to Miss Walton, and tell her, if she is well enough, she will do me a great favor by stepping immediately into the carriage and coming here. Make haste, and you will be back before mother is ready."

Rachel closed the window, and the carriage drove away.

"Esther, we will not talk on this subject at present. You shall hear from Arria's own lips whether I have given you a false account of Mr. Brainard's proceedings."

Esther did not deign to make any reply, but seating herself, opened a new novel she had just commenced perusing. Rachel took her station at the window and awaited with impatience the return of the carriage.

In less than a quarter of an hour it drove briskly to the door. Rachel ran into the street, and before the coachman could alight, herself drew down the steps and handed Arria out of the carriage.

"Nothing has happened? You are not ill?" inquired Arria hastily.

"None, my sweet Arria; how good it was of you to hasten here. Come in quickly-how this keen air makes you cough!

Rachel twined her arm about her friend, and tenderly supported her into the parlor.

Esther looked up at their entrance-closed her book, and folding her arms, said: “Arria Walton, good morning."

"Good morning, Esther," replied Arria, in her usual gentle tone.

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'My dear Arria,” said Rachel, “I wish you to perform an unpleasant duty, but I know you will not shrink from it, when you learn that you can be of service to us all. My sister is engaged to Mr. Brainard.”

"Mr. Brainard? Is it possible?"

Yes; and as I believe that his attentions are not altogether disinterested, and as I know that you can unmask him, I wish Esther to hear from your own lips, that he has several times professed to be deeply enamored of you."

"Oh! Rachel, what I told you was for your ears alone."

Forgive me for having betrayed your confidence; I did so in the hope of benefitting Esther."

Esther cast a look of supreme scorn upon them both.

'It is now your duty, Arria, to disclose what you would otherwise have kept secret. Tell my sister, frankly, has not Mr. Brainard, in the plainest language, paid you his addresses?"

"I cannot deny that he has."

"And has he not done so lately-within a fortnight?

Arria looked as though it gave her great pain to answer; but the anxious expression of Rachel's countenance induced her, unhesitatingly, to reply "Yes." Sister, you hear?" said Rachel.

“I hear, and see—see all—and, therefore, I believe nothing. This is a wellcontrived plot, but it has not succeeded. You have given yourself a great deal of trouble for nothing, Miss Walton."

"Believe me, my dear Esther, I spoke an unpleasant truth, but I spoke the truth only."

"I can believe nothing. I have pledged my hand to Mr. Brainard, and I will wed him."

Arria was confounded-Rachel in despair. While the latter was deliberating what course to pursue, the bell of the street door rang. Rachel darted to the window, as though she had a presentiment that somebody whom she desired to

see was near.

"Thank Heaven! it is Brainard himself.

Now, Esther, you shall have proof

that we have spoken truly. Arria, you must remain here and receive him; Esther and myself will retire, and I think we may be justified in listening to his conversation."

"Oh! no, no, Rachel! indeed, I cannot-you must excuse me I am not strong-you must spare me this:" said the agitated Arria, who could not endure the idea of witnessing Brainard's compunctions.

'What, Arria! you will not save your friend from the miserable fate of becoming this man's wife?"

"Pardon me, I hardly knew what I said. I will remain, but, indeed, I am unfit for the task."

"If you would do a good action, you will render yourself fit," exclaimed Rachel, with energy. The effect of her words was instantly visible upon Arria, who, until then, looked as though she was herself the culprit.

Come, Esther, the door is opening; come quickly, or it will be too late." Esther made some resistance; but Rachel, summoning up all her strength, forcibly drew her into the next room. The folding-doors had scarcely closed upon them, when Mr. Brainard entered.

His astonishment was quickly succeeded by delight, on beholding Arria. "You here, charming Arria? This is a joy unlooked for! What kind spirit sent you to gladden these eyes, that have not been blessed since they saw you last?"

"Mr. Brainard," said Arria, hesitatingly, "I-I-you-" she looked toward the folding-doors, as though she could hardly restrain herself from warning him; but the thought of Esther's perilous situation put to flight the half-formed intention. She answered, with more composure, “Mr. Brainard, this is not the language in which you should address me.

دو

"How should I address you, except in the language of my heart, loveliest and best? A harsh fate may outwardly separate us; I may be even forced to wed another, yet we shall not, must not, be wholly separated, Arria! My love must Mr. Brainard had hardly spoken these words, before the doors flew open, and Esther burst frantically into the room, followed by Rachel.

still be yours.

Your love, tell me, shall it not be mine?"

"Villain!" exclaimed Esther, "

you are unmasked!"

Mr. Brainard was appalled. He gnawed his quivering lips, without the power to frame a denial, or an excuse, or a reply. The veil had fallen, and could no longer hide the foul breast that it had so long concealed.

