Her confinement was become no less a matter of neceffity than of obedience; she took her meals, and passed her whole day, in her separate apartment; and as great pains were beftowed in keeping the affair of Blachford's plot and its providential issue 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 disgraceful 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 fufpicion 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 fkilfully, for he had now performed the operation of the trepan, yet if he had been dreifing 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 story of Blachford's plot made upon Lady Crowbery's mind, was fuch as left a strong perfuafion of my Lord's participation in that bafe attempt, and from this moment she

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 fhe was fitting alone and penfive in her chamber, ruminating on the fad fortune of her life, and the miferies which an attachment fatally traversed 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 difcovered 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 she 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 setting, the motto, every particle depofed to the identity of the object; not a doubt remained; astonishment VOL. II. H poffeffed

poffeffed her wholly; fhe shook in every joint, and felt a tumult at her heart, that her enfeebled frame could scarce fupport. Happily fhe was alone; and when she 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 first, 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 inexorable 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 must plunge her in the grave: had you per

mitted

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 posterity 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 thofe who obey, and those who defperately evade it; v.

gives a power to parents that is their cits entailing a dreadful responsibility on fuck at enforce it, and violating the most facred pai vileges of all who are reftrain'd by it."

This faid, fhe rofe, and opening a te cafket, where other tokens were depofitel, lodged it amongst them, referring it to time, the revealer of all mysteries, 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 fhe, as this reflection occurred, "what have I to bestow, that De lapoer wou'd now deem a reward? Cou'd I endure the meeting, ought I even to wifh it? Shou'd I not in difcretion avoid it? If there

is any remnant of affection left in his heart for me, will not the fight of fuch a faded form, and the discovery of my wretchedness, give anguifh to his feelings?-But then my fon! my Henry!-How else shall I disclose to Delapoer the interefting intelligence that he is a father? Henry, for thy fake I wou'd abide that

trial !"

It was now the hour for Zachary to pay his profeffional vifit: curiofity, or fome motive not connected with kindness, induced Lord Crowbery to accompany him on this occafion: his prefence was not calculated to quiet uneafiness of any kind; and Zachary's fingers had no fooner touched his patient's pulfe, than he gave my Lord a fignificant look, which not only indicated alarm at what he discovered by his touch, but seemed to intimate that he knew, by his intuition, where the cause of it was to be found.

"I am told, madam," said my lord, “ you are indifpofed; I fhould wish to hear the nature of your complaint, and what this gentleman's opinion is of your cafe."

"So please you, my lord," replied the man of medicine," it is not our practice to discufs thofe points in the hearing of our patients." " Cannot