" prayer—repentance, thus met over the young man's bed. Anxious and humble hearts, his own the least anxious and the most humble, awaited the dread award of life or death; and the world, and its ambition and vanities, were shut out from the darkened chamber where the awful issue was being tried. which forbids the doing of murder, and the injunc- | been the best fellow, the best brother, the kindest tion which directly follows on the same table, have heart, the warmest friend in the world. Love been repealed by a very great number of Frenchmen for many years past; and to take the neighbor's wife, and his life subsequently, has not been an uncommon practice with the politest people in the world. Castillonnes had no idea but that he was going to the field of honor; stood with an undaunted scowl before his enemy's pistol; and discharged his own, and brought down his opponent with a grim satisfaction, and a comfortable conviction afterward that he had acted en galant homme. 'It was well for this Milor that he fell at the first shot, my dear," the exemplary young Frenchman remarked, "a second might have been yet more fatal to him; ordinarily I am sure of my coup, and you conceive that in an affair so grave it was absolutely necessary that one or other should remain on the ground." Nay, should M. de Kew recover from his wound, it was M. de Castillonnes' intention to propose a second encounter between himself and that nobleman. It had been Lord Kew's determination never to fire upon his opponent, a confession which he made not to his second, poor scared Lord Rooster, who bore the young Earl to Kehl; but to some of his nearest relatives, who happened fortunately to be not far from him when he received his wound, and who came with all the eagerness of love to watch by his bedside. Our history has had little to do with characters resembling this lady. It is of the world, and things pertaining to it. Things beyond it, as the writer imagines, scarcely belong to the novelist's province. Who is he, that he should assume the divine's office; or turn his desk into a preacher's pulpit? In that career of pleasure, of idleness, of crime we might call it (but that the chronicler of worldly matters had best be chary of applying hard names to acts which young men are doing in the world every day), the gentle widowed lady, mother of Lord Kew, could but keep alcof, deploring the course upon which her dear young prodigal had entered; and praying with that saintly love, those pure supplications, with which good mothers follow their children, for her boy's repentance and return. Very likely her mind was narrow; very likely the precautions which she had used in the lad's early days, the tutors and directors she had set about him, the religious studies and practices to which she would have subjected him, had served only to vex and weary the young pupil, and to drive his high spirit into revolt. It is hard to convince a woman perfectly pure in her life and intentions, ready to die if need were for her own faith, having absolute confidence in the instruction of her teachers, that she and they (with all their sermons) may be doing harm. When the young catechist yawns over his reverence's discourse, who knows but it is the doctor's vanity which is enraged, and not Heaven which is offended? It may have heen, in the differences which took place between her son and her, the good Lady Walham never could compre We have said that Lord Kew's mother, Lady Walham, and her second son were staying at Hombourg, when the Earl's disaster occurred. They had proposed to come to Baden to see Kew's new bride, and to welcome her; but the presence of her mother-in-law deterred Lady Walham, who gave up her heart's wish in bitterness of spirit, knowing very well that a meeting between the old Countess and herself could only produce the wrath, pain, and humiliation which their coming together always occasioned. It was Lord Kew who bade Rooster send for his mother, and not for Lady Kew; and as soon as she received those sad tidings, you may be sure the poor lady hasten-hend the lad's side of the argument; or how his ed to the bed where her wounded boy lay. The fever had declared itself, and the young man had been delirious more than once. His wan face lighted up with joy when he saw his mother; he put his little feverish hand out of the bed to her; "I knew you would come, dear," he said, "and you know I never would have fired upon the poor Frenchman." The fond mother allowed no sign of terror or grief to appear upon her face, so as to disturb her first-born and darling; but no doubt she prayed by his side as such loving hearts know how to pray, for the forgiveness of his trespass, who had forgiven those who sinned against him. "I knew I should be hit, George," said Kew to his brother when they were alone; "I always expected some such end as this. My life has been very wild and reckless; and you, George, have always been