THB TWO MONUMENTS. 23 



" I have found you at last," said he ; "I thought you must have 

 gone, but allow me to introduce to you my partner, Mis« Harcourt. 



Miss Harcourt, my most particular friend, Sir James T ." The 



lady bowed; ditto myself; and the introduction was complete. O ! 

 how lovely she looked, and how proud Harry appeared to be of her ; 

 he felt himself the successful rival of all. I watched them the 

 remainder of the evening. I saw what was taking place by the 

 countenance of my friend. I saw they were happy ; and I would 

 not have intruded upon them for worlds. But it could not last for 

 ever : they must part, alas ! too soon ! The lady's carriage was 

 called ; Harry handed her to it, and at the same time obtained per- 

 mission to call upon them the next day. He returned to us, but 

 his mirthful looks had left him. His first words were — " Come, let 

 us go ; I am tired. I can dance no more to night." Poor Harry ! 

 We left that dazzling scene, and were soon drawing towards our 

 home. 



The next day Hany contrived to give us the slip, and we saw 

 nothing of him till night. His spirits were then higher, if possible, 

 than ever ; and all guessed some lucky incident had taken place. 

 I, alone, knew of the appointment with Miss Harcourt. He after- 

 wards told me he called at the lodgings of the oflficer's widow; what 

 passed need not be told now. Sufficient will be said when I men- 

 tion that Harry left the accepted lover of Emily Harcourt, with 

 these conditions on her mother's part — that he obtained the consent 

 of his father. Emily and her lover had a most happy parting ; but, 

 alas ! her happiness was of short duration. He looked upon it as 

 ajmere matter of form : he never thought of a denial from him. He 

 had always received whatever he asked ; and he was sure he would 

 grant him this request. In a day or two a letter came; Harry 

 hastened to open it ; he read its contents. It contained a cold and 

 determined refusal ; and he was desired to think no more of the 

 soldier's daughter. 



Six months or more elapsed, during which time I had been 

 abroad. On returning home, I found several letters from HaiTy 

 waiting me, the last of which was dated a week before ; it requested 

 me to join him at a village in Norfolk, where he had for the present 

 taken up his abode. The letter also stated he was unwell, and he 

 wished to have my advice on a particular subject. Two days after 

 I entered my friend's lodging ; it was near noon, but he was not up. 



