"True. But my children. O! "for their fakes what would I not fub"mit to? I would ftill endure his con"tempt. I would kneel, and humbly fupplicate to be the partner in all their 66 "father's fortunes." Fitzofborne paused. "No injuries, "I fee, can compel her to a willing elopement. It is well; I have a re"fource. I know that I poffefs her "affections; and women always pardon "where they love." "If fuch be your refolution," said he to the half-frantic Geraldine," let "me inftantly order your carriage, that "you may fet off in purfuit of him. "Every moment's delay increases the "difficulty of overtaking him." "True. I will be gone. You are my "better angel, Fitzosborne. Order my carriage, while I fetch my little ones. They fhall kneel with me to their "faithlefs father." "Dear "Dearest lady Monteith," returned Fitzofborne, infernal triumph fparkling in his eyes," how diftrefs affects your ftrong intellects! At this late hour, "their season of reft, would you ex"pose their delicate frames to the dan сс ger of a rapid purfuit? Confider, that "all your hopes of overtaking lord "Monteith depend upon your speed. If "you are fuccefsful, your own charms, "and your deep diftrefs, muft poffefs "fufficient eloquence; and if you are fo "unfortunate as to miss him, will it "be acting with proper decorum to lady Arabella to obtrude your family upon her without previous prepara ❝tion ?" "Am I then to leave them here, "the fport of mercilefs creditors?" "Reft affured, madam, that, how"ever barbarous our laws may be, in "that "that particular, the execution of them "is happily conducted with urbanity, "at least to people of your rank. But, "to foften any apprehenfion on their "account, I will take care to escort "them wherever you please to order, "when you are placed in honourable protection. Their nurses are very "careful of them; they are too young "to know forrow by anticipation; and any tale will account for your ab"fence." "Is the carriage ready? where is "Maria ?" "She and my fervant muft pack r up a few neceffary changes of linen. "They can follow us in another chaile." "Us, Fitzofborne? you do not "mean to go with me?" "On that head I must be firm. Hu"manity will not fuffer me to let you "undertake fuch a journey by yourself <in circumflances of fuch peculiar "diftrefs. Befide, if you should over"take Monteith upon the road, who "knows but that his violence, aggra"vated by detected guilt, may make "you want a protector." "What bloody fcenes are you re"volving? Loft, unhappy Geraldine! "Better perish here than want a pro"tector against thy husband." "He has abjured the feelings annex"ed to that title. Though I renounce "the name of his friend, and cancel "all ties of gratitude, yet for your "fake you fhall fee me calm and dif"paffionate, nay, even patient of infult. "But you forget how we wafte these "precious moments," "Ah, true," She stept towards the door; and then, fuddenly stopping, exclaimed, "Where are my children? "I must see them once more ?" " Would "Would you wake them from their "fleep?" cried Fitzofborne, who dreaded the event of fuch an interview. "Would you fill their innocent minds with forrow at feeing your diftrefs?" "Sleep on, my innocent peaceful « children; and never may ye know "what your mother fuffers!" She then turned her eyes upon Fitzosborne. The expreffion in his countenance excited a momentary alarm. She withdrew her hand from his impaffioned grafp, and fearfully uttered: "Something ftill "whispers me, that I ought not to go: "at leaft, not with you." "Whence this cruel diftruft of your "adopted brother, the contracted huf"band of your Arabella?" returned the re-collected diffembler. "Dear "lady Monteith! Will these starts of "too fufceptible delicacy never cease, " even if you fhould fee that engagement fulfilled ?" << Then |