THE TWO MONUMENTS. 25 



enquired the cause. All was soon explained. She listened to all I 

 had to say— to all the excuses I made for the hasty reply of. my 

 father, to all my entreaties for her consent to our union, relying upon 

 obtaming my parent's forgiveness after; and then expressed her 

 determination that I should never wed her daughter without his 

 permission; and further, begged I would not see Emily again unless 

 I had better prospects of obtaining it." 



" And have you heard of them since," asked I. 



" Yes," replied he, " they reside at present in this village, where 

 I find they have removed for the sake of Emily's health. I have 

 sent to enquire after her ; she is very ill." 



" But have you not seen her," said I. 



" No." 



" And have you not tried to see her ?" 



*' No. I, too, have been ill; but I have sent for you, as I wish you 



to visit her." 



It was then arranged that I should do so ; and during the after- 

 noon I called at Mrs. Harcourt's lodgings. I sent in my card, and 

 at Emily's request, was conducted to her room. I found her reclin- 

 ing on a sofa ; and if she looked lovely in the ball room, when I 

 first saw her, how much more so did she look now. Her delicate 

 features were pale as marble ; her fair shoulders were covered over 

 with her rich black hair; her long transparent fingers almost 

 rivalled her dressing-gown in whiteness. I sat with her about an 

 hour. I told her of Harry's residence in the village — of his illness — 

 of his anxiety for her, and of my intention to use my influence with 

 his father to induce him to withdraw his refusal to their union. 



" Ah ! sir," said she, " it will be of no use ; beforq then I shall 

 be beyond the reach of your kindness, but tell Harry we shall meet 

 again ; and though we are not to be happy in this world, let us hope 

 for the future." I left her, promising to call on the moiTow, a day 

 which, alas ! poor girl, she was never to behold." 



On entering Harry's room, I found him anxiously waiting my 

 return. I told him what had passed ; he was much excited, and it 

 was long before I could persuade him to retire to his room. It was 

 about ten o'clock when I left him, feverish and unsettled. I threw 

 myself on my bed without undressing, that I might be ready to go 

 to him if he wanted anything. I was awoke from a somid sleep by 



D 



