"the ties of esteem may be fanctioned "by those of kindred. Can I feek the "recovery of lady Arabella's favour by "worthier means than by trying to dif"engage her brother from a criminal "attachment?"

"O! name the means that may produce that bleffed end," exclaimed the impaffioned Geraldine, with clasped hands, and wild emphatic looks: "ref"cue my Monteith from this dreadful "thraldom; reftore to me his valua"ble but estranged heart, and I will <c pray for you, Fitzofborne--I will "entreat of Heaven, that all your fu"ture days may be as happy as those I "once enjoyed."

Edward had no defire to be included in Geraldine's prayers. He was equally averse to hear of her attachment to her husband, and of her dependence on Heaven. The advice he gave was of a

fatanic

fatanic nature. It was, to charge her lord with his infidelity; to humble him by her fuperiority; and to convince him by her eloquence. Vice, he affirmed, must shrink from the presence of virtue. The funbeam of her eye muft diffipate the clouds by which Monteith's reafon was enveloped. His recovered judgment would compare innocence, grace, and beauty, with proftitution, vanity, and caprice; and a repentant husband, awakened by her reproofs to a fenