mount, majestically rising above the surrounding shades, and crowned with an open temple of white marble, covered with a dome of the same, supported by light pillars. Osmond, concluding from the elevation of this building it must command an enchanting prospect, eagerly ascended to it; but scarcely had he reached it, ere every sense became absorbed in surprise and admiration, at beholding on the opposite side, a few paces below it, seated like a mountain nymph upon a tufted sod, her shining tresses merely prevented from streaming in the light breeze that blew around her by a chaplet of wild flowers, her robe white and fluttering, and warm on her cheek the sultry season glowing, the lovely stranger.

He might perhaps have continued hours rivetted to the spot, had not the accidental turning of her head discovered him to her, and thus broke the spell that bound him.

On perceiving her rise hastily, as if with an intention of retreating, he darted forward, and throwing himself before her.... Oh do not,' he cried, in accents at once supplicating and impassioned, unable to resist the impulse of his feelings, do not let me be the means of still frightening you away. If you knew how restlessly, how ardently I have sought for such a minute as the present, you would not, I flatter myself, think of shortening it.'

6

He paused, in eager expectation of a reply. In vain, however, he looked for one. She spoke not, neither did she attempt to move; yet that something she wished to say, was evident from the expression of her coun

tenance.

'Oh say,' resumed the impetuous youth, agitated by this silence beyond the power of controlling his emotions, how am I to interpret this silence? Am I to....'

A loud hollo from the other side of the temple prevented his finishing this speech, and put the fair stranger to flight. He pursued her, perhaps involuntarily, and not without a wrathful invective against the person, whoever he was, that had driven her away; but ere he had got many yards in the tangled path into which she had darted, his cloaths got entangled in a bush of prickly shrubs, which his impetuosity made him overlook and

stumble amongst; and before he could extricate himself, the person whose voice had occasioned all this confusion made his appearance, and presented to the view of Osmond the features of one of the guests of Acerenza.... an elderly gentleman of the name of Belermo, who set up for a great physiognomist; and in order to make his talent known, and thus obtain for himself some little distinction, such as he was conscious, without making an effort for the purpose, he should vainly hope for, tormented every one with his observations. The high estimation in which he found Osmond was held at the palace of Acerenza, induced him to believe, if he could impress him with an opinion of his cleverness, he should reap some advantage from the circumstance; he therefore attached himself to him as much as possible throughout the day; and for the purpose of following up his plan respecting him, traced his steps.

Ah, my dear young friend,' he exclaimed, how much does your having stolen away from the madding crowd within, convince me that you are the young philosopher your countenance led me to believe!

Philosopher, Sir !' repeated Osmond, perhaps a little sternly, doubtful at first whether he was not laughing at him; but on looking earnestly in his face perceiving that he really was not....' upon my word, Sir, you confer a title on me to which I make no pretensions.'

And therefore do you merit it. Yes, your unassuming manners, your abstracted air, the indifference in which, to judge from your looks, you hold the pomps and vanities of this world....all confirm your right to the title; a title which any one who is at all a physiognomist will at the first glance bestow upon you; but never yet indeed was I mistaken in the judgments 1 formed from the countenance; never yet.......

'Some other time, Sir,' cried Osmond, but not with. out a difficultly-suppressed laugh at this curious original, 'some other time,' tearing away, as he spoke, his coat from the briars, I shall be happy to attend you, but at present I have an appointment elsewhere.'

Nay, if it be to meditate on the beauties of nature, permit me to accompany you.'

'You do me honour, Sir, by the request,' returned Osmond, no longer able to smother his laughter ; ' but'... then not knowing what to say, he stopt abrubtly, and kissing his hand to him, vanished in a moment from his view,

In vain, however, he hurried down the path the fair stranger had taken ...in vain explored every neighbouring bush and thicket....she was no where to be seen, neither any habitation to which she could have retreated; and at length he reluctantly ceased his pursuit of her for the present.

The idea that he should in all probability have discovered where she lived, and so have been enabled to learn who she was, but for the intrusion of Signor Balermo, so irritated him, that had he encountered him again at the moment, he would probably have given him some reason to retract his assertion of his being a philosopher.