faithful to our mother. You will make a better Lord Kew than I have been, George. God bless you!" George flung himself down with sobs by his brother's bedside, and swore Frank had always Protestantism against her doctrines should exhibit itself on the turf, the gaming-table, or the stage of the opera-house; and thus but for the misfortune under which poor Kew now lay bleeding, these two loving hearts might have remained through life asunder. But by the boy's bedside; in the paroxysms of his fever; in the wild talk of his delirium; in the sweet patience and kindness with which he received his dear nurse's attentions; the gratefulness with which he thanked the servants who waited on him; the fortitude with which he suffered the surgeon's dealings with his wound ;-the widowed woman had an opportunity to admire with an exquisite thankfulness the generous goodness of her son; and in those hours, those sacred hours passed in her own chamber, of prayers, fears, hopes, recollections, and passionate maternal love, wrestling with fate for her darling's life;-no doubt the humbled creature came to acknowledge that her own course regarding him had been wrong; and, even more for herself than for him, implored forgiveness. Loder, Cruchecassée and Schlangenbad, assumed sympathetic countenances. For some time George Barnes had to send but doubtful and melancholy bulletins to Lady Kew and the Newcome family at Baden, who were all Trembling on her cane, the old Countess glared greatly moved and affected by the accident which out upon Madame d'Ivry, "I pray you, Madame," had befallen poor Kew. Lady Kew broke out in she said in French, "never again to address me wrath and indignation. We may be sure the the word. If I had, like you, assassins in my Duchesse d'Ivry offered to condole with her upon pay, I would have you killed; do you hear me?" Kew's mishap the day after the news arrived at and she hobbled on her way. The household to Baden; and, indeed, came to visit her. The old which she went was in terrible agitation; the lady had just received other disquieting intelli- kind Lady Ann frightened beyond measure, poor gence. She was just going out, but she bade her Ethel full of dread, and feeling guilty almost as servant to inform the Duchesse that she was never if she had been the cause, as indeed she was the more at home to the Duchesse d'Ivry. The mes- occasion, of Kew's misfortune. And the family sage was not delivered properly, or the person had further cause of alarm from the shock which for whom it was intended did not choose to un- the news had given to Sir Brian. It has been derstand it, for presently as the Countess was said that he had had illnesses of late which caused hobbling across the walk on her way to her daugh- his friends much anxiety. He had passed two ter's residence, she met the Duchesse d'Ivry, who months at Aix-la-Chapelle, his physicians dreadsaluted her with a demure courtesy and a com- ing a paralytic attack; and Madame d'Ivry's party monplace expression of condolence. The Queen still sauntering on the walk, the men smoking of Scots was surrounded by the chief part of her their segars, the women breathing their scandal, court, saving of course M.M. Castillonnes and now beheld Doctor Finck issuing from Lady Punter absent on service. "We were speaking of Ann's apartments, and wearing such a face of this deplorable affair," said Madame d'Ivry (which anxiety that the Duchesse asked, with some indeed was the truth, although she said it). emotion, "Had there been a fresh bulletin from "How we pity you, Madame!" Blackball and Kehl?" "No, there had been no fresh bulletin from Kehl; but two hours since Sir Brian Newcome had had a paralytic seizure." "Is he very bad?” ate gentleman, that the sum of regard which she could bestow upon him might surely be said to amount to love. For such a union as that contemplated between them, 'perhaps for any marNo," says Dr. Finck, "he is not very bad."riage, no greater degree of attachment was neces How inconsolable M. Barnes will be!" said sary as the common cement. Warm friendship the Duchesse, shrugging her haggard shoulders. and thorough esteem and confidence (I do not Whereas the fact was that Mr. Barnes retained say that our young lady calculated in this matterperfect presence of mind under both of the mis-of-fact way) are safe properties invested in the fortunes which had befallen his family. Two prudent marriage stock, multiplying and bearing days afterward the Duchesse's husband arrived an increasing value with every year. Many a himself, when we may presume that exemplary wo- young couple of spendthrifts get through their man was too much engaged with her own affairs capital of passion in the first twelvemonths, and to be able to be interested about the doings of have no love left for the daily demands of afterother people. With the Duke's arrival the court life. O me! for the day when the bank account of Mary Queen of Scots was broken up. Her is closed, and the cupboard is empty, and the firm majesty was conducted to Loch Leven, where of Damon and Phyllis insolvent! her tyrant soon dismissed her very last lady-inwaiting, the confidential Irish secretary, whose performance had produced such a fine effect among the Newcomes. Had poor Sir Brian Newcome's seizure occurred at an earlier period of the autumn, his illness no doubt would have kept him for some months confined at Baden; but as he was pretty nearly the last of Dr. Von Finck's bath patients, and that eminent physician longed to be off to the Residenz, he was pronounced in a fit condition for easy traveling in rather a brief period after his attack, and it was determined to transport him to Manheim, and thence by water to London and Newcome. During all this period of their father's misfortune no Sister of Charity could have been more tender, active, cheerful, and watchful, than Miss Ethel. She had to wear a kind face and exhibit no anxiety when occasionally the feeble invalid made inquiries regarding poor Kew at Baden; to catch the phrases as they came from him; to acquiesce, or not to deny, when Sir Brian talked of the marriages-both marriages-taking place at Christmas. Sir Brian was especially eager for his daughter's, and repeatedly, with his broken words, and smiles, and caresses, which were now quite senile, declared that his Ethel would make the prettiest countess in England. There came a letter or two from Clive, no doubt, to the young nurse in her sick room. Manly and generous, full of tenderness and affection, as those letters surely were, they could give but little pleasure to the young lady, indeed, only add to her doubts and pain. Miss Newcome, we say, without doubt, did not make her calculations in this debtor and creditor fashion; it was only the gentlemen of that family who went to Lombard Street. But suppose she thought that regard, and esteem, and affection, being sufficient, she could joyfully and with almost all her heart bring such a portion to Lord Kew; that her harshness toward him as contrasted with his own generosity, and above all with his present pain, infinitely touched her; and suppose she fancied that there was another person in the world to whom, did fates permit, she could offer not esteem, affection, pity only, but something ten thousand times more precious? We are not in the young lady's secrets, but if she has some as she sits by her father's chair and bed, who day or night will have no other attendant; and, as she busies herself to interpret his wants, silently moves on his errands, administers his potions, and watches his sleep, thinks of Clive absent and unhappy, of Kew wounded and in danger, she must have subject enough of thought and pain. Little wonder that her cheeks are pale and her eyes look red; she has her cares to endure now in the world, and her burden to bear in it, and somehow she feels she is alone, since that day when poor Clive's carriage drove away. In a mood of more than ordinary depression and weakness Lady Kew must have found her granddaughter upon one of the few occasions after the double mishap when Ethel and her elder were together. Sir Brian's illness, as it may be imagined, affected a lady very slightly, who was of an age when these calamities occasion but small disquiet, and who having survived her own father, her husband, her son, and witnessed their lordship's respective demises with perfect composure, could not reasonably be called upon to feel any particular dismay at the probable departure from this life of a Lombard Street banker, who happened to be her daughter's husband. In fact not Barnes Newcome himself could await that event more philosophically. So finding Ethel in this melancholy mood, Lady Kew thought a drive in the fresh air would be of service to her, and Sir Brian happening to be asleep, carried the young girl away in her barouche. She had told none of her friends as yet of those last words of Kew's, which she interpreted as a farewell on the young nobleman's part. Had she told them they very likely would not have understood Kew's meaning as she did, and persisted in thinking that the two were reconciled. At any rate, while he and her father were still lying stricken by the blows which had prostrated them both, all questions of love and marriage had been put aside. Did she love him? She felt such a kind pity for his misfortune, such an admiration for his generous gallantry, such a remorse for her own wayward conduct and cruel behavior to- They talked about Lord Kew, of whom the acward this most honest, and kindly, and affection-counts were encouraging, and who is mending in spite of his silly mother and her medicines, and She But when Lady Kew arrived at that period of her discourse, in which she stated that Kew would make the best little husband in England, poor Ethel's eyes filled with tears; we must remember that her high spirit was worn