“Not to-morrow, Arthur,” entreated Emmeline, in a low voice, as he followed her from the room.

“Not to-morrow, dearest,” he replied, tenderly, as he drew her to his bosom, and bade God bless her.

The other members of the family also separated, Ellen one of the last, for Lady Emily at first detained her in some trifling converse, and Mrs. Hamilton was telling her of something she wished her niece to do for her the next morning.  Ellen was standing in the shade as her aunt spoke; all had left the room except Edward and themselves, and humming a lively air, the former was departing, when, turning round to wish his sister good night, the light flashed full upon her face, and there was something in its expression, in its almost unearthly paleness, that made him suddenly start and cease his song.

“Merciful heaven!  Ellen, what is the matter?  You look like a ghost.”

“Do not be silly, Edward, there is nothing the matter.  I am quite well, only warm,” she replied, struggling to smile, but her voice was so choked, her smile so unnatural, that not only her brother but her aunt was alarmed.

“You are deceiving us, my dear girl, you are not well.  Are you in pain, dearest?” she said, hastening towards her.

Ellen had borne up well when unnoticed; but the voice of kindness, the fond caress her aunt bestowed completely overpowered her, and, sinking on a chair, she burst into tears.

“It is nothing, indeed it is nothing, my dear aunt,” she said, with a strong effort checking the bursting sob.  “I have felt the heat very oppressive all the evening, it is only that which makes me so foolish.”

“I hope it is only the heat, my Ellen,” replied Mrs. Hamilton, fondly, suspicion flashing across her mind, not indeed of the truth, but something near akin to it.  For a few minutes Ellen leaned her head silently against her aunt, who continued bending over her, then returning her affectionate kiss, shook hands with her brother, assured him she was quite well, and quietly left the room.

“Now, then, I know indeed my fate,” Ellen murmured internally, as her aching head rested on a sleepless pillow, and her clasped hands were pressed against her heart to stop its suffocating throbs.  “Why am I thus overwhelmed, as if I had ever hoped, as if this were unexpected?  Have I not known it, have I not felt that she would ever be his choice? that I was mad enough to love one, who from his boyhood loved another.  Why has it fallen on me as a shock for which I was utterly unprepared?  What has become of my many resolutions?  Why should the task be more difficult now than it has been?  I feel as if life were irksome to me, as if all I loved were turned to that bitterness of spirit against which I have striven, as if I could dash from my poor cousin’s lips the cup of unexpected happiness she has only this evening tasted.  Oh, merciful Father! forsake me not now, let me not feel thus, only