he had ever found.  It seemed to him that there was only one being in the world whom he had ever loved, and that was Venetia Herbert:  it seemed to him that there was only one thing in this world worth living for, and that was the enjoyment of her sweet heart.  The pure-minded, the rare, the gracious creature!  Why should she ever quit these immaculate bowers wherein she had been so mystically and delicately bred?  Why should she ever quit the fond roof of Cherbury, but to shed grace and love amid the cloisters of Cadurcis?  Her life hitherto had been an enchanted tale; why should the spell ever break?  Why should she enter that world where care, disappointment, mortification, misery, must await her?  He for a season had left the magic circle of her life, and perhaps it was well.  He was a man, and so he should know all.  But he had returned, thank Heaven! he had returned, and never again would he quit her.  Fool that he had been ever to have neglected her!  And for a reason that ought to have made him doubly her friend, her solace, her protector.  Oh! to think of the sneers or the taunts of the world calling for a moment the colour from that bright cheek, or dusking for an instant the radiance of that brilliant eye!  His heart ached at the thought of her unhappiness, and he longed to press her to it, and cherish her like some innocent dove that had flown from the terrors of a pursuing hawk.

CHAPTER II.

‘Well, Pauncefort,’ said Lord Cadurcis, smiling, as he renewed his acquaintance with his old friend, ’I hope you have not forgotten my last words, and have taken care of your young lady.’

‘Oh! dear, my lord,’ said Mistress Pauncefort, blushing and simpering.  ’Well to be sure, how your lordship has surprised us all!  I thought we were never going to see you again!’

’You know I told you I should return; and now I mean never to leave you again.’

‘Never is a long word, my lord,’ said Mistress Pauncefort, looking very archly.

‘Ah! but I mean to settle, regularly to settle here,’ said Lord Cadurcis.

‘Marry and settle, my lord,’ said Mistress Pauncefort, still more arch.

‘And why not?’ inquired Lord Cadurcis, laughing.

‘That is just what I said last night,’ exclaimed Mistress Pauncefort, eagerly.  ’And why not? for I said, says I, his lordship must marry sooner or later, and the sooner the better, say I:  and to be sure he is very young, but what of that? for, says I, no one can say he does not look quite a man.  And really, my lord, saving your presence, you are grown indeed.’

‘Pish!’ said Lord Cadurcis, turning away and laughing, ’I have left off growing, Pauncefort, and all those sort of things.’

‘You have not forgotten our last visit to Marringhurst?’ said Lord Cadurcis to Venetia, as the comfortable mansion of the worthy Doctor appeared in sight.

‘I have forgotten nothing,’ replied Venetia with a faint smile; ’I do not know what it is to forget.  My life has been so uneventful that every past incident, however slight, is as fresh in my memory as if it occurred yesterday.’