CHAPTER XXXV.

"THE crisis of my destiny now seemed approaching, and the hopes which had so long floated in vision before me, were about to be crushed or crowned. I paced to and fro for about an hour, in the greatest perturbation of mind, sometimes stopping to try and lift the veil of fate, then looking impatiently for my friends, longing, yet dreading to see their approach. But my eyes sought them in vain. The duskiness of evening was now coming on, and there must have been ample time for them to have appeared, even making great allowance for unforeseen delays. I resolved to wait no longer, and was just about to return when I saw Jaachonia coming alone. This threw me into a new set of uncomfortable feelings, as I had now to tell my own story without the assistance of my friend. Jaachonia, however, immediately relieved me from this embarrassment, by beginning the sub

ject for me, and I found no hesitation in going on with it, and giving her the history of my heart. She avowed herself happy at

what I told her, and the joy and animation of her countenance convinced me that she really was so, while I was in transports at seeing my hopes brighten and all the mists which obscured my road to happiness clearing up before me.

"This exceeding joy was, however, of short continuance, for as I was returning home with her, she told me how much she had been mistaken in the views of Niger towards her sister, that she had never doubted but that his assiduities were on his own account, she had also feared he had succeeded too well in gaining her affections, for that some new attachment had certainly diverted the course of that confidence and love which used to flow in an undivided stream towards herself. She did not know what Julius' opinion was on this subject, but that she had always believed it to be the same as her own, though, when she had questioned him he had refused to satisfy her, saying that he

knew nothing but what Niger had told him

in confidence.

"She now saw that the nature of that confidential communication was different to what she suspected, and my explanation of the plan agreed upon between us, accounted satisfactorily for the motives of his conduct. She said she could not describe to me the weight that was removed from her mind when she found that it was myself, and not Niger, who had robbed her of her sister's heart, for she had always had the worst opinion of him, and been more struck by his overbearing pride, and consummate artfulness, than by those dazzling and splendid talents, by which he was generally estimated. And even now, added Jaachonia (though, perhaps, it is but the habit of unfavourable thought) I cannot recall him to my mind, without my fears returning that he is not what he pretends to be, and I still think that I see hypocrite written in his smile, and villain in his frown.

“I was startled at these bold expressions from the lips of my gentle friend, and en

deavoured to vindicate Niger, and give her a more favourable opinion of his character. Whether I succeeded I know not, but I soon found that my words expressed a confidence in his integrity which my heart began to distrust, for Jaachonia had unbarred the portals of suspicion, and soon such a maddening train rushed out, that my senses seemed as if they must become their victim.

"I walked on in the most distressed state of mind, sometimes overwhelmed with those dark suggestions, and then endeavouring to chase them from me as unworthy of my friend and of myself. When we reached the house, Niger was not there; it was more than an hour after when he entered it with Julius. I thought I could not have supported the conflicting emotions of my mind-but he took no notice of my disturbed manner, and soon after left the room. I was so absorbed in my own feelings that I was scarcely conscious I was still in the presence of Julius and his wife, till the former observed I seemed ill, and desired Jaachonia to bring me a cup of the wine of Sorek,

that she would find standing in the banqueting room. With her accustomed kindness she ran to fetch it, and while she was gone, Julius questioned me as to what had disordered me. I had no inclination to open my heart to him, but stammered out some evasive answer, and was relieved from any further explanation by the entrance of Jaachonia with the cup of wine. She was advancing with it towards me, when, casting her eyes on her husband, and seeing a deathlike paleness on his countenance, she uttered an exclamation of tenderness and fear, and springing towards him, held the wine to his livid lips. He dashed it from her hand with a violence that threw the cup to the other end of the room, and grasping her arm, said he wanted fresh air, and tauntingly bade her take him her favourite walk by the river. The alarming expression of latent rage and undefined terror which they severally exhibited on quitting the room, made me rise up to follow them. But Jaachonia made a sign to me to return. I then ran to seek Tryphosa, as I thought she might interfere