exclusion.”  “Do not be offended, my lord,” replied Corinne:  “Believe that I must have very powerful reasons not to consent to your desire.”  “Ands will you acquaint me with those reasons?” replied Oswald.  “Impossible!” cried Corinne; “Impossible!” “So then—­” said Nelville, and his emotion rendered him unable to proceed.  He was about to depart, when Corinne, all in tears, exclaimed in English, “For God’s sake do not leave me unless you wish to break my heart!”

These words, and the tone of voice in which they were uttered, deeply affected the soul of Oswald.  He sat down again at some distance from Corinne, supporting his head against a vase of alabaster which embellished her apartment; then, suddenly, he said to her, “Cruel woman! you see that I love you—­you see that, twenty times a day, I am ready to offer you my hand and my heart; yet you will not inform me who you are!  Tell me, Corinne, tell me the story of your past life,” repeated he, stretching his hand to her with the most moving expression of sensibility.  “Oswald!” cried Corinne; “Oswald! you do not know the pain you give me.  If I were mad enough to tell you all you would no longer love me.”  “Great God!” replied he; “what have you then to reveal?” “Nothing that renders me unworthy of you,” said she; “but fortuitous circumstances, and differences between our tastes and opinions, which existed formerly and which no longer exist.  Do not oblige me to confess who I am.  Some day, perhaps—­some day, should you love me sufficiently—­Ah!  I know not what I say,” continued Corinne; “you shall know all; but do not forsake me before you have heard it.  Promise me that you will not, in the name of your father who is now in heaven!” “Pronounce not that name,” cried Lord Nelville; “can you fathom his will respecting us?  Think you that he would consent to our union?  If you do, declare it, and I shall no longer be racked with doubts and fears.  Some time or other, I will unfold to you my sad story; but behold the condition you have now reduced me to.”  In truth, his forehead was covered with a cold sweat, his face was pale, and his trembling lips with difficulty articulated these last words.  Corinne, seated by the side of Nelville, holding his hands in hers, gently recalled him to himself.  “My dear Oswald,” said she to him; “ask Mr Edgermond if he has ever been in Northumberland; or at least if he has only been there within these past five years.  Should he answer in the affirmative he may then accompany you hither.”  At these words Oswald looked steadfastly at Corinne, who cast down her eyes and was silent.  “I shall do as you desire me,” said Lord Nelville, and went away.