<< Very true, Madam, I fhould have been more felect in my expreffions, as I might have recollected that none are fo affectedly regardful of the forms of delicacy as those, who have bidden adieu to the effentials of it."

" "Tis well, my lord; I fhall give you no further opportunity of infulting me, by anfwer+ ing to no further questions: here ends our conference; proceed against me as you please; be as cruel as your heart will let you; there is a friend at hand that will foon rescue me from your tyranny."

Say you fo, Madam! Who is that

friend ?"

"Death."

CHAPTER VI.

Danger approaches, and the Doctor is difmifs'd. IN this manner the fad and heavy hours dragged flowly on at Crowbery caftle. Domeftic altercations, jealoufies, and complaints on the part of Lord Crowbery, preffed down the spirits, and now began to fap and undermine the conftitution of his unhappy lady.

Her

Her confinement was become no lefs a matter of neceffity than of obedience; fhe took her meals, and paffed her whole day, in her separate apartment; and as great pains were beftowed in keeping the affair of Blachford's plot and its providential iffue from her knowledge, it was not till after the dialogue recited in the preceding chapter had taken place, that she came to the knowledge of that difgraceful business.

His Lordship's fufpicion pointed at Zachary as the informer on this occafion; and though a pretty strict watch was kept upon him in his vifits, probably the suspicion aforefaid was not ill placed, for our honest Doctor had great attachment to his noble patient, and very little to her ignoble lord: our hero alfo had an interest in his heart; Blachford he detefted, and though he did his duty to him faithfully and skilfully, for he had now performed the operation of the trepan, yet if he had been dreffing the wounds of a wretch condemned for murder, he probably could not have felt lefs fympathy for the fufferings of his patient. The impreffion, which the ftory of Blachford's plot made upon Lady Crowbery's mind, was fuch as left a ftrong perfuafion of my Lord's participation in that base attempt, and from this moment fhe

could

could not fee him without horror: fixt in her refolution to enter into no further difcuffions with him, all intercourfe between them was fufpended.

One day, as she was fitting alone and penfive in her chamber, ruminating on the fad fortune of her life, and the miseries which an attachment fatally traverfed had entailed upon her, as the drew out her handkerchief to ftaunch the tears that were flowing from her eyes, a little packet dropt on the floor, which fhe took up, and foon discovered to be the fame that Henry had delivered to her, inclofing the ring, but which, in the hurry of her fpirits at that moment, she had haftily put into her pocket, and from that time it had escaped her recollection.

What was her furprize, upon unfolding the envelope, to discover the very ring fhe had given to her beloved Delapoer, when they exchanged their pledges, and folemnly devoted their hearts and affections each to the other.

With eager trepidation fhe turned it over and over, minutely examining it in every part. The hair, the ftone, the fetting, the motto, every particle depofed to the identity of the object; not a doubt remained; aftonishment VOL. II.

H

poffeffed

poffeffed her wholly; fhe fhook in every joint, and felt a tumult at her heart, that her enfeebled frame could fcarce fupport. Happily fhe was alone; and when fhe could command fufficient recollection to debate the cafe, and shape her thoughts into fome form and order, fhe began to give them vent, talking to herself, in broken fentences, after the following manner:

"The very ring I gave to Delapoer! the pledge of love, my firft, my only love! affuredly it is the fame! I cannot be mistaken! Oh memory of a fond fleeting moment, thou art much too faithful to deceive, or be deceiv'd! How came it here? Is he that own'd it living, and return'd to England, or is he dead, and, dying, gave it in commiffion to fome friend to render back to me? Let me recal to mind what Henry told me; a man had found it, a poor man, return'd from transportation; that may be himself; well may he call it fo'; 'twas banishment, 'twas tranfportation for the crime of loving one, whom the hard heart of an in-. exorable parent wrefted from his arms too late for honour. Ah cruel father! there was a moment, when, if you had relented, your poor child had never known these agonies, that now muft plunge her in the grave: had you per

mitted her to take her own heart's choice, and at the altar fanctify those vows, which Heaven had heard and register'd, your daughter nad been now a happy mother, and pofterity wou'd have bleffed you; instead of which, behold a jealous tyrant and a barren bed! Oh! barbarous foul-enflaving law, devis'd in an accurfed hour to counteract the first great bleffing pronounc'd by the Creator on his works, which alike makes wretched those who obey, and those who defperately evade it; which gives a power to parents that is their curse, entailing a dreadful refponsibility on fuch as enforce it, and violating the most facred privileges of all who are reftrain'd by it."

This faid, fhe rofe, and opening a little cafket, where other tokens were depofited, lodged it amongst them, referring it to time, the revealer of all myfteries, to elucidate this amongst the reft; and recollecting it had been told her by Henry, that the finder of the ring faid he would call again for his reward

"Alas!" faid he, as this reflection occurred, "what have I to bestow, that Delapoer wou'd now deem a reward? Cou'd I endure the meeting, ought I even to wish it? Shou'd I not in difcretion avoid it? If there