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( Continued from first jmge.) walked by her side; and as she ascended the steps, her gentle eves bedewed with tears, her slender atid feeble form inclined towards the bal ustrade, her extended arms assisting the child, who walked stiil more slowly than herself, Lady Marv and her son appeared at the door. Lady Mary wore a brown velvet dress, rich bracelets encircled her arms, a slender gold chain bound her brow, which in truth was of those on which a diadem sits well. iShe advanced with an as sured step, her head high, her glance full of pride. Such was the first meeting of the two mothers. “ You are welcome, madam,” said Lady Mary, bowing to Eva Meredith. Eva tried to smile, and answered by a few af fectionate words.. How could she forebode ha tred, she who only knew love ? We proceeded to Lord Jame’s room. Mrs. Meredith, scarcely able to support herself, entered first, took a few *steps, and knelt beside her father-in-law’s chair. Taking her child in her arms, she placed him on Lord Janies Kysington’s knee. “ His son ! ” site said. Then the poor woman wept and.was silent. Long did Lord James gaze upon the child.— As he gradually recognised the features of the son he had lost, his eyes became moist, and their expression affectionate. There came a moment when, forgetting his age, lapse of time, and past misfortune, he dreamed himself back to the hap py days when he first pressed his infant son to his heart. “ William, William ! ” he murmured.— “ My daughter ! ” added he, extending his hand to Eva Meredith. My eyes filled with tears. Eva had a family, a protector, a fortune. I was happy ; perhaps that was why 1 wept. The child remained quiet upon his grand father’s knees, and showed neither pleasure nor fear. “ Will you love me ‘? ” said the old man. The child raised its head, but did not answer. “Do you hear ? I \vi 11 be your father.” 41 1 will be your father,” the child gently re peated. 44 Excuse him,” said his mother, “he has al ways been alone. He is very young ; the pres ence of many persons intimidates him. Bv-and by, mv lord, he will better understand your kind words.” But l looked at the child ; I examined him in silence. I recalled my former gloomy apprehen sions. Alas ! those apprehensions now became a certainty ; the terrible shocked experienced by Eva Meredith during her pregnancy had had fatal consequences for her child, and a mother only, in her youth, her love, and her inexperience, could have remained so long ignorant of her misfor- O V-f tunc. At the same time, with myself, Lady Mary looked at the child. 1 sh.ill never forget the ex pression of th it countenance. She stood erect, and the piercing gaze she fixed upon little Wil liam seeniid to read his very soul. As she gazed, her eyes sparkled, her mouth was half opened, as by a smile —she breathed short nnd thick, like one oppressed by great and sudden joy. She looked, looked—hope, doubt, expectation, re placed each other on her face. At last her ha tred was clear-sighted, an internal cry of tri umph burst from her heart, but was checked ere it reached her lips. She drew herself up, let fall a disdainful glance upon Eva, her vanquished enemy, and resumed her usual calm. Lord James, fatigued by the •emotions of the day, dismissed us and remained alone all the evening. Upon the morrow, after an agitated night, when I entered Lord James’s room,’ all the fam ily were alreedy assembled around him, and Lady Mary had little William on her knees ; it was the tiger clutching its prey. 44 What a beautiful child ! ” she said, 44 See my lord, these fair and silken locks ! how bril liant they’ are in the sunshine ! But, dear Eva, is your son always* so silent! does he never ex hibit the vivacity and gaiety of his age ? ” 44 He is very sad,” replied Mrs. Meredith. — 44 Alas! with me he could hardiv learn to laugh.” - 14 We will try to amuse and cheer him,” said lady Mary. 44 Come, my dear child, kiss your grandfather ! hold out your arms, and tell him you love him.” Will iam did not'stir. “Do vou not know liow? Harry mv love, kiss your uncle, atid set your cousin a good ex ample.” Harry jumped upon Lord James’s knees, threw both arms round his neck, and said, 1 love you, uncle! ” 44 Now itisy’our turn, my dear William,” said Lady Mary. William stirred not, and did not even look at his grandfather. A tear coursed down Eva Meredith’s cheek. 44 ’Tis my’ fault,” she said. 44 1 have brought up my child badly.” And taking William upon her lap, her tears fell upon his face,; he felt them not, but slumbered upon his mother’s heavy heart. 44 Try to make William less shy,” said Lord James to his daughter-in-law. 44 1 will try,” replied Eva, in her submissive tones, like those of an obedient child. 44 I will try ; and perhaps I shall succeed, if Lady Mary will kindly tell me how she rendered her son so happy and so gay.” Then the disconsolate mother looked at Harry, who was at play near his uncle’s chair, and her eyes reverted to her poor sleeping child. 44 He suffered even before his birth, she murmured ; 44 we have both been very unhappy ! but 1 will try to weep no more, that William may be cheerful like other children.” Two davs elapsed, two painful days, lull of secret trouble and ill-concealed uneasiness.