heart hindered him from seeing the baseness of theirs.  It is said, that continual dropping will wear away a stone; so did their incessant reports, by insensible degrees, produce a coolness in his patron’s behaviour towards him.  If he behaved with manly spirit, it was misconstrued into pride and arrogance; his generosity was imprudence; his humility was hypocrisy, the better to cover his ambition.  Edmund bore patiently all the indignities that were thrown upon him; and, though he felt them severely in his bosom, scorned to justify his conduct at the expence even of his enemies.  Perhaps his gentle spirit might at length have sunk under this treatment, but providence interposed in his behalf; and, by seemingly accidental circumstances, conducted him imperceptibly towards the crisis of his fate.

Father Oswald, who had been preceptor to the young men, had a strong affection for Edmund, from a thorough knowledge of his heart; he saw through the mean artifices that were used to undermine him in his patron’s favour; he watched their machinations, and strove to frustrate their designs.

This good man used frequently to walk out with Edmund; they conversed upon various subjects; and the youth would lament to him the unhappiness of his situation, and the peculiar circumstances that attended him.  The father, by his wholesome advice, comforted his drooping heart, and confirmed him in his resolution of bearing unavoidable evils with patience and fortitude, from the consciousness of his own innocence, and the assurance of a future and eternal reward.

One day, as they were walking in a wood near the castle, Edmund asked the father, what meant those preparations for building, the cutting down trees, and burning of bricks?

“What,” said Oswald, “have you not heard that my Lord is going to build a new apartment on the west side of the castle?”

“And why,” said Edmund, “should my Lord be at that expence when there is one on the east side that is never occupied?”

“That apartment,” said the friar, “you must have observed is always shut up.”

“I have observed it often,” said Edmund; “but I never presumed to ask any questions about it.”

“You had then,” said Oswald, “less curiosity, and more discretion, than is common at your age.”

“You have raised my curiosity,” said Edmund; “and, if it be not improper, I beg of you to gratify it.”

“We are alone,” said Oswald, “and I am so well assured of your prudence, that I will explain this mystery in some degree to you.”

“You must know, that apartment was occupied by the last Lord Lovel when he was a batchelor.  He married in his father’s lifetime, who gave up his own apartment to him, and offered to retire to this himself; but the son would not permit him; he chose to sleep here, rather than in any other.  He had been married about three months, when his father, the old lord, died of a fever.  About twelve months after his marriage, he was called upon to attend the King, Henry the Fourth, on an expedition into Wales, whither he was attended by many of his dependants.  He left his lady big with child, and full of care and anxiety for his safety and return.