Esther could not add another word; her desire to be a heroine fled from that moment. She saw her errors and follies in their most glaring light; her ingratitude to her parents, her injustice to her sister, her unkindness to Arria, her whole life's infatuation. A mental mirror was held before her eyes, and one glance at her reflected self restored her to reason.

Regardless of Brainard, she approached Arria, and throwing her arms around her neck, sobbed out, "Forgive me! I have been a fool!"

Arria warmly returned her embrace; and the exulting Rachel exclaimed, as she beheld this reconciliation, "Esther is, indeed, restored to us! Now we shall be happy again.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Brainard had seized his hat, and great as was his desire to sneak from the apartment unobserved, he feared he could not do so. Unintentionally encountering Rachel's eye, he commenced saying, "This is some mistake I have been misunderstood-I have

"You have for once been understood too well, sir," replied Rachel, indignantly. "I wish you a very good morning, Mr. Brainard; and the next time you attempt

to marry an heiress, be careful how you fall in love with her friend, and, above all, beware that you do not express your sentiments in a room with folding-doors." "Miss Clinton, you will not hear me,” said Mr. Brainard, determined not to fly the field without making a defence.

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No, Mr. Brainard; we have all heard enough to satisfy ourselves; I desire to hear no more. Good morning."

Mr. Brainard could only acknowledge the dismissal by finding his way out of the house as quickly as he conveniently could. But, while he did so, he said to himself, "What a blow-up! Thank fortune, there is one string left! I always feared that this one would break.”

As the clock struck three, on the day succeeding that which had been made memorable by the Clinton visit, Mr. Badger found himself opposite the Bowling Green. His business in that part of the city was not merely to pass judgment upon the fountain, or upon the fantastically uncouth heap of stones, (to a very creative imagination, bearing some slight resemblance to a cluster of rocks,) over which the limpid Croton reluctantly, and with a very visible effort, dashed itself. Yet, although Mr. Badger had affairs of importance to transact, he felt bound, as a patriot, to pause and survey the ingenious handiwork of his countrymen. After he had examined the fountain in every possible point of view, he stood before it exultingly rubbing his hands, shaking his head, and occasionally giving way to a solitary ebulition of mirth, as he ejaculated, “Sublime! su-ublime! Great country this great country!"

His admiration having thus vented itself, Mr. Badger thought it time to proceed to business.

"Did n't intend to wake up the old woman in Pearl-street to-day-however, so near there now, better not lose the opportunity. Mordaunt's nearly settled—one more visit hope to have done with him—ain't a favorite customer-growls and shows his teeth like a full-breed Newfoundland. Manage to make the old woman hear-got a cure for deafness here." Mr. Badger looked tenderly at his stout cane, as though conscious that nobody but himself was aware of its medicinal virtues.

He turned quickly into Pearl-street, and stood before Mr. Mordaunt's inhospitable-looking dwelling. To try his strength and test his patience upon the rusty knocker, would be but useless trouble; a better mode of gaining admittance suggested itself. An entrance through the basement might be easily accomplished; and to this passage he therefore betook himself. He unceremoniously made his wants known, by applying his sturdy walking-stick to the door. He could hear the echoes ring through the deserted house, and they were his only answer. Mr. Badger was of a determined character, and a few obstacles only stimulated his energies. He gravely turned his back to the door, at the distance of a few steps,

and permitted himself to fall heavily against it. This feat he repeated, until the whole house shook, and the hinges and locks of the old door gave evident symptoms of resisting no longer. It was then, that he heard something fall in the kitchen, succeeded by the sound of uneven steps tottering through the entry "Be you going to pull the house down? demanded Tabitha, from within, but

without making any attempt to draw back the bolts.

Mr. Badger-probably indisposed to trust his voice-replied, by once more dropping his whole weight against the door.

"Lord have marcy on us!

Don't be after doing that again! Who's there?"

Mr. Badger answered as before; and this time a hinge gave way.

"Do n't! do n't!" screamed the old woman; "wait a bit, and I'll open the door. Oh Lord! oh Lord!"

Mr. Badger was too polite to refuse this request, and the door slowly opened, but only enough to make visible Tabitha's shrivelled face.

"How d'ye do? how are you, your ladyship? Did n't want to give you the trouble to walk all the way up stairs. House full of smoke, hey; what 'swhat's burning?"

The old woman had been so much alarmed by Mr. Badger's attemps to make a forcible entrance, that she had not noticed the clouds of smoke that were gathering around her.

"Lord have marcy on our souls!" was all she could say, and forsaking her post, she rushed screaming into the kitchen: "it's the little furnace upset! I thought the fire was dead out in it. Oh Lord! oh Lord! the house is caught!" Mr. Badger, although thick smoke had now rendered the passage so dark that he could hardly see, led by the sound of Tabitha's shrieks, groped his way into the kitchen. What a scene presented itself!

