Chapter I.

"Take, oh take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn;
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn:
But my kisses bring again,
bring again
Seals of love, but sealed in vain,
seal'd in vain."
-- _Measure for Measure._

On a bright day during the month of September,
of the year 1800, two persons were in earnest conver-
sation in a lawyer's office in the city of Montreal.
One of them was the most distinguished advocate of
that place; a man of some three score years, and of a
commanding yet wild and singular aspect. His com-
panion was a well-dressed female of middle age, and
comely, though mournful countenance. Some disa-
greeable topic seemed to have just ruffled both of
their tempers, for her face was moist with tears, and
darkened with an expression of disappointment. His
own was slightly marked with annoyance, and, sud-
denly ceasing to arrange some folded law papers that
he held in his hands, and had gathered up from the
table at which he was standing, he exclaimed in tones
of mingled surprise and asperity: "Still at the old
song! still harping, harping, harping! Peace, no
more of it. Heaven would be insufferable with but

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v?