companions; but, as if transfixed, they still remain, their eyes uplifted to the window whence she has vanished. Sir Howard was the first who spoke.
"Can the practice," said he, "of a system, so rigid as hers, be called happiness!—wasting the blooming spring of her charms in a life of mere vegetation. She has still to taste of the cup of pleasure, and can form no idea of what a delicious draught it is."
Ruminating more deeply over his own dark reflections, Melliphant started at the sound of his companion's voice, but still hung his head and maintained silence. Having reached his door, Sir Howard invited Melliphant to walk in; and, as was frequently their custom, they spent the night in gambling. The manners of Sir Howard were unusually agitated, a sort of restless irritability prevailed over him. He spoke rapidly upon subjects of indifferent concern, and foreign to the moment. The game they played was hazard; and, depending upon his usual good luck, he accepted of Melliphant's bets, which ran high, and lost without being conscious of doing so,—consulting at different intervals his watch with the interest of one who had an appointment requiring to be kept with exactitude, but, in reality, only to note to himself the advance of the hours, which dragged too heavily for him.
Melliphant continued to win, and, at length, transported to find himself free, that he had cleared off the debt so long owing to Sir Howard, springing from his seat he would have departed, had not Sir