The consuming flames darted up from a large portion of the floor, and were savagely climbing the walls. Tabitha flew yelling about the kitchen, seizing pails, and pitchers, and jugs-everything that contained a drop of water, and throwing it wildly upon the burning floor. Mr. Badger caught up the swill-pails, and hurled their contents over the raging element; but the fire only burned more fiercely, and in a few minutes more, the terrified couple could with difficulty escape the pursuing flames by flying from the kitchen.

"Fire! fire! fire! house on fire!" shouted Mr. Badger, leaping into the street. "Fire! fire! fire! oh Lord! oh Lord! fire! fire!" cried the old woman, snatching her burning cap from her head, and frantically pulling her singed gray locks about her face.

In a few seconds, a crowd assembled; but the house was old and decayed, and a large portion of it was constructed of wood; and before an engine arrived, the flames were bursting through the lower windows; and to attempt entering the house by the basement, was impossible. Several efforts were made to force the street door; but the strength of the bolts within, rendered every trial ineffectual.

"No matter; there's not much worth saving," called out a man from the crowd; "old Mordaunt lived alone; and all his furniture would n't bring twenty dollars."

"No such thing! no such thing!" shouted Mr. Badger, at the top of his voice; "there's a lady—got a lady shut up there—the old profligate! Save the lady! never leave a lady in trouble-always save the ladies: save her, I say! Are n't there a man among you, will save her?" he cried, in a state of increasing excitement.

"Oh Lord! oh Lord! he'll ruin us! Do n't believe him: the house is empty: there's nobody there, at all. Lord! Lord!" interposed the old woman, alternately weeping, wringing her hands, and shaking her fist in Badger's face. "The woman ought to know;" cried one.

"To be sure;” replied another.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," screamed out Mr. Badger; "'pon my honor! 'pon my soul-there's a lady shut up there, at the top of the house! Gentlemen," and Mr. Badger assumed the position of an orator, inciting his hearers to do some noble deed: 66 a lady—a lady, gentlemen! a lady should never be overlooked. She's there! I know she's there! saw her with my own eyes-fine womanfine woman. Do n't let her burn up!-never harm a woman.'

As though to corroborate Mr. Badger's statement, at that moment a shriek-a wild, piercing, heart-rending shriek, the shriek of frantic despair-burst upon the startled ears of all present! So long and loud was that appalling cry, that it drowned the din of voices, the noise of rushing feet, the crackling of the flames, and the busy sound of the engine.

“A ladder! a ladder !” vociferated Mr. Badger.

The ladder was procured, and fastened to the side of the house; but the flames had mounted high, and were bursting from almost every window. The house tottered to ascend the ladder would have been madness. Even the courageous and noble-hearted firemen drew back. In vain Mr. Badger loudly harangued the crowd, and pronounced the woman a fine woman—the finest woman in the world —and their country a great country—not a creature would venture upon such a perilous exploit.

Jets of water fell plentifully upon the roof of the house, but the flames still mounted, and the ladder appeared worse than useless. Involuntarily the populace drew back, expecting every minute to behold the house fall, hurling the ladder with it, and perhaps burying some of them in the ruins.

It was during that period of awful, agonizing suspense, that Mr. Mordaunt himself burst through the crowd, with his mighty arms flinging every one aside that impeded his progress. He snatched up a coil of rope, and with bare head and his features distorted by fear and horror, fixed his foot firmly upon the ladder, and ascended with the speed of a wild animal. The ladder scarcely reached the attic windows. Mordaunt fiercly tugged at the blinds of one of them, but they were secured within by a secret lock, that he had himself invented for the purpose, and would not yield. Dropping one end of the rope, and holding the other in his hand, he clambered to the top of the house, and disappeared through the small door that opened on the roof.

It was a fearful moment! the flames were already bursting through the blinds he had tried to force; in an instant more the roof must fall! The crowd below held their breaths during his absence, and every eye was fixed upon the spot where he had last been visible. Just as they began to despair of his return, his head reappeared, and, with a leap, he was once more upon the scorching roof. His left arm clasped an apparently lifeless woman, and with his right hand he tightly grasped the rope which he had fastened within the attic. Creeping to the edge of the tiles, he carefully suspended himself from the roof in order to reach the ladder. A suppressed murmur of dread rose from the crowd as they beheld his fearful position. Should the rope give way-should his foot miss the bar, he and the helpless being in his arms were lost! He swung boldly round and touched the ladder, his fingers unclasped themselves from the rope, and with the rapidity of thought he descended. A loud, hearty cheer greeted him as he reached the ground, and a hundred hands were stretched forth to hurry him to the opposite side of the