley wore a look of anxious perplexity he did not care to hide-Mark Sutherland appeared self-possessed, but was too conscious to feel really at ease. Colonel Ashley was secretly annoyed, to find the re-union around the breakfast table not quite so cheerful as might have been expected Mrs. Vivian was vexed at the general tacit antagonism, and resolved, if this should last, to bring her visit to a close as soon as possible. Nevertheless, she kept up ar irregular fire of wit and repartee, to prevent the party falling into dead silence. Rosalie alone was truly at ease. She was totally ignorant of any cause of disunion in the circle, and too much absorbed in her own infinite content, to notice signs of disturbance among those around her.

When breakfast was over, the little lady drew Rosalie off into the piazza, and away up to the honeysuckle-shaded end, where no one was likely to come but the honey bees.

"And now, Rose." she asked, "what is it? Your

eyes have poured streams of light all breakfast time, like sun glances; they have projected rays wherever they have fallen. Now what is it all about?"

แ

"One should be merry in wedding times!"

"Merry in wedding times! Look here, Rosalie ! Some marriages are made in heaven, some on earth, and some-in the other place. But it was not merriment, but profound, still joy, that lighted your eyes, Rose! Now, what was it all about?"

"Mark loves me, mamma!" whispered the girl, hiding her face upon her step-mother's shoulder.

"Now, that's the most absurd thing I ever heard in all my life!" exclaimed the little lady, shoving her off, and walking rapidly away with a highly-flushed cheek.

Rosalie knew her too well, and trusted her too thoroughly, to feel any anxiety. She walked behind her, put her arms around her waist, and, bending forward, looked up smilingly into her eyes.

"You needn't think to get the better of me that way, Rose! It is ridiculous, I say! What do you mean to do with this love?"

Rose folded both hånds over her bosom with a look of unspeakable content. Both look and gesture were involuntary.

"Aye, hoard it away, treasure it deep in your heart, I suppose you mean. Silly girl! Well, what is to be the end of it all? What practical object do you propose to yourself? When ever do you expect to be married?"

"Whenever Mark asks me, mamma!"

"It is just madness!" exclaimed the lady, impa. tiently; "he has not a dollar!"

"Yes, he has! All that I have, mamma!"

"All that you have! Do you imagine for an instant that your guardian will give up one cent of your property during your minority? No; he will even stop your allowance if you become the wife of Mark' Sutherland!"

"Why should he do that? It would be very unjust!" said Rosalie, raising her eyebrows with surprise. "It would be unnatural! monstrous! My guardian, Mark's own uncle! Oh! surely, having discarded him, he will not pursue him with persecutions."

"Will he not?"

"No, I will never believe it!"

"He will fill up the measure of his animosity-believe that! Clement Sutherland did not appear at the breakfast table this morning. Can you not surmise the cause? He has many bad reasons for hating his nephew. He hates him for his political opinions, for his principles, and, more than all, for having had the power to give up the beautiful India. Clement Sutherland worships his beautiful daughter; and he hates Mark for not having laid upon her shrine the most precious jewel of his soul-his integrity. And now, with the opposition of your guardian, who is invested with such power over your fortune, what have you to expect in giving yourself to Mark Sutherland ?"

"I do not know; I shall leave it all to Mark. It is no conditional promise I have given him-no halffaith I have pledged him. I have given him the full and complete control of my destiny. I could not help it. All that was within me-heart, and soul, and spirit-sprang to him when he called me. Mam

ma, it is a word often abused, but at this moment my soul throws it irresistibly upon my lips-I adore Mark! And now, amidst opposition, persecution, desertion, he must know that there is one who will follow whereever he leads-one heart that will cleave to him, in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death."

At that very instant the boy brought the mail-bag, intruded upon them, and handed Mrs. Vivian a letter. As soon as her glance fell upon the superscription, her face flushed to the forehead, and, for the moment forgetful of Rosalie, she hastened to read it.

While this confidential conversation was going on between the young step-mother and her daughter, another scene, portentous with fate, transpired in the study of Colonel Ashley. As that gentleman was leaving the breakfast-room, a message was brought him from Mr. Clement Sutherland, desiring the favour of a few moments' private conversation with him. Jolonel Ashley returned word that he would be pleased to see Mr. Sutherland in his study. Thither he immediately proceeded, and thither soon followed his guest. Clement Sutherland entered, with a forbidding and foreboding scowl upon his brow.

Colonel Ashley instantly arose, set a chair, and invited him to be seated.

Clement Sutherland, without unbending the sternness of his features, bowed, and sat down.

"I trust you are in good health this morning, Mr. Sutherland," said the Colonel, urbanely.

"I am well, sir," replied his guest, coldly.

"I was sorry to miss you at the breakfast table this morning. I trust my little girl made you comfortable in your own apartment?"

"Thank you, sir."

Colonel Ashley was silenced and repelled for a little while by this churlishness on the part of his interlocutor; but, speedily recollecting that it was his guest who had sought this interview, he inquired with some reserve of manner

"Can I be so happy as to serve you in any way this morning, Mr Sutherland ?"

"Who recommended that young man whom you have engaged as a tutor?" asked Clement Sutherland, curtly.

Now, Colonel Ashley might well have been provoked by the abruptness of this question to make some unpleasant answer, but Colonel Ashley was a gentleman and a host. He replied with the utmost courtesy, yet in a manner that administered the keenest and most delicate rebuke. Looking at his guest, he said, slowly and with meaning, "His name recommended him, Mr. Sutherland."

"That is just what I feared. That is the one thing, unhappily, of which we cannot deprive him, and makes us, in some degree, responsible for him. Pray, sir, did you know anything of this young man's past history?"

"Nothing."

"You fancied him a relative of ours?" Certainly."

"Now, then, will you be so kind as to give me your attention for a few minutes ?"

Colonel Ashley settled himself in an attitude of fixed interest, and Ciement Sutherland commenced a narration of some considerable length, which, at its close, left Mark Sutherland with the character of a graceless