But as reflection resumed its empire over him, all his anger was turned against himself. With confusion and remorse he thought of his conduct; his having dared situated as he was, to breathe a sentiment of tenderness, or evince a wish to inspire one.

Osmond was not of a disposition wilfully to indulge in what he conceived wrong. From this hour, therefore, he resolved on no more seeking the fair stranger, and on doing every thing in his power to detach his thoughts from her. The resolution was painful, but a conviction of the consequences of not attending to it being much more so, determined him on adhering to it.

The next morning, after breakfast, as he was sitting alone and rather pensively in his chamber, a gentle tap came to the door, and on his desiring the person to enter, Maçtalla made his appearance.

'Do I intrude, Signor,' .cried he, bowing.

Osmond nodded, and Mactalla, shutting the door, then approached him.

I have news for you, Signor,' exclaimed he in a joyful accent, I have news for you.'

.

Osmond started.... News!' repeated he, instantly concluding it was something relative to the fair stranger he had to communicate. Then recollecting his resolution

of the preceding night....' Have you?' said he, in a more composed accent, and resuming his seat.

Yes, and that I have by the Powers. You must know, Signor, that yesterday, in searching after a pet dog of my Lady Marchesa's, in a remote and lonely part of the castle, long disused by the family, I chanced to discover her favourite waiting-woman in conversation with a young lady of great beauty, and who so strongly resembled the description given by my Lord the Count of the lady he set me upon making inquiries after, that I instantly resolved on questioning Madam Beatrice closely about her. Accordingly I lay in wait till she quitted the gallery in which I had surprised her; and then, by dint of cross questionings and coaxing, drew from her that the young lady in qustion was a Miss Raymond, the daughter of an English gentleman of fortune, but who, owing to an unfortunate affair of honour, had been under the necessity of quitting his own country, bringing with him his family, consisting of her and her mo ther; and who, having some reason to imagine that his steps were traced, had turned out of the straight road to Naples, for the purpose of taking rufuge for a time in this castle, with the late owner of which, my Lord Marchese, he was formerly well acquainted, and of whose death he was ignorant at the time he formed this resolution. Within half a league of this he stopt, and dispatched a letter hither by a confidential servant, which the Marchesa opened, and finding it came from a person who had enjoyed the friendship of her Lord, she directly hastened to assure him in person of the asylum he required under her roof. Accordingly, in the dead of the night, he and his family were introduced into the castle, and immediately put in possession of apartments not likely to subject them to intrusion, and two of her household, on whose prudence and secrecy she particularly relied, appointed to wait on them. She and Lady Elizara spent much time in their company till the arrival of the Count, since which they have rarely been with them, lest their being so should expose them to his knowledge, and thus be the means of having them betrayed to that of others."

if not possessed of the power of serving him in Italy. He reflected on the great uncertainty there was of his obtaining a settlement, at least such a one as he wished for, for some time in England; as though, in order to prevent his spirits from sinking into utter despondence, he had endeavoured to buoy himself up with hopes of Lord O'Sinister's exerting himself to serve him, still he had never for an instant forgot how positively his Lordship had declared to him that he should not be able to do this essentially, if at all, for a considerable period; and that Delacour's friends might not be inclined to exert their interest for any but their own immediate connexions. The result of these reflections, therefore, was his entreating the Count to have the goodness to explain himself, candidly acknowledging that the first road to honourable independence that opened to his view he would joyfully embrace.

This is what I purpose,' replied the Count. The Duke D'Amalfi, a near relation of mine, and now at the head of affairs in Naples, has repeatedly assured me that nothing could possibly confer greater happiness on him than an opportunity of obliging me. I shall, therefore, if you permit, write immediately to recommend you to his patronage.'

Osmond accepted this proposal with joy and gratitude. Accordingly a courier was immediately dispatched by the Count with a letter to his noble relative concerning him,

To this an answer, not merely favourable but also highly flattering, was received at the expected time; and the day after, Osmond began to make preparations for his departure from Acerenza. Too well aware of the injury he was doing to his future prospects, by wasting the present hours in idleness....of the welfare of his future days depending in all probability on the manner in which he employed the present time, to suffer himself to be prevailed on by the Count to defer it longer than was absolutely necessary.

END OF VOLUME I.