with the execution of the laws, perhaps upon me same principle as the bleeding culprit abhors the

sight of the whip that<br>

has flogged hirn; and their natural conceit and presumption were flattered by the attention paid to
their complaints; till,<br>
by his judicious management, Lord Edmund found that he had obtained the entire devotion of the
mob, and could wield<br>
them at his pleasure. Time rolled on, and winter had already wrapped its frozen mantle round the
world, when one day<br>
Father Morris abruptly entered the apartment of Rosabella. "It is all over, "cried he, as he threw
himself in despair upon<br>
a couch. Edmund has obtained the consent of the people for the Queen to marry, and no doubts in
a few weeks he will be<br>
the husband of Elvira! The husband of Elvira! cried Rosabella, her eyes flashing fire, and her
cheeks glowing, whilst<br>
every fibre quivered with agitation, and her fine features bespoke the tremendous passions of a
demon. "Then may<br>
everlasting misery attend the fiend that has deceived us; that has led us on step by step to our
destruction, and is perhaps<br>
even now mocking our despair! Yes, yes, continued she, as the fiendish laugh of Cheops rang in
her ears, and his<br>
detested form stood again before her,-- I expected this; you come to enjoy your triumph and mock
our credulity; but<br>
know, this arm is yet powerful enough to revenge my wrongs; it shall annihilate my rival; and
thou, wretch! Detested<br>
hideous wretch! thou too shalt feel its vengeance!" "This to your friend!" said Cheops with a
bitter smile:"fie! fie! How<br>
blind is human reason when the passions intervene!--all is for the best--have patience; wait a
little, and my promises will<br>
yet be accomplished." "If Elvira had died," murmured Father Morris, a dark frown gathering
upon his brow. "You would<br>
not be now alive," said the Mummy. "But fear not, all is as you can wish." "As we can wish?"
cried Rosabella<br>
indignantly. "Yes, as you can wish," returned Cheops firmly. "Edmund has obtained permission
for Elvira to marry any<br>
natural born subject of the realm; but she will not wed him, for she loves another, and that other is
a foreigner. He will<br>
be enraged at her refusal, and jealousy will alienate him from her cause. He will then naturally
espouse that of her rival<br>
from ambition and revenge. Rosabella will be Queen, and the law which prevented the marriage
of the Sovereign being<br>
abolished, Edmund will become her husband--if not from love, at least from ambition" "0
Cheops! ‘tis useless to resist--<br>
we are thy slaves,--do with us as thou will." "Say rather you are slaves of your own passions,"
murmured the Mummy;<br>
and they parted. It was a clear frosty day in November, when Elvira, scarcely knowing why,
wandered into the garden<br>
belonging to her splendid palace of Somerset House; and, entering a pavilion, reclined upon a
couch placed opposite to a<br>
window that commanded a view of the river. The pavilion was decorated with the utmost taste. Its
windows, opening to<br>
the ground, were shaded with curtains of gossamer net, lined with pink; the walls were
beautifully painted, and divided<br>
into panels by highly ornamented columns; books, drawings, and musical instruments, were
scattered around; whilst<br>
tripods, supporting vases filled with the rarest exotic flowers, shed sweet fragrance through the
air; and the carpet was so<br>
soft and thick, that it felt like moss beneath the feet. Even in this temple of luxury, However, its
fair possessor was not<br>
happy. She signed as she surveyed the gorgeous refinernent around her, and felt forcibly the
insufficiency of greatness.<br>
Listlessly she turned her eyes upon the figures painted upon the walls: they represented the loves
of Mars and Venus: they<br>
were exquisitely painted: the artist had given to the life the tender modesty of the goddess, and
the ardent passion of her<br>
lover. Elvira gazed upon his glowing countenance and sparkling eyes; and then, looking down,
sighed yet more heavily<br>
than before. She dismissed her attendants, retaining only Emma; and long her eyes were fixed on
vacancy, and her mind<br>
absorbed in mournful contemplations; when suddenly she was startled by the entrance of a page,
and the appearance of<br>
Lord Edmund Montagu, who followed almost at the moment of the page’s repeating his name:
his countenance beaming<br>
joy, and hope dancing in his eyes. "Oh, Elvira!" he cried, "you are now mine--mine for ever! The
people permit you to<br>
marry. The lords in council have signed the law; the people have proclaimed it with acclamations,
You are free! you are<br>
no longer debarred from the inestimable pleasures of domestic life—you are independent—you
may marry any natural<br>
born subject of the realm, and will you now be mine?” “And so relinquish my independence the
moment I obtain it,”<br>
said Elvira, smiling. "Oh, my loved! my adored Elvira! consent to make me happy! Believe me
you shall be free, and still<br>
as much a Queen as at this moment." "Edmund!" said Elvira seriously, "you deserve more than I
can give you; for I will<br>
not insult you by supposing you would be satisfied with the possession of my crown without my
heart;--and that it is not<br>
in my power to bestow. My dearest Elvira, you but fancy this. I know your feelings are warm.
your sensibility acute,<br>
and your generosity unbounded—can you then want a heart? Alas, no! but I have discovered I
possess one, only in time<br>
to know also that I have given it to another. And is that other a youth and a stranger? asked her
lover, gasping for<br>
breath. He is, replied Elvira, blushing, and looking down. Then, indeed, I am wretched! cried
Lord Edmund; and,<br>