— Lord James’s brow was care-laden; at times his look questioned me. I averted my eyes to avoid answering. On the morning of the third day, Ladv Mary came into the room with a number ol | playthings for the children. Harry seized a ! sword, and ran about the room, shouting for joy. William remained motionless, holding in his lit tle hand the toys that were given to him, but not attempting to use them ; he did not even look at them. “ Here my lord,” said Lady” Mary to her brother, “give this book to your grandson ; per haps his attention will be roused by the pictures it contains.” And she led William to Lord James. The child was passive ; he walked, stopped, and remained like a statue where he was placed. Lord James opened the book. All eyes turned towards the group formed by the old man and his grandson. Lord James was gloomy, si lent, severe; he slowly turned several pages, stopping at every picture, and looking at William, whose vacant gaze was not directed to the book. Lord James turned a few more pages; then his hand ceased to move ; the book fell from his knees to the ground, and an irksome silence reigned in the apartment. Lady Mary approached me, bent forward as if to whisper in my ear, and in a voice loud enough to be heard bv all “ The child is an idiot,doctor ! ” she said. A shriek answered her. Eva started up as if she had received a blow ; and seizing her son, whom she pressed convulsively to her breast— *‘Jdiot!” she exclaimed, her indignant glance flashing, for the first time, with a vivid brilliance; 44 idiot ! ” she repeated, 44 because he has been unhappy all his life, because be has seen but tears since bis eyes first opened! because be knows not how to play like your son, who has always had joy around him ! Ah! madam, you insult misfortune ! Come my child ! ” cried Eva, all in tears. “ Come let us leave these pitiless hearts, that find none but cruel words to console our misery! ” And the unhappy mother carried off her boy to her apartment. I followed. She set William down, and knelt before the child. “My son ! my son ! ” she cried. William went close to her, and rested his head on his mother’s shoulder. “Doctor!” cried Eva, 44 he loves me—you see he does ! He comes when I call him ;he kisses me ! His caresses have sufficed for mv tranquility —for my sad happiness ! My God ! was it not then enough ! Speak to me, my son, re-assurc me ! Kind a consoling word, a single word for your despairing mother ! Till now 1 have asked nothing of vou but to remind me of your father, and leave me silence to weep. To day William, you must give me words! See you not my tears —my terror ! Dear child, so beautiful, so like your father, speak, speak to me !” Alas! alas! the child remained motionless, without fear or intelligence ; a smile only*, a smile horrible to behold, flitted across his features.— Eva hid her face in both hands, and remained kneeling upon the ground. For a long time no noise was heard save the sound of her sobs. — Then I prayed heaven to inspire me with conso ling thoughts, such as might give a ray of hope to this poor mother. 1 spoke of the future, of expected cure, of change possible—even proba ble. But hope /s no friend to falsehood. Where she does not exist her phantom cannot penetrate. A terrible blow, a mortal one, had been struck, and Eva Meredith saw all the truth. From that day forward, only one child was to be seen each morning in Lord James Kysington’s room. Two women came thither, but only one seemed to live—the oilier was silent as the tomb. One said, “My son ! ” the other never spoke of tier child ; one carried her head high, the other bowed hers upon her breast, the better to bide her tears ; one was blooming and brilliant, the other pale and a mourner. The struggle was at an end. Lady Mary triumphed. It was cruel how they let Harry play before Eva Meredith’s eyes. Careless of her anguish, they brought him to re peat. bis lessons in his uncle’s presence ; thev vaunted his progress. The ambitious mother calculated everything to consolidate her success ; and, whilst abounding in honeyed words and feigned consolation, she tortured Eva Meredith’s day. Lord James, smitten in his dearest hopes, had resumed the cold impassibility which L now saw formed the foundation of his character.— Strictly courteous to his daughter-in-law, he had no word of affection for her; only as the mother of his grandson, could the daughter of the Amer ican planter find a place in his heart. And be considered the child as no longer in existence.