but let us each look to his own, and measure, and weigh it, carefully; to see if its proportions are just to learn if it be true.

We now pass over a gap of several years. These had gone by clad in the variously chequered garments of weal and wo, which this Proteus-World is wont to fashion. The ripened manhood of Victor had more than redeemed the promise of his early youth. With mind, and heart, and feelings, strong, deep-toned, and vigorous with physical, mental, and moral capabilities, developed in due proportion, came, naturally enough associated, genius of a high and healthy order. Regarding labor not only as a duty, but as a privilege and blessing — being that condition which is absolutely essential to the developement of the perfect manhe loved his art, and labored in it with the fervor of a free and true soul. A few noble spirits, who, having detected the Reality in themselves, were capable of understanding and appreciating it in others, were gathered about him—a charm-ed circle, wherein the morning Sun of Truth, shone, with the promise of yet revealing himself in the fulness of his noontide splendor! For there are a few, thank Heaven! a noble few! even now

even here who

have not bowed down to the popular Divinities

of Fashion, nor worshipped the Images which are set up in the temple of the modern Baal ARISTOCRACY. These have not offered the God-enkindled incense of their MANHOOD, before an Indian Ship, a Yard-stick, a Gallipot, a bundle of Briefs; nor even a Pulpit-Cushion! A few there are who now believe what the Many what All must, ere long, believe and see that the Living Spirit of Man, which God fashioned, is better than a heap of Yellow Dust, though it bear the name of Gold - better than a pile of Brick and Mortar, though it rise above the height of Babel - better than any square measure of Earth, be it small or great ; believing this, they have no place in their affections for perishable matter; but grasp with the far-reaching arms of undying Love the one Actual Truth THE BROTHER SOUL! Can such a one feel any resentment towards the poor mistaken one, who undervalues, possibly despises him, simply because he cannot reach

he does not know him? Who would not pity that visual hallucination, which could mistake the dark spots, or even the brilliant clouds which sometimes overshadow the Sun, for the Sun himself?

Beautiful, in its entire truth, and trustingness, was the friendship between Victor and Robert;

and with singular felicity were the excesses of one character, adapted to the wants of the other. The genius of Victor was, unquestionably, of the most healthy and vigorous order; for his mind was more truly balanced than that of Robert; but he had not the far-reaching imagination which distinguished the latter; while he had the great advantage of superior reasoning and controlling power. Robert had, in short, the loftiest poetic feeling — not that he wrote verses, for to the deep, and wild, and beautiful Thoughts within him, no words could give utterance. He wrote not, indeed, but he interpreted he read he felt what is written in the Book of Nature, which was to him an infinite Volume of Mystery and Beauty. The loftiest and the purest poetry, though it has never been written, yet it cannot be lost; but when the grossness of mortality shall have melted away, it will be revealed, wrought upon the elements of the undying soul, in the mystic characters of Eternity.

Though Robert seldom attempted to embody his thoughts, he created to himself a world of free and happy existences of pure and exalted spirits until his own soul, won, as it were, from the Sensual, and absorbed in the Spiritual, held by a very slight tenure, the bond which is

tence.

miscalled Life. Meanwhile his health was so delicate that no profession was even thought of; until, at length, a voyage at sea was prescribed by the physician, whom his anxious friends had consulted, as the only probable means of saving, or even of prolonging his exisThen it was that the long cherished hope of Victor that of studying the deeper mysteries of his art among the classic models of Greece and Rome-ripened into a determina. tion. He had, during the two years of his majority, accumulated a sufficient sum to defray his expenses and, prompted alike by friendship, and the hope of improvement, he gladly accepted Mr. Gray's earnest request for him to accompany his son. In short, the voyage was determined on, and the passage engaged: but we must go back to a period about six months prior to this, in order to relate circumstances which are essential to our story all

or a

part of which may be found in the next chapter.

CHAPTER XIV.

"If to her share some female errors fall,

Look on her face, and you'll forget them all. "

POPE.

WITH your permission, gentle reader, we introduce again our old friend, Thomas Stanton; not now a green boy, but a full-fashioned man; and what is more, to most persons, a physician of high standing and great promise; he having changed the profession of the Law for that of Medicine. It was plain that some serious reflections occupied his mind, as he passed through the busy streets of M., which, from a small manufacturing village, had rapidly grown to be a thronged and populous town. The locality of M. was, or rather had been, one of those quiet, picturesque spots, where the wood-nymph might wreathe her bower, seeing nought to make her afraid, or the Naiad gem her grotto, hearing nought but the liquid melodies of her own delicious warblings, accompanied by the ever-breathing harmony of her tributary waters. But the envious eye of