but having made the allusion, his uncle felt he was bound to proceed.
"I know I may speak to you, my dear child, with perfect confidence; but I see clearly that Constance is suffering from an undefined jealousy of Lady Marchmont."
"Lady Marchmont!" exclaimed his nephew, with the most unfeigned surprise.
"Why, coupling your previous acquaintance with your obvious embarrassment at meeting, can you wonder that Constance should fear the renewed influence of one so beautiful, and so fascinating? All I know of Lady Marchmont is charming; but she likes admiration—who does not? and pique is an absolute passion with a woman. She may like to charm a truant lover, were it but to shew him what he has lost."
"My dear uncle," replied Norbourne, after a pause of mingled embarrassment and emotion, "you are completely mistaken. I will tell you the whole truth, and then let the subject be dropped for ever. I was making a summer tour through our country last year, and called
