THE INCONSTANT.

...." Variable, as the shade

By the light, quivering aspen made!"

Scott.

In a small village in the south of Italy, little frequented by travellers, on account of the numbers of banditti supposed to infest that part, lived Paulo Jacques: in his youth he was valet to an Italian nobleman, who, coming to England, brought Jacques with him. It was there that Jacques became enamoured of a beautiful girl in Cornwall, and offering her his hand, returned to his native country blessed with one of the most sweet and amiable of wives. Jacques's master, who was extremely fond of him, presented them with a farm, which with his savings in service enabled them to live perhaps rather easier than the neighbouring villagers. But Jacques was not long to enjoy the pleasure of his wife's company, she dying when they had only been married five years, leaving behind her an infant daughter aged four years.

Jacques on the loss of his wife gave way to inconsolable grief, which so grew upon him as to render him totally inactive to his domestic affairs, and also to the education and principles of his daughter, who was entirely left to the care of a female servant. Thus neglected by her father, and foolishly indulged by an ignorant girl, at the age of seventeen her character began to show itself. Isabella, for she was named after her mother, was the image of her father, but very pretty. She was tall and well-proportioned; but from her large dark eyes, which were shaded by long black eye-lashes, shot such glances that too plainly pourtrayed her temper. She was very passionate, and if every wish was not quickly gratified, revengeful and vindictive; and if she was once offended, it was in vain to again venture to get on her list of young acquaintance. By these means she continually kept the young villagers around her at such a distance, that the girls cared little for her society, and the young men, from a consciousness that not any could gain her affections, and if he did, should a better come in her way, that he would be rejected, paid her very little attention. Such was the character of Isabella, through the negligence of her father, and the loss of her mother; who, had she lived, would no doubt have rendered her as amiable as herself.

Jacques saw this with great concern, but it was now too late to begin to form that mind he had so long neglected. Isabella had still had a monitor in an old widow

who lived near them, in much the same circumstances as her father. She had an only son, whom she, by gentle and yet proper means, had brought up, not only to be kind and dutiful to her, but obliging and complaisant to all who knew him. This widow had in vain tried to convince Isabella of many errors, and by her kindness she might have eradicated many evil principles; but Isabella would never listen to her advice, and at length completely shunned her cottage.

Francisco, the widow's son, had long admired the beauty of Isabella; and, though he well knew her temper, flattered himself, could he once gain her affections, that he should bring her and his mother to agree, and that she would not find her so bad as she thought. With these and other thoughts he paid more frequent visits to Jacques's cottage, and soon found Isabella was not quite averse to their renewed friendship. This, of course, did not escape the notice of his mother, who was grieved to find his heart fixed where she knew that, even did he marry Isabella, his happiness would be but of short duration. In order to prevent this, she determined to dissuade Francisco from further steps against his peace, and to turn his mind upon some more worthy object, who, having less patrimony, might have more affection and amiability of temper.

"Mother," said he, "I have hitherto felt a pleasure in following your advice, and will not now think of that which seems so much against your wish; but if I do not

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marry Isabella I will never have another. Only reflect, had she had a mother to guide and direct her, she would have been very different to what she is at present; and I feel assured, did she once become an inmate of this cottage, in the embrace of a fond husband, and the kindness of such a mother as you have always been to me, we should soon have her every thing you can desire."

Francisco's mother, who only wished for her son's happiness, seeing him so bent upon Isabella, did not say any thing more against her. "Well, Francisco," said she, "continue paying your attentions to Isabella, and if she is what you think, she will bear the trial I shall put her to. I have a female relation about fifteen leagues from here; in a fortnight we will go there for a short time, and if Isabella keeps true to you till our return you shall have her."

Francisco, who always dearly loved his mother, felt doubly grateful for her kindness, and went to Isabella more cheerfully than ever, renewed his vows to her, and promised that when he returned he should look upon her as his. Isabella, who did not really dislike Francisco, especially as there was no other youth in the village who courted her favour, promised him in return to become his wife at the end of the proposed time.

Francisco and his mother set off on their journey: they had not proceeded far out of the village before the widow told her son the scheme she had laid, to ascertain whether Isabella really loved him. Francisco was at first rather

averse to what he thought a deception; and perhaps, to tell truth, he was rather afraid he should lose her. 'Now, son," said the widow, "I will return to the forest, close to our cottage, in the dress and character of a fortune-teller; while you, disguised as a disbanded soldier, return to the village, and who, through the death of a relation, had lately inherited a little property, wished to settle, and, by taking a partner for life, spend the remainder of it in that ease and comfort which a soldier so well deserves. After a short time fix your eye on Isabella, persuade her to marry you, and take my word for it I will succeed; though no doubt she will pay me frequent visits, when my fame becomes known, as my knowing all the village will enable me to tell the youngsters pretty nearly the truth, and by that means I shall find out her disposition."

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Francisco assured his mother that her scheme would not in the least shake Isabella's constancy. After the many promises they had exchanged between them, he was certain she would not prefer any one to him: “and then,” continued he, "how all our neighbours will laugh at us; and, indeed, when Isabella finds out the deception I have played upon her, how she will despise me; and in truth it will be enough to make her: and the resentment, too, of her father, the old Jacques, for you know he really doats on his daughter, in order, now, if possible, to make up for his long neglect of her. Mother, you should consider all these things; and though you are now loved and