on her in admiration.  The graceful folds of an Indian muslin dress enveloped her slight form, and a wreath of lilies of the valley, twined with the smallest pink rose-buds, confined her luxuriant hair; a scarcely perceptible blush was on her cheeks, and her eyes, continually wandering round the room, as if in search for some unseen object, shone with unusual brilliancy.  Her father whispered, as he found himself near her—­

“I do not expect my friend will arrive till late, my little Emmy, but look as pretty then as you do now, and I shall be satisfied.”

She was relieved, but intelligence met her ear, ere dinner was concluded, that rendered it a fearful struggle to retain her composure.  Mrs. Cameron’s family, Mr. Howard, and one or two others, she knew were coming in the evening, but that Lord St. Eval expected his brother Louis to arrive at Oakwood by eight or nine o’clock that same evening, was indeed information startling in the extreme.  Would he not be accompanied by his preceptor?  Would she not see him, from whom she had so long been parted? see him, to whom her heart was given, and in his presence be introduced to the husband of her parents’ choice?

Mrs. Hamilton watched her with extreme uneasiness, and when dinner was over, whispered, as it seemed, an earnest entreaty in her husband’s ear.  He shook his head in sportive refusal; she still appeared anxious, but acquiesced.  The hours passed on.  Emmeline for a few minutes had retired, for the happiness, the gaiety around her, pressed with over-powering heaviness on her heart; she had turned from it almost unconsciously.  “Why, oh, why did I not confess to mamma that I could not wed another, because I still loved Arthur? why was I so foolish as to fear to confess the truth, we should not then have met?  Why have I been so weak to hide these miserable feelings even from my mother? how can I expect her sympathy, when she knows them not?”

So she thought, but it was now too late.  The affectionate caresses, the kind voice of her cousin Ellen roused her; controlling herself, she took Ellen’s arm, and together they entered the drawing-room.  She saw no strangers, all were familiar to her eye, and rallying her spirits, she entered into conversation with St. Eval, who hastened up to her as she entered.  Ellen joined the dancers.

“I wonder why we all seem so gay and happy to-night,” said St. Eval.  “Look at Captain Cameron and our pretty demure cousin Ellen, Emmeline; I never saw such devotion in my life.  Take my word for it, that will be a match one of these days, and a very pretty one.  Cameron is a good fellow, and if ever any one were smitten, he is.”

“But Ellen’s admiration of his character is rather too open and freely expressed for him to hope his affection, if he do love, is returned.  No, Eugene, Captain Cameron may be attracted, I grant you, but I do not fancy he will be Ellen’s choice.”

“Do you know any whom you think will?”