of the kingdom, and his character ill accorded with the wishes or the taste of Conrad, we had seldom seen him; yet, notwithstanding the various means he had secretly used to prevent, or to delay the union, merited a different conduct, family considerations induced my friend to invite him to witness its completion. He promised, and he came. It was on the evening previous to the ceremony, that, alighting from his horse, he eagerly inquired after Bertha and Conrad; he was informed the fineness of the weather had tempted them to walk, and that they had been absent some time. He immediately entered the hall, and, to my surprise, in a manner the most cordial and cheerful, congratulated me on the approaching felicity of my friend. We conversed on various topics, more or less connected with the arrangements of the morning, until twilight had nearly wrapped every thing from our view. I then first became uneasy at the unusual absence of our young friends, an anxiety which every hour increased; in short the night, which had unexpectedly become rough and stormy, passed, and neither Bertha nor Conrad made their appearance. The

ensuing day, as no information had been obtained in the interim, brought with it the conviction, that some dreadful misfortune had befallen them. Their domestics, their friends and myself, traced the neighbourhood in every direction, yet without receiving the smallest account, or the slightest hint that might enable us to ascertain their fate. De Neville, who appeared on this occasion greatly afflicted, left us in a few days, declaring that he would not cease to make every possible research; it is extraordinary, however, that from that moment to the present hour, though he has taken care, through the medium of agents, to claim the estate and enjoy its revenues, we have neither seen nor heard from him, nor has he once revisited the county, I understand, where he formerly resided. A period of more than six years has now elapsed since this fatal event took place, and in fulfilment of a vow which I then made, never to relinquish the hope or the means of discovery, I have travelled, though hitherto in vain, over the greatest part of this kingdom, and it was my tion, on my arrival here last night, to enter upon a similar pursuit in France. The very

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singular account, however, you have just given me, and which, you will now perceive, has a strong claim to excite my ardour and to interest my feelings, will, for a time at least, postpone my resolution, for I feel it ás a duty incumbent upon me, not to let circumstances, many of which are so strikingly coincident, pass without a thorough investigation. I therefore trust you now see my inducement to the attempt in its proper light; nothing, I assure you, can deter me from the undertaking; no dangers, however formidable or preternatural, can, in such a cause, arrest my arm or blanch my cheek."

Against motives so strong, and which seemed to absorb every other consideration, all opposition became nugatory, and the knights, though they could not but warmly praise the courage and the friendship of Sir Egbert, beheld him with sorrow, as a victim devoted to destruction. With this melancholy idea they parted for the night, the Grand Master observing to his guest as he retired, that, as it would be necessary to announce his intention to De Weldon in the morning, he would send a deputation of the

fraternity with that view, adding, that as the evening was the only time permitted by the Constable for making the attempt, and the period of admission into the castle, for that purpose, the setting of the sun, the greater part of the ensuing day would be at his disposal. Sir Egbert, after again expressing his obligations, withdrew,

The morning rose one of the most lovely which our autumn affords; the air breathed cool and bland, though illuminated by the rays of an unclouded sun, and the country, which had put on the rich and variegated robe of its decline, was yet bathed in dew, when Sir Egbert, after passing a night rendered sleepless by intensity of thought, wandered forth to enjoy the freshness of the season. The breeze played grateful around him, and just ruffled the surface of the broad and beautiful Medway, whose waters, from many points of view, resembling an extensive lake, terminated by picturesque elevations, presented a scene, whose repose and amenity contributed to sooth his mind, and to banish, for a while, the corroding anxiety which had so long preyed upon his heart. The contrast.

too with the preceding night was singularly delightful; on the spot where the tempest had apparently poured its utmost rage, all was serenity and sweetness; its verdure green as an emerald, the foliage of its trees uninjured and trembling to the gale, whilst the lofty Tower of Gundulph, so late an object of horror, was now seen rising over the subject vale, venerable and majestic, his summit tipt with gold, his sides grey as the mist of the mountain.

Fascinated by the beauties of the scenery, and desirous of protracting his enjoyment, Sir Egbert long traced the windings of the Medway, until the heat, now become oppressive as the morning advanced, induced him to desert his track for the shelter, which a plantation, of great extent in the horizon, seemed likely to afford. On entering this, the delicious coolness which pervaded its recesses, the soothing gloom diffused around, and the melody which poured from every quarter, so completely dissipated the sense of languor or fatigue, that, after a pause for admiration and for rest, he willingly pursued a path which ap

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