Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, by

HARPER & BROTHERS,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York.

THE CLIFFORD FAMILY.

CHAPTER I.

Not thus is woman: closely her still heart
Doth twine itself with e'en each lifeless thing,
Which long remembrance seemed to bear its part,
In her calm joys. Forever would she cling,
A brooding dove, to that sole spot of earth
Where she hath loved and given her children birth,
And heard their first sweet voices. There may Spring
Array no path, renew no flower or leaf,

But hath its breath of home, its farewell claim to grief.

MRS. HEMANS.

It is rather more than eighty years since, that Richard Clifford brought his fair bride, from the comforts and luxuries of London, to suffer all the inconveniences and hardships of an abode in the comparatively wild and unsettled State of Virginia. The fair and fragile form of Ellen Clifford seemed as little fitted to brave the hardships and exertions necessarily attending on a residence in a new country, as the pure and tender lily to bide the pelting of the pitiless storm. But Ellen breathed not a sigh, uttered not a complaint, as she entered the rude habitation which had been hastily erected for the purposes of temporary accommodation. To build a house which would insure its inhabitants even a reasonable degree of comfort, according to the idea conveyed by this word to English minds, was a matter of no little time and trouble at this period in Virginia. The extreme difficulty of procuring workmen, the necessity for importing all the ornamental parts

of architecture, made building a very serious undertaking, both for the expense it involved, and the time consumed in vexatious delays. The germ of national character began to display itself in Virginia, even at this early period of their history; their generous feelings and liberal ideas of expenditure, led them to form their plans, and commence their undertakings, in a manner får too magnificent for their means; for their revenues were rather those of hope than of possession, depending on the various contingencies of corn and tobacco crops, which were generally estimated at rather more than they possibly could be even in favorable years. In consequence of this national trait, many a spacious mansion was left incomplete, or was hastily finished in a laughably incongruous style.

Richard Clifford was the younger son of Lord Fitz-Clare; his parents died early, and left but two children, boys at the time, one of which was named Richard and the other Francis. Nothing could be more dissimilar than these boys were in disposition, though in external and in mental gifts, nature had been almost equally lavish to both. Richard and Francis were both distinguished by features of regular yet manly beauty, but the beauties of night and morning are not more different than the bright, fearless glance of Richard's dark blue eye, never dimmed or shaded but by emotions of compassion or tenderness, and the thoughtful look and troubled brightness, if we may use the expression, which shone in the eye of Francis. The casual observer might perceive, that the glance of Francis was full of meaning, though its import was not easily read, and it rather repelled than invited confidence. No one passed Richard without a kind greeting, a jest, or a smile; but to Francis was shown all those demonstrations of courtesy, which arise rather from respect than kindness.

It was true, that Francis was a lord, Richard but a younger brother, slenderly provided for, yet the outward demonstrations of courtesy, which were tendered the elder brother, proceeded much less from respect for his rank, than the sensations of reserve and undefinable constraint produced by his character. Richard loved his brother with all the ardor and single-mindedness of his

nature, though his love was ill repaid by the coldness, reserve, and often secret contempt of Francis. His gentle yet playful familiarity, his careless hilarity of disposition, were little in accordance with the pride and reserve of character natural to Francis, and the frankness of heart, which artlessly laid open its inmost workings to those he loved, excited the contempt of his brother, who attributed his candor to that weakness of mind, which often leads men to disclose their thoughts and purposes, from the mere incapacity of concealing them. As the brothers advanced to manhood, these differences of character became daily more perceptible. Richard now often felt involuntarily chilled and restrained by his brother's reserve; yet, though he was wounded by neglect, his was not a nature to admit suspicions of those he loved, or to indulge painful feelings. If transient ernotions of sorrow came over him, they were but as floating clouds passing over the sun. He was proud of his brother, of his talents, of his accomplishments, and he had always loved him with his whole heart; it was impossible, therefore, he thought, that Francis should not love him in return, and he would add, mentally, people have different ways of showing their feelings. By a happy art of looking only at the bright side of things, or shutting his eyes to the dark side, if there was no bright one to be scen, he remained in blissful ignorance of all he did not wish to know. Francis, on the other hand, was a close and severe observer of human nature, and if he erred, it was from studying it too closely, and seeing things which, in reality, only existed in the workings of a restless and morbid imagination.

Richard was about two-and-twenty years of age when he first became acquainted with Ellen Herbert. She was beautiful, yet not strikingly so; and her modest and touching beauty might not have attracted the notice of Richard Clifford, had not his interest been first excited by hearing that she was portionless and an orphan, and his attention once turned toward her, many things combined to deepen this interest to the strongest and most ardent affection. Ellen lived in the house of her uncle, Mr. Sedley, who had two daughters, nearly her own age, both aspiring to be belles and beauties. Their eager desire for admiration,