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"hausted by diftrefs, and the fatigue "of feven days' inceffant travelling. "We have no clue to direct us where "to find the loft countess. Instead, "therefore, of wearying out his ftrength "in impatient romantic wandering, let "him referve it, till fome certain in-. "telligence calls us forth to action; " and if I can serve the child of my be"nefactor, neither my age nor my "function fhall be pleaded in my ex"cufe. In the mean time we will con"fole ourselves with the conviction, "that Fitzofborne cannot fecrete her "from the fuperintendence of Omni

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potence; and we will confide her to "the care of that Providence which "never deferts thofe who, fenfible of "their own weakness and the perils by << which they are furrounded, fanctify "the measures which human prudence "suggests by a dependence upon him " who

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"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 shall transcribe:

"To MISS EVANS.

"Let not Mifs Evans ftart 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 ask 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 laft I will ever folicit, my dying

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lips--but I dare not pray--I did "not afk 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 say."O that eternal mercy would save me "from the pangs of murdering my "father!"

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

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rage or pity predominated. The meffenger stated, that the lady who sent 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 he 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 refpected 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 judg

ment, whether it will be prudent to "apprize fir William that we have "heard of her. Try too, my love, to cc prepare your fortitude for the most 66 excru

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"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 employment, all my care."

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"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 difgrace, her eager pursuit of fame, her acute fenfibility as a daughter, a wife, and a mother. Let them contraft the exqui

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