nothing could take away the impression from her mind that the Spanish youth was, in fact, a spy upon her actions.

Too unsophisticated, or too thoughtless to keep this thought to herself, Anna had told the baron almost as soon as she imagined it; and the consequence was, that it suddenly entered the husband's mind that Eldrido might be more useful than he had ever contemplated.

He had promised Anna that she should see life, and he was sorry he had given her his word, for his girlish bride was ever vexing him with her likings and dislikings; and the baron was growing terribly jealous, so openly so, that Anna would playfully call him Baron Blue Beard, and though her silvery laugh disarmed him, he could never shake off the impression that he should some day be angry with his beauteous bride.

"So, Baron Blue Beard, you think a pretty woman must be shut up at home," continued Anna, after a pause.

"I never kept you at home, dearest."

"No, no, I should fret and lose all my bloom: you know that I am like a plant, I cannot live in confined air; but you are very reluctant to allow the wind of amusements to blow upon me, and I am fond of pleasure, I confess it."

"If I am Blue Beard, then," said the baron, "I give you every indulgence, but I must selfishly retain one key,—the key of your warmest attachment, dearest. Anna, you are too open-hearted, you will never believe how hollow the world's flattery is; every one who flatters a woman watches to see the effects, and false hearts laugh at those who believe all the nonsense they hear. I am willing to believe you are above the general herd of womankind, but

your dominant passion of liking suddenly, without asking yourself why or wherefore, cannot but be a dangerous indulgence; that which is very natural and naïve in a young girl, becomes silly, to say the least of it, in a married woman."

"I cannot imagine what you mean,—no one is flattering me, save you. I am sure I ought to know I am beautiful, if your words be true."

They are, Anna; your beauty is too decided to be doubted. You will hear the buzz of admiration in crowds, and the look of approval reflected in outstretched eyes; you will be blinded, and forget that beauty is but the gift of a day, and that without

it

you would pass through saloons receiving as much respect, though exposed to less danger. Now, before these heaps of invitations are accepted I wish you to understand me fully. I once was rapidly making

steps towards becoming jealous, but with your keen penetration, as much above your years as extraordinary, you seem to read every thought of my heart. I would have guarded you as a tender flower, too fragile for the wind to blow its leaves; but on examining the leaves which form this lovely gem, I have come to a different determination. You are strong enough to brave alone the storms of the gale, and if you prove weak, every petal will have conspired to make the flower droop in its lustre; and such a flower, wasting its own strength, would not be worth my preserving."

"You are angry with me," said Anna, turning rather pale.

"No, I am not, but I begin to understand your character; it is not altogether as wayward as it would seem to be; and, Anna, if, forgetting your new character, you should be silly enough to fall into your

dangerous, impulsive manner of acting, I shall consider you the aggressor, and the person you admire, your victim."

Anna blushed very deeply, for she was thinking of Cunnington; she was making a comparison-she was wondering if, when they met, he would have conquered his feelings, and she sighed audibly as she answered her own heart in the negative.

The baron, who had never spoken so coldly to Anna, could hardly bear the sound of that sigh; but he knew how much first impressions wrought upon her mind, and he left the room, fearing he should betray how weakly fond, how jealously anxious he was of his fair bride!

Anna remained for some time buried in thought; the notes which had before employed her thoughts were, if not forgotten, at least looked upon with a sort of foreboding; they seemed the temptations