The birds were warbling their evening song, the moorhens uttering their short, sharp cry, and the woodpigeon in the park seemed, with her soft, mild note, to be singing nature to sleep. There was around us a dewy, dreamy stillness, and a calm sensation of peace and rest which appeared the effect of magic, when one remembered that in the short space of an hour and twenty minutes, that scene could be exchanged for the noise and blaze of a full opera. Our friends were now out of sight, and we paused by the edge of the stream, where grew a cluster of low alders, to look at the beautiful water lilies; when, time and situation so well suiting, I resumed my discourse on first impressions. So well did I reason, and such apt conclusions followed my mode of argument, that Alicia was apparently convinced, and I had begun to think that Orpheus was not more seducing than myself. I had just ventured to take her hand, but, at that instant, a rustling sound proceeded from the low growth of alders immediately beneath us,— a figure rose with startling effect-and as it rushed past us in the direction of the inn, I recognised, in spite of the twilight, the very same straight-haired young man in spectacles, who had previously paid a visit to my great coat. He must have heard every syllable of our conversation; and this consciousness of his participation in my secret annoyed me not a little. What could he have been doing there? He seemed like an evil genius, bent on thwarting my dearest wishes. Thus, with the thread of my discourse broken, and another opportunity lost, we walked on for some moments in silence. It is impossible to wander in this quiet scene and not harmonize with all that surrounds you. Perhaps, from the contrast with the adjacent city, it seems quieter than elsewhere; there are more birds in the woods, no such shelter existing near, to draw them away; they seem to sing more, and make more nests. In short, there is no place so favourable to the growth of love; and had we been left tête-à-tête for a moment longer, my eloquence would again have been all-powerful, and I must have succeeded. But, alas! we were joined by our friends. Hugh told me they had entered the park gate, and had not proceeded ten yards, when they were civilly desired to walk out by a gamekeeper, lest they should disturb the hares. "Would to heavens," I exclaimed, "you had sent the keeper to me, he should have caught the man in spectacles, who must have been stealing the fish.” We now returned towards the inn: but in vain were my attempts to loiter or converse by the way; eloquence and champagne had alike deserted me. Alicia herself seemed to have awakened from the soft chain of ideas I had so artfully led her into; and would not assist me to another opportunity of again exerting my influence. 66 Thus," I inwardly exclaimed, are the most beautiful passages of harmony often marred by a single false note. Yet were I to tell this story to the world, or to my friends, they would call it nothing." We now regained the inn; I was out of humour with myself, with Miss Manydubs, and with Hugh and Louisa, who, during our return, would neither walk fast enough to get out of our way, or slow enough to enable us to get out of theirs and I began to think there was but one soul in the party, and that was mine. However, when I least expected it, the golden opportunity once more arrived, and H as it was unlooked for, so did I seize upon it with the greater avidity. We were again left in the parlour together: she stood at the open window, it was dark all but the faint light of the young moon, when, approaching her side, and encircling her waist with one arm, I whispered, Alicia, dearest Alicia, be not offended at my calling you by that delightful name, this moment of parting after such a day of pleasure comes upon me like the white storm at sea, which overwhelms the mariner whilst slumbering in the midst of calm and sunshine. I little thought when I arose this morning, free and unshackled as the boundless wind, that eve would find me a very slave." As I said this my lip approached hers, but-heavens— the door again flew open, and the waiter's head came in. "If you please, sir, have you got your coat?" I cast my eyes on the chair, it was gone. "No," I replied, frantic with indignation at the repeated interruption. "Then, if you please, sir, the young man in spectacles has taken it, who is just gone up by the Alligator, leaving a sadly torn one in its stead." 66 Stop him," I cried, losing all patience, "stop him, stop the crocodile, or whatever you call it. Gods! that I might catch the villain, and consign him, spectacles and all, to a monster of that description!" And rushing forth to the door of the inn, I discovered that the perpetrator of all my misery and disappointment was far out of reach of vengeance, leaving me nothing but his dust. When I returned to the room, candles were lit, and Hugh and the ladies ready to get into the carriage. To the former I whispered a part of my misfortunes, but all the reply I received from him was-" Try again, its nothing." When we arrived in town, the ladies said they had headaches, and retired at once to their rooms; while I reached my house in a perfect fever, and dreamed all night of a lank-haired giant in spectacles, who yawned to devour me. Knowing my propensity to be late, I gave my servant orders to awaken me early, being determined to call in Piccadilly the following morning, at such an hour as should insure me an interview with Alicia. Morning came, when, without giving myself time to fall into a reverie, I dressed and breakfasted; but, in my over anxiety to be in time, I got out of it altogether, for I paid my visit before any one was up; and in a sort of dogged desperation, arising from disappointment, occasioned in the last instance through my own inadvertency, I threw myself into a stage coach, and kept my appointment in the country. Reader, canst thou call this Nothing? Whether thou canst or not, I would advise thee, if thou art a man in spectacles, in charity to thy fellows, not to thrust thyself on a tête-à-tête with which thine own head hath nothing to do; nor let the gaiety of a stranger's garment disgust thee with the poverty of thine own. The heiress that a man in spectacles thus prevented my marrying, hath since bestowed her riches on another. REMINISCENCES OF MY LAST MORNING IN ROME, MAY 26TH, 1834. BY THE LADY E. S. WORTLEY. It was in Rome, a glorious morn in May- Of changeful lights, and splendour-streaming dyes, It was in Rome-our careful steps were bent We enter'd a vast palace hall; around Stood liveried followers; but no whispery sound |