"who is able to fave." The weeping Lucy acquiefced in the piety and the wifdom of this reflection.

Affairs continued in this state at Powerscourt till the following evening. Sir William grew perceptibly weaker, and Henry in vain endeavoured to inspire Mifs Evans with the hopes which he had himself abandoned. Every found and every footstep feemed to her charged with tidings from her friend. About nine in the evening a note arrived, which I fhall transcribe:

"To MISS EVANS.

"Let not Mifs Evans start at the "writing of her once beloved Geral

dine. The loft miferable wretch pre"fumes not to claim the friendship which "was the delight of her happier days. "I only afk compaffion. Tell me, is my "father yet alive? if he is, exert that "refift.

VOL. III.

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"refiftless eloquence which convinces "every heart, and move him to bestow "his parental bleffing on his undone "child. And for this act of mercy, "the last I will ever folicit, my dying "lips--but I dare not pray-—I did "not ask the protecting care of Hea"ven.-I did not liften to your coun"fels.-I was felf-willed, boastful."Ah! what am I now?-I have no "home, no name, no one to recog"nize or to protect me. Lord Mon" teith-but I deferve his accufations. "Yet if I am the fhameless being he "calls me I know not what I fay."O that eternal mercy would fave me "from the pangs of murdering my "father!"

I fpare all comment upon the feelings of Miss Evans at receiving this incoherent epiftle. Indeed it would be impoffible to fay, whether grief or joy, rage

rage or pity predominated. The mesfenger ftated, that the lady who fent him was at an inn a few miles diftant. The landlady told him it was a great pity that none of her friends came to her, for that she was quite alone, very ill, and scarcely in her right mind.

Not an inftant was loft in expediting the defired confolation. The carriage was prepared, and the fervants mounted, each contending with all their national impetuofity and humanity, who fhould be the first to fetch back the respected fugitive. Lucy had determined to go, but Henry perfuaded her to change that refolution. "Spend the time of my "absence," said he, "with your father, "and confult his difpaffionate judg63 ment, whether it will be prudent to apprize fir William that we have "heard of her. Try too, my love, to (c prepare your fortitude for the most

excruciating tril it ever fuftained. "The dear unfortunate requires more "than the tear of fympathizing for"row."

"Reftore her quickly to me," cried Mifs Evans. "I will watch her night "and day. She fhall be all my employ"ment, all my care."

"The speed of my return will entirely "depend upon her ability to bear the journey," replied Henry.

Let the fufceptible reader who has attended to the delineation of lady Monteith's character through the preceding pages, conceive the fituation of her mind at the time that her coufin joined her at the obfcure inn which afforded her a temporray afylum. Let them recollect her keen abhorrence of disgrace, her eager pursuit of fame, her acute fenfibility as a daughter, a wife, and a mother. Let them contrast the exqui

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fite refinement of her ideas with her prefent calamities, and releafe me from the vain attempt of defcribing her mental fufferings..

She lay upon a couch; her eyes fixed and raylets; her liftlets arms hanging motionless; her face deadly pale, and half concealed by her redundant neglected hair. The attendant, who was fitting by her, announced a gentleman who wished to speak with her. Inftantly the ftupefaction in her countenance changed to extreme terror. She grafped the girl's hand, and entreated her to fave her, while her eyes rolled with frightful wildnels. The terrified maid added, that his name was Powerf court; but that he fhould not come in unless the pleafed. The countefs relaxed her convulfive grafp, and funk fainting upon the couch.

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Henry,