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"mach, and they doubt he won't get " over it. There's not a dry eye "within ten miles of him by this time. "I told all the folks I met as I came "along, and they all began to pray for

him, and to drink to his getting ❝ well. And they do so curfe my lady countefs. For my part, fir, I "can't curfe her; for I don't think it do you? She was the prettieft, "decenteft young lady I ever faw in my life, when fhe was with us; but they do fay this London 'fquire was "an eternal great rogue."

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Henry lifted up his eyes to heaven, as if requiring the tardy lightning to blaft Fitzofborne's complicated guilt. He now turned his courfe westward, and arrived at Powerscourt late the enfuing day, worn down by fatigue and anxiety. He had, however, the fatisfaction to hear, that fir William was

still alive, and he learnt the following particulars from Mr. Evans.

The news of lady Monteith's elopement had travelled to Powerscourt with inconceivable celerity. A dependant of the earl's, more grateful than judicious in his intentions, had perfuaded himself, that a mighty noife was made about nothing at all; for that the lady was only gone to stay a little with her father, as his wife would sometimes do, when he had a word or two with her. He determined therefore to ride poft to Caernarvonshire, not doubting that he fhould bring news back of her being fafe and well. His uncouth manner and confufed extravagant account rather amufed than alarmed the fervants, and it was accidentally communicated to fir William. Nothing refpecting his darling child was uninterefting to him. He ordered the "bonnie Scot" into

his prefence; and though he gave little credence to the improbable narrative, he heard with concern, that lord Monteith's affairs were in a bad ftate, and that he and his lady were thought not to be quite fo happy as they were.

Sir William paffed a restless miserable night, and the next morning appeared seriously ill. He rofe, however, with the determination of going himself into Scotland, when an exprefs arrived from lord Monteith, which proclaimed his own difgrace in terms of the most rafh severity; and haftened the crisis of fir William's diforder. He was immediately feized with fpafms in his ftomach and, though fomewhat relieved by medical aid, he still remained speechless, and in a very alarming state.

"He is perfectly fenfible," continued Mr. Evans, "and his counte"nance is inconceivably interefting. I

"never faw fo much meek forrow

filently expreffed. I am confident, "that his frame of mind is fuch as his "life would warrant us to expect, and "that he bleffes the Power that cor«rects him. I have juft been at prayers "by his bed-fide. He pressed my "hand when I had finifhed; looked at "the portrait of his daughter, which

hung at his bed's feet, then on me; "and laftly raised his eyes to Heaven. "I understood that he commended her "to me. The ligature, as Sterne ob"ferves, fine as it is, fhall never be "broken. When the world for fakes "her, I will receive and cherish the "mourner. She may be frail and cri"minal; he cannot be wholly aban"doned."

Lucy now, having heard of Henry's return, rushed into the room with inquiries refpecting her friend. She

liftened

liftened with breathlefs eagerness to the narrative which he related. "'Tis as "I faid" exclaimed fhe, clafping her hands: "I knew that her pure elevated "mind could never yield consent to an "adulterous elopement.

O Henry! London-the

"do follow her to "traitor has certainly concealed her "there ;-refcue her from him ;-fear "not his oppofition-guilt like his "must be cowardly: perhaps even yet you may fave our Geraldine."

"Let us ftudy moderation in every "thing," replied Mr. Evans in his ufual dignified manner; "whether we "grieve for the refpectable friend who "feems leaving us for a happier world, " or feek to affift the dear lady who ap"peared to be worthy of a better fate. "Let us every remember, that excess "offends. Do not you fee, my dear "child, that Mr. Powerfcourt is ex

"haufted

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