down by watching and much varied anxiety, and then she confessed that there had been no reconciliation, as all the family fancied, between Frank and herself-on the contrary, a parting, which she understood to be final; and she owned that her conduct toward her cousin had been most captious and cruel, and that she could not expect they should ever again come together. Lady Kew, who hated sick beds and surgeons, except for herself, who hated her daughter-in-law above all, was greatly annoyed at the news which Ethel gave her; made light of it, however, and was quite confident that a very few words from her would place matters on their old footing, and determined on forthwith setting out for Kehl. She would have carried Ethel with her, but that the poor Baronet with cries and moans insisted on retaining his nurse, and Ethel's grandmother was left to undertake this mission by herself, the girl remaining behind acquiescent, not unwilling, owning openly a great regard and esteem for Kew, and the wrong which she had done him-feeling secretly a sentiment which she had best smother. She had received a letter from that other person, and answered it with her mother's cognizance; but about this little affair neither Lady Ann nor her daughter happened to say a word to the manager of the whole family. laggards at Ba- of the recovery. The commander-in-chief of the family, the old lady at Baden, showed her sympathy by sending couriers, and repeatedly issuing orders to have news of Kew. Sick beds scared her away invariably. When illness befell a member of her family she hastily retreated from before the sufferer, showing her agitation of mind, however, by excessive ill-humor to all the others within her reach. A fortnight passed, a ball had been found and extracted, the fever was over, the wound was progressing favorably, the patient advancing toward convalescence, and the mother, with her child once more under her wing, happier than she had been for seven years past, during which her young prodigal had been running the thoughtless career of which he himself was weary, and which had occasioned the fond lady such anguish. Those doubts which perplex many a thinking man, and when formed and uttered give many a fond and faithful woman pain so exquisite, had most fortunately never crossed Kew's mind. His early impressions were such as his mother had left them; and he came back to her as she would have him, as a little child, owning his faults with a hearty, humble repentance, and with a thousand simple confessions lamenting the errors of his past days. We have seen him tired and ashamed of the pleasures which he was pursuing, of the companions who surrounded him, of the brawls and dissipations which amused him no more; in those hours of danger and doubt, when he had lain, with death perhaps before him, makIMMEDIATELY after Lord Kew's wound, and as ing up his account of the vain life which probably it was necessary to apprise the Newcome family he would be called upon to surrender, no wonder of the accident which had occurred, the good-na- this simple, kindly, modest, and courageous soul tured young Kew had himself written a brief note thought seriously of the past and of the future; to acquaint his relatives with his mishap, and and prayed, and resolved, if a future were awardhad even taken the precaution to antedate a couple ed to him, it should make amends for the days of billets to be dispatched on future days; kindly gone by; and surely as the mother and son read forgeries, which told the Newcome family and together the beloved assurance of the divine forthe Countess of Kew that Lord Kew was pro-giveness, and of that joy which angels feel in gressing very favorably, and that his hurt was trifling. The fever had set in, and the young patient was lying in great danger, as most of the CHAPTER XXXVIII. CONVALESCENT. heaven for a sinner repentant, we may fancy in the happy mother's breast a feeling somewhat akin to that angelic felicity, a gratitude and joy of all others the loftiest, the purest, the keenest. Lady Walham might shrink with terror at the Frenchman's name; but her son could forgive him, with all his heart, and kiss his mother's hand, and thank him as the best friend of his life. the fierce old mother-in-law who had worsted Lady Walham in many a previous battle. It was what they call the summer of St. Martin, and the weather was luckily very fine; Kew could presently be wheeled into the garden of the hotel, whence he could see the broad turbid current of the swollen Rhine: the French bank fringed with alders, the vast yellow fields behind them, the great avenue of poplars stretching away to the Alsatian city, and its purple minster yonder. Good Lady Walham was for improving the shining hour by reading amusing extracts from her favorite volumes, gentle anecdotes of Chinese and Hottentot converts, and incidents from missionary travel. George Barnes, a wily young diplomatist, insinuated "Galignani,” and hinted that Kew might like a novel; and a profane work called "Oliver Twist" having appeared about this time, which George read out to his family with admirable emphasis, it is a fact that Lady Walham became so interested in the parish boy's During all the days of his illness Kew had never once mentioned Ethel's name, and once or twice as his recovery progressed, when with doubt and tremor his mother alluded to it, he turned from the subject as one that was disagreeable and painful. Had she thought seriously on certain things? Lady Walham asked. Kew thought not; but those who are bred up as you would have them, mother, are often none the better, the humble young fellow said. I believe she is a very good girl. She is very clever, she is exceedingly handsome, she is very good to her parents and her brothers and sisters; but—he did not finish the sentence. Perhaps he thought, as he told Ethel afterward, that she would have agreed with Lady Walham even worse than with her impe-progress, that she took his history into her bedrious old grandmother. room (where it was discovered, under Blatherwick's "Voice from Mesopotamia," by her ladyship's maid), and that Kew laughed so immensely at Mr. Bumble, the Beadle, as to endanger the reopening of his wound. While, one day, they were so harmlessly and pleasantly occupied, a great whacking of whips, blowing of horns, and whirring of wheels was heard in the street without. The wheels stopped at their hotel gate; Lady Walham started up; ran through the garden door, closing it behind her; and divined justly who had arrived. The landlord was bowing; the courier pushing about; waiters in attendance; one of them, coming up to pale-faced Lady Walham, said, "Her Excellency the Frau Gräfinn von Kew is even now absteiging." Lady Walham then fell to deplore Sir Brian's condition, accounts of whose seizure of course had been dispatched to the Kehl party, and to lament that a worldly man as he was should have such an affliction, so near the grave and so little prepared for it. Here honest Kew, however, held out."Every man for himself, mother," says he. "Sir Brian was bred up very strictly, perhaps too strictly as a young man. Don't you know that that good Colonel, his elder brother, who seems to me about the most honest and good old gentleman I ever met in my life, was driven into rebellion and all sorts of wild courses by old Mrs. Newcome's tyranny over him? As for Sir Brian, he goes to church every Sunday: has prayers in the family every day I'm sure has led a hundred times better life than I have, poor old Sir Brian. I often "Will you be good enough to walk into our have thought, mother, that though our side was salon, Lady Kew?" said the daughter-in-law, wrong, yours could not be altogether right, be- stepping forward and opening the door of that cause I remember how my tutor, and Mr. Bonner apartment. The Countess, leaning on her staff, and Dr. Laud, when they used to come down to entered that darkened chamber. She ran up tous at Kewbury, used to make themselves so un-ward an easy chair, where she supposed Lord happy about other people." So the widow with'My dear Frank!" cries the old drew her unhappiness about Sir Brian; she was lady; "my dear boy, what a pretty fright you quite glad to hope for the best regarding that in- have given us all! They don't keep you in this valid. horrid noisy room facing the- Ho-what is this?" cries the Countess, closing her sentence abruptly. Kew was. "It is not Frank. It is only a bolster, Lady Kew: and I don't keep him in a noisy room toward the street," said Lady Walham. With some fears yet regarding her son-for many of the books with which the good lady traveled could not be got to interest him; at some he would laugh outright—with fear mixed with the maternal joy that he was returned to her, and had quitted his old ways; with keen feminine triumph, "Ho! how do you do? This is the way to him, perhaps, that she had won him back, and happi- I suppose;" and she went to another door-it was ness at his daily mending health, all Lady Wal-a cupboard full of the relics of Frank's illness, ham's hours were passed in thankful and delight- from which Lady Walham's mother-in-law shrunk ed occupation. George Barnes kept the New-back aghast. “Will you please to see that I have comes acquainted with the state of his brother's a comfortable room, Maria; and one for my maid, health. The skillful surgeon from Strasbourg reported daily better and better of him, and the little family were living in great peace and contentment, with one subject of dread, however, hanging over the mother of the two young men, the arrival of Lady Kew, as she was foreboding, next me? I will thank you to see yourself," the Empress of Kew said, pointing with her stick, before which many a time the younger lady had trembled. This time Lady Walham only rang the bell. "I don't speak German; and have never been on any |