felt an indescribable awe, that rendered her unable to undertake such scrutinous examination; but dreading to hear again the sound of the mysterious voice, she hastily retreated from the door of the closet, which she had not power to open, to a distant corner of the apartment, where she performed her evening orisons. In the morning, however, when the brightening sun, by his cheerful influence, had dispelled from her terrified mind all the gloomy spectres of fear, she entered on a close examination of the closet, yet to no purpose; for after the most exact and diligent search, she could discover nothing to strengthen her idea of trick or artificenothing to confirm her conjecture of its being an illusion by which her senses. might be imposed on. Had a person, with intent to alarm her, gained access to the closet, there was there no hiding-place, or secret recess, to screen him from observation; and to the adjoining apartment, even admitting the sound could be con veyed through the wall, no one, lady Courteney was well aware, could obtain admission without her knowledge, it being a store-room, that contained her medicinal chest, cordial waters, and other salutary restoratives, of which she herself alone kept the key; after having, therefore, maturely weighed all these considerations in her secret thoughts, the affrighted lady felt herself compelled to reject every idea of trick or fraud played on her, and to trace the origin of this extraordinary occurrence to a higher and more awful cause. As the suspicion of all artifice faded from her mind, the idea of its being a divine warning gathered strength, and made her shudder; she became thoughtful and dejected, yet, as if anxious to fly her own thoughts, sought company with unusual avidity; and when alone, redoubled her devotions, endeavouring, by prayer and contemplation, to lull to rest her fears, and subdue her terrors.. CHAP CHAPTER III. Others apart sat on a hill retired, MILTON. MAJOR Blandford, who with the other officers of a neighbouring garrison-town, had been invited to Dermont Castle on occasion of the ball and rejoicings, had for the first time seen Geraldine. Charmed with the artless graces of the young beauty, his admiration was fervid and enthusiastic, his attentions marked and particular; and when, after a few hours of rapturous idolatry, he retired to bed in the same intoxicating delirium, it was only to recall to his mind the charming vision of the fair enslaver, and to devise means of frequent interviews with her, in which he might unrestrained pour forth his ecstatic adoration. Sir Richard Courteney, of a noble and ancient family, had been in the early part of his life equally distinguished for magnificence and hospitality; but lady Courteney, of grave deportment and austere manners, was well known to be an enemy to all mirth and hilarity, and to have no welcome for visitors of a gay stamp at the castle, where she persevered to maintain a sullen state and awful grandeur. Yet not discouraged by these unpromising circumstances, major Blandford hastened on the following day to pay his devoirs to the ladies, determined that nothing short of ⚫ a rude and stern rebuff on the part of the austere mistress, should restrain him from visiting at Dermont Castle. Indisposed all the morning, lady Courteney was not visible, and by her absence gave major Blandford an opportunity of entertaining entertaining Miss Courteney apart, while sir Richard read the newspaper, or conversed with a gentleman who was present on the politics of the day. This indisposition of the lady happily supplied the major with an excuse for renewing his visit the next morning, to inquire after her health, which polite attention on his part did not fail to procure on hers a most gracious reception. Low-spirited, and willing to relieve the disquietude of her thoughts by fixing them on external objects, lady Courteney entered into conversation with major Blandford; yet unable to withdraw her attention from the pious reflections in which alone she found delight and satisfaction, her conversation naturally reverted from the vain and pompous pleasures of the entertainment to the pure joys of a true Christian.-" How sinful and profane," observed she," are all these rejoicings! They bear too great an analogy, major Blandford, to pagan idolatry to be acceptable to the Lord of the |