roy -it is my wish to explain to you, that the motive of its being so was of the most noble and disinterested kind. Lord Fitzbelieves that it will shortly be in his power to serve the cause of your father; impressed with this idea, he considered that if he were indeed enabled to do so, and were then to ask your hand, that his request would appear a tax upon the service which he had rendered you, and that you might be impelled by gratitude to make him that grant, to which love would not have urged you. In order, therefore, to obviate even the appearance of compulsion, he resolved to offer you his hand, before you were made acquainted with the depending contingencies, that if your election fell on him, it might be for himself alone." "Kind, noble, generous man!" exclaimed Eleonora; " but, O tell me, my dear Madam, what are the contingencies which relate to my unfortunate father?" "Grant me yet one instant ere I pro ceed ceed to my relation," answered Lady Blunt: "truly is Lord Fitzroy deserving of the epithets which you bestow on him; and it joys me sincerely to hear you pronounce them thus fervently, as I augur from thence your disposition towards his happiness and your own." Eleonora's head fell upon her bosomshe was unable to reply. 66 "How!" exclaimed Lady Blunt; can it be possible that you are sensible of his excellent qualities, and still hesitate to ally yourself with him who possesses them ?— confide to me the secrets of your heartI represent your mother now; and will not judge or advise you less tenderly than she would do." 66 'I must not, cannot confide them to any one," replied Eleonora. "My child," returned Lady Blunt, “if you have formed a choice, has not your father's approbation sanctioned it?" "No, no," falteringly pronounced Eleo nora. "I doubt "I doubt not the goodness of your heart," replied Lady Blunt: "I doubt not that it is virtue, and those alone who possess it, that have power to charm your mind; but, my love, you are young, very young, to have decided for yourself, without the advice of parents or of friends. O beware that no rash step leads you into a conduct which may embitter the future years of your life." The tears forced themselves into the eyes of Eleonora; with difficulty she pronounced-" I will do nothing rashly, indeed I will not-sensible as I am of Lord Fitzroy's excellence, I cannot obliterate from my memory one also amiable, and cherished in my heart, long ere he was known to me-pray spare me upon this subject-I am just now very unequal to it." Lady Blunt was moved by Eleonora's tears into compliance with her request; and, after a short pause, she entered upon her promised narrative. She opened her relation, relation, by stating to Eleonora those facts with which our readers are already acquainted, concerning the histories of Lord Fitzroy and Sir Sigismund, previously to the time at which Eleonora's knowledge of them had commenced; hence she proceeded to recount the events by which Lord Fitzroy had become possessed of Framlingham Castle; and painted, in the most vivid colours, the hatred borne him by Queen Mary, and the insults which he had received from her. Having thus far deduced her account, Lady Blunt continued speaking in these words" You cannot be surprised that one who feels himself the son of a king, and who knows himself to have been not only the pride of his father's heart, but the idol of his affections, should receive the severest irritation at being regarded not only in an inferior, but even in a disgraceful light, by a child of the same parent; and one who, being placed upon her father's throne, so peculiarly enjoys the power of healing, instead of provoking provoking the smart which rankles in some degree in the heart of every man, however great his rank, who is conscious of illegitimate birth. "The generous spirit of Lord Fitzroy had long since resolved him to pass over in silence and contempt, every affront of a private nature which the illiberality of her mind might tempt the Queen to offer him; but having now strengthened herself upon her throne, and being no longer timid, as she was upon her first accession to it, of alienating from her those who profess the religion of which she espouses the cause, she has lately added to these, insults of a public kind, which he considers it impossible for him so easily to forgive. "At the celebration of her late nuptials with the King of Spain, Lord Henry Fitzroy was the only man of distinction in the realm, (with the exception of Sir Sigismund, who, as the husband of Lord Henry's mother, his guardian, and his firm adherent, |