— Lord James Kysington was more gloomy and taciturn than ever, regretting, perhaps, to have ruffled his old age by a painful and profitless emoticfn. A year elapsed ; then a sad day carne, when Lord James sent for Eva Meredith and signed to her to be seated beside his arm-chair. “Listen to me, .madam,” -he said, “listen with courage. I will act frankly with you, and conceal nothing. lam old and ill, and must ar range my affairs. The task is painful both for you and for me, I will not refer to my anger at my son’s maariage ; your misfortune disarmed me— l called you to my side, and 1 desired to be hold and to love in your son William, the heir of my fortune, the pivot of my dreams of future ambition. Alas ! madam, fate was cruel to us ! My son’s widow and orphan shall have all that can ensure them an honorable existence ; but, sole master of a fortune due to my own exertions, 1 adopt my nephew, and look upon him hence forward as my sole heir. I am about to return to London, whither my affairs call me. Come with me, madam—my house is yours —1 shall be happy to see.you there,” Eva (she afterwards told me so) felt, for the first time, her despondency replaced by courage. She had the strength that is given by r a noble pride ; she raised her head, and if her brow was less haughty than that of Lady Mary, on the other hand it had all the dignity of misfortune. “ Go, my lord,” she answered, “ go; 1 shall not accompany you. I will not witness the usurpa tion of my son’s rights ! You art? in haste to condemn, my lord. Who can forsee the future ! You are in despair of the mercy of God ! ” “ Lite future,” replied Lord James, “at my age, is bounded by the passing day. What 1 would be certain to do Imust do at once and with out delay.” • “Act as you think proper,” replied Eva. “ 1 return to the dwelling where I was happy with my husband. I return thither with your grandson, William Kysin gton ; of that name, his sole in heritance, you cannot deprive him ; and though the world should know it but by reading it on his tomb, your name, my lord, is the name of mv son ! ” A week later, Eva Meredith descended the stairs of* the hotel, holding her son by the hand, as she had done when she entered this fatal house. Lady Mary was a little behind her, a few steps higher up ; the numerous servants, sad and silent, beheld with regret the departure of the gentle creature thus driven from the paternal roof. — When she quitted this abode, Eva quitted the on ly beings she new upon the earth, the only per sons whose pity she had a right to claim—the world was before her, an immense wilderness.— It was Hagar going forth into the desert. “ This is horrible doctor ! ” cried Dr. Barnaby’s audience. “Is it possible there are persons so utterly unhappy ? What! you witnessed all this yourself ? 4 ’ “ 1 have not vet told you all,” replied the vil lage doctor; “ let me get to the end.” {Shortly alter Eva Meredith’s departure, Lord James went to London. Once more my own master, 1 gave up all idea of further study ; i had enough learning for my village, and in haste 1 returned thither. Once more I sat opposite to Eva in the little white house, a§ I had done two years before. But how greatly had intervening events increased her misfortune We no lon ger dared talk of the future, that unknown mo ment of which we all have so great need, and without which our present joys appear too feeble, and our misfortunes too great. Never did I witness grief nobler in its simpli city, calmer in its intensity, than that of Eva Meredith. She forgot not to pray to the God who chastened her. For her, God was the being in whose hands are the springs of hope, when earthly hopes are extinct. Her look of faith re mained fixed upon her child’s brow, as if awaiting the arrival of the soul her prayers invoked. 1 cannot describe the courageous patience of that mother speaking to her son, who listened without understanding. 1 cannot tell you all the treas ures of love, of thought, of ingenious narrative she displayed before that torpid intelligence, which repeated, like an echo, the last of her gen tle words. She explained to him heaven, God, the angels ; she endeavored to make him pray, and joined his hands, but she could not make him raise his eyes to heaven. In all possible shapes she tried to give him the first lessons of child hood ; she read to him, spoke to him, placed pic tures before his oyes —bad recourse to music as a substitute for words. One day, making a terrible effort, she told William the story of his father’s death ; she hoped, expected a tear. The child fell asleep whilst yet she spoke ; tears were shed, but they fell from the eyes of Eva Meredith. Thus did she exhaust herself by vain efforts, by a persevering struggle. That “she might not cease to hope, she continued to toil ; but to Wil liam’s eyes pictures were mere colours ; to his ears words were but noise. The child, however, grew in statue and in beauty. One who had seen him l*ut for an instant would have taken the immobility of tiis countenance for placidity. — But that prolonged and continued calm, that ab sence of all grief, of all tears, had a strange and sad effect upon us. Suffering must indeed be in herent to our nature, since William’s eternal smile made every one say, “The poor idiot!” Mothers know not the happiness concealed in. the tears of their child. A tear is a regret, a de sire, a fear; it is life, in short, which begins to be understood. Alas! William was content with everything. All day long he seemed to sleep with his eyes open ; anger, weariness, impatience, were alike unknown to him. He had but one in stinct ; he knew his mother—he even loved her. He took pleasure in resting on her knees, on her shoulder ; he kissed her. When I kept him long away from her, he manifested a sort of anxiety.