now severed by death-could any one be surprised at the rash, but utterly unpremewhich threw her on the only pro

ditated step tection within her reach, the watchful and tender solicitude of Mr. Ernest Cavendish?

This was the outline of a case laid without

previous study before the judgment of an English jury, and borne out as it was, in all its dark outline, by no witnesses but their own, he fearlessly left his client's cause in their hands, trusting their verdict would express the view which ought to be taken of the plaintiff's unmanly misrepresentation of facts, and of the long train of domestic tyranny, which extenuated, as much as such an unfortunate error could be extenuated, the fault of his unhappy wife, and merely called for nominal damages.

The murmur of applause which ran through the court at this short but manly address, joined to the hisses of indignation, which in spite of calls to order, would be heard at the dark system of cruelty and

subsequent falsehood, laid open by the crossexamination of their witnesses, and particularly of the arrogant and unfeeling duchess, who was completely baffled with her own tools, told the revulsion which had taken place in public opinion, and the verdict of the foreman of the jury was received with loud plaudits :

"That they merely gave the nominal damages to enable the unfortunate lady to be legally divorced, and at the same time made them of the smallest possible amount of one farthing to show their contempt for the base line of misrepresentation dictated to the counsel for the plaintiff, and of the cruel and systematic line of cruelty carried on for so many years against his unfortunate wife."

Even Lady Eastham's now chastened feelings could not resist a glow of triumph at this signal defeat of a family who had always appeared to her so singularly unamiable, and more especially as it entirely relieved her

poor friend from the dark burden of shaine they had endeavoured to lay upon her, and left but that inevitable stain on her fair fame consequent on the step she had taken, and which, God knows, to every sensitive and innately pure-minded woman, must be heavy enough to bear, without the addition of unmerited obloquy.

When Clara joined Theresa after the perusal of this interesting trial, she found her already improved in appearance, and even in actual bodily strength, from the calm relief it had brought to her nerves.

There seemed now only to require the legal deeds of the pending divorce, to enable her to become the wife of Ernest Cavendish as effectually in the eyes of men, as she already fain would hope she was in the eyes of heaven, to complete her desires on earth.

To facilitate this wished-for event, by every means in which money I could hasten "the law's delay," she consented to a temporary separation from her betrothed, who was to

hasten to London to expedite this desirable end, and returning through Paris, was to be accompanied by the chaplain of the English embassy, with every necessary document to legalize their union.

CHAPTER VIII.

"Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious courts?
Here feel we but the penalty of Adam."

AS YOU LIKE IT.

PERHAPS there are few things on earth more pure, and more devoid of the sensual dross of humanity, than the gentle communings of female friendship, when time has stamped them with a reality beyond the evanescent impression of girlish ronance, and, still remembering the glow of those earlier days, feels that age has but strengthened, not impaired their fidelity.