tains than were abfolutely neceffary. That Fitzofborne then took the note from him, and bade him fay, if he was queftioned, that he went round by Farmer Thompson's, and then turned toward Edinburgh. Influenced by a fudden start of indignation, Henry ordered both the groom and the butler into custody, without confidering that the blackeft crimes will sometimes evade the punishment of buman laws. He now paused a moment to confider how he should act, when the head nurse thus interrupted his musings: "Won't you see the pretty littledears, "fir? Alas-a-day! what is to become "of them? They have been asking for "their mamma all the morning. Lady "Bell and lady Lucy have fat and "learned the leffons fhe gave them "yesterday, like two angels; and they " fay 1 "fay that they know fhe will call them "good girls, and kifs them, when she "comes; and that dear beautiful little "creature Geraldine has made up a "nofegay for mam-mam. She can hardly talk, you know. Dear fweet "fouls! to have their mother taken " from them. So young too! Do, "good fir, just go and fee them. My "little lord is vastly grown, even fince "you went away, and crows, and is fo "merry!" Henry fuffered himself to be led to the nursery. The fcene overpowered his fortitude. "O, coufin Harry! echoed the two elder, "we are so glad 66 you are come again.' -" Do," continued Arabella, "tell mamma we (6 are ready with our books. Is not "fhe well, that she has not been to fee us this morning? nurfe does cry fo, "and she won't tell us why." ¢ "Were "Were all thy drops of blood lives "Fitzofborne !" exclaimed Henry, thy << crimes demand the forfeiture of all. "Villain! monftrous infernal villain! "to facrifice to fenfual paffion the peace, the welfare, the reputation of innocents like thefe !" "My dear little ladies," cried the nurfe to the terrified children," naughty "Mr. Fitzofborne has took your mam"ma away; but if you will be very "good, and not cry, this good gentle "man will fetch her back again." "Yes, indeed, I will be very good," faid the fobbing lady Arabella, “ and "not cry, if I can help it. Pray, Lucy, "don't hold coufin Harry's coat; con"fider you will hinder him; and when 66 you find mamma, cousin, tell her she "shall not fee us cry when he comes "home again." Henry Henry caught the children alternately in his arms, and while his heart yearned at their misfortune, he commended their deferted innocence to the common Parent of the orphan and the diftreffed. He at length tore himself from the affecting scene. He now debated which way to shape his course whether to fet off in purfuit of the countess, or to communicate the intelligence of her abfence to lord Monteith, and to confult with him what measures fhould be adopted. Every circumftance proved that the had been rather entrapped than feduced. A hope ftruck him, that his rescue might come in time to fave her from dishonour, and he fet out rapidly in fearch of her. He ftopped at all the poft inns on the route to Edinburgh; but his minute inquiries obtained no fatisfaction. In that city he renewed his fcrutiny; and when his failing hopes had almoft deferted him, he obtained what he thought a guiding clue. It proved evafive. Still, however, convinced in his own mind, that London would be the place of Fitzofborne's deftination, as being beft fuited for the purposes of concealment, he continued to travel towards the fouth, till he accidentally faw a tenant of fir William Powerfcourt's at an inn door, where he was changing horfes. Anxiety for his Lucy induced him to inquire after her welfare. The honeft ruftic mournfully fhook his head. "Ah! fir," said he, "all is well at the parfonage; but very "bad news at the manor-house. "good old mafter has heard that the lady countefs his daughter ran away "with a fine London 'fquire; and it has thrown the gout into his fto Our "mach, |