— I took him back to his mother; he showed noj 0 y, but he was again tranquil. This tenderness, thi 3 faint gffmmeringof William’s heart was Eva’s life. It gave her strength to strive, to hope, to wait. If her words were not understood, at least her kisses were ! How often she took her son’s head in her hands, and kissed his forehead, as long and fervently as if she hoped her love would warm and vivify his frozen soul! How often did she dream a miracle whilst clasping her son in hfer arms and pressing his still heart to her burn, ing bosom! Often she lingered at night in the village church. (Eva Meredith was of a Roman Catholic Family.) Kneeling upon the cold stone before the Virgin’s altar, she invoked the marble statue of Mary, holding her child in her arms, “O Virgin!” she said, “my boy is inanimate as that image of thy Son ! Askof God a soul for my child!” She was charitable to all the poor children of the village, giving them bread and clothes, and saying to them, “Bray for him.” She consoled afflicted mothers, in the secret hope that consola tion would come at last to her. She dried the tears of others, to enjoy the belief that one day she also would cease to weep, in all the country round, she was loved, blessed, venerated* fche knew it, and she offered up to Heaven, not with pride but with hope, the blessings of the unfor tunate in exchange for the recovery of her son. c>he loved to watch William’s sleep; then he was handsome and like other children. For an insianr, for a second perhaps, she forgot; and whilst con templating ttiose regular features, those golden locks, those long lashes which threw their shadow on his rose-tinted cheek, she felt a mother’s joy, almost a mother’s pride. God has moments of mercy even for those he has condemned to suffer. Thus passed the lirst years of Wdliam’s child hood. He attained the age of eight years. Then a sad change, which could not escape my atten tive observation, occurred in Eva Meredith.— Either that her son's growth made his want of intelligence more striking, or that she was like a workman who has labored all day, and sinksat eve beneath the load of toil, Eva ceased to hone; her soul seemed to abandon the task undertaken, and to recoil with weariness upon itself, asking only resignation. She‘laid aside the books, the engravings, the music, ail the means, in short, that she had called to her aid ; she grew silent and desponding; only, if that were possible, she was more affectionate than ever to her son. As she lost hope in his cure, she felt the more strongly that her child had but her in the world; and she asked a miracle of her heart —an increase of the love she bore him. iShe became her sou’s servant —his slave ; her whole thoughts were concentra ted in his well being. If she felt.cold, she sought a warmer covering for William ; was she hungry, it was tor William she gathered the fruits of her garden ; did she suffer from fatigue, for him she selected the easiest chair and the softest cushions; she attended to her own sensations only to guess those of her son. tSbe stiff displayed activity, though she no longer harbored hope. When William was eleven years old, the last phase of Eva Meredith’s existence began. Re markably tall and strong for his age, he ceased to need that hourly care required by early child hood ; he was no longer the infant sleeping on his mother’s knees; he walked alone in the gar den ; he rode on horseback with me, and accom panied me in my distant visits; in short the bird, although wingless, left the nest. Ilis misfortune was iri no way shocking or painful to behold. He was of exceeding beauty, silent, unnaturally calm—his eyes expressing nothing but repose, his mouth ignorant of a smile; he was not awk ward, or disagreeable, or importunate; it was a mind sleeping beside yours, asking no questions, making no reply. The incessant maternal care which had served to occupy Mrs. Meredith, and to.divert her mind from dwelling on her sorrows, had become unnecessary, and she resumed her seat at the window, whence she beheld the village and the church-steeple—at that same window where she had so long wept her husband. Hope and occupation successively failed her, and noth ing was left her but to wait and watch, by day and by night, like the lamp that ever burns be neath the cathedral vaults. But her forces were exhausted . In the midst of this grief which had returned to its starting point, to silence and immobility, after having in vain essayed exertion, courage, hope, Eva Mere dith fell into a decline. In spite of all the resour ces of my art, I beheld her grow weak and thin. How apply a remedy when the sickness is of the soul f The poor foreigner! she needed her native sun and a little happiness to warm her; but the ray ot sun and the ray of joy were alike wanting. It was long before she perceived her danger, be cause she thought not of herself; but when at last she was unable to leave her arm-chair, she was compelled to understand. I will not describe to you all her anguish at the thought of leaving William without a guide, without friend or pro tector —of leaving him alone in the midst of stran gers, he who needed to be cherished and led by the hand like a child. Oh, how she struggled for life ! with what avidity she swallowed the potions I prepared! how many times she tried to believe in a cure, whilst all the time the disease pro* gressed ! Then she kept William more at hoip € > —she could no longer bear to lose sight of him* ( Concluded in onr next.) y