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Henry,' she said faintly, and from time to time pausing, and collecting her breath to go on, I had a great deal to say to you; I cannot say it now think of Amy- think of all she has said think of meeting her in heaven: but, oh !' she said with more animation, as if a sudden recollection crossed her, 'oh! let not that hope be all, or be the chief one that makes you look forward to heaven. Henry, examine your heart more → - be sure that you have an interest in the Redeemer oh! do not deceive your own soul; if you love him, keep his commandments — hate sin, and love holiness, not because you love it in your sinful fellow-creatures, but because He is holy.' She paused, and drawing her hand from my grasp, put it under her pillow, and took out a book, which she put into mine, holding both between her's, and then a few large tears rolled quickly down her face, the hectic colour faded for a moment; but when she exerted herself to speak, it returned again, and she rapidly went on.

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Henry, dear Henry, this little

you of

volume is

your poor never cease

all the token that will be left Amy's affection; oh! let it never, to be your companion, your guide, your counsellor better, a thousand times better, will it be than all that she ever hoped to be, than all she ever could have been.' She looked the unutterable farewell, that she could not speak, that I could not listen to, and slowly drawing

off her sweet soft eyes from mine, she raised them upward while she prayed Nothat prayer shall not be breathed on earth again but if, through grace, I meet thee, Amy, before the throne, then shalt thou know thy prayer was heard and answered.

Enough of this, the retrospections that harrow up the soul may not be detailed.

I saw poor Amy laid in the grave where Emma was laid before her, and I saw a plain white stone, emblematic in its hue of those it covered, placed over all But this must not be, I have said I would say no more.

-

It was when I rejoined my regiment, after a dangerous fever, that I first felt Courtenay's real worth. He had now attained greater worldly prosperity, and perhaps, too, greater real happiness than he had ever anticipated: he was married to the woman of his choice, and he was possessed of a larger property than he could ever have expected. Yet prosperity- a rare instance - had neither hardened his heart, nor raised his self esteem. He was still the same affable, kind, openhearted man that he had been when he possessed no temporal distinctions above the poorest officer in the regiment. His feeling mind and manly disposition saved me many a pang which the rougliness or impertinence of others might have given me: he forbore to pry into the cause of the deep and singular dejection that made me appear among my

former friends as transformed into another man; but he delicately and kindly sympathized with the wounded feelings he was not told of, and bore with the irritability he could not account for. Louisa, too, for his sake seemed to feel an interest in me, and the delicate attentions I met from her, I received as coming from him. Poor fellow! as he walked by my side the morning after the conversation had past which gave rise to these retrospections, I felt that while such friends were left to me as some of those with whom I then marched, 1 was still more favored than I deserved to be.

CHAPTER XII.

A FEW evenings previous to the battle of Salamanca, Courtenay and I had been engaged in attending to our division: when our business was done, I remarked that he appeared unusually serious. He did not deny the charge, for the smile that moved round his mouth as I spoke, amounted even to melancholy.

"I was thinking of my poor wife, Traverston. It is a thought of her that makes me

feel life precious even to myself; I would spare her · poor soul—if I could.'

'Do you remember the commission you gave me, Courtenay, on the Sierra de Busaco?' I spoke with a smile to remind him of the falsity of his former forebodings.

'I do,' he gravely replied; and I ask you, again, if it is in your power to serve my poor Louisa after my death to remember and do it.'

'If I had any one to recommend to your care, Courtenay, I might as well do so, as you to mine. The chance of war soldiers tell us is equal.'

Perhaps so but I feel as if I will not have to give a sigh for you.'

Nor, I trust, will I for you, Courtenay; there is not a friend I would grudge more to lose than yourself.'

I believe on some accounts you would almost rather see poor Charles Fitzmorris laid low than me, Traverston?'

Fitzmorris,' I repeated, while balancing in my mind the scale of preference-'Dear Charles, what would I do without him?-but Courtenay, my old my valued friend,—' I broke off the disagreeable decision that I could not make, and not knowing the reasons that he alluded to, said hastily, 'Why?'

'Because you believe him better prepared for death.'

I was surprised at the seriousness of the reply.

I do, Courtenay. I believe, though I have reason, good reason to regard, to esteem, to love you as a tried faithful friend, an endeared companion, still I believe that Charles Fitzmorris is better prepared to stand before his God.'

Courtenay looked very grave, and when he spoke it was thoughtfully.

There are such a variety of religious opinions and creeds in the world, they clash so together, that a man can hardly ever know whether he is right or wrong.'

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My dear Courtenay, the word of God is an infallible guide-it points out the one sure mode of salvation appointed for all mankind, who will accept of it; if we are right on that point, what matters it how much we differ on the several iotas of religious belief?'

'Perhaps, Traverston, I should be ashamed to acknowledge that I do not possess that infallible guide: I,' he hesitated a little, and added, I have no Bible; had I asked poor Louisa for her's, she would have thought my death-warrant sealed; and I own, if I had one, I should be glad to read it - I should wish to learn something more of a future world before indeed I have long felt at times a desire to do so, but something held me back from confessing this, and I diverted my mind from the subject; but now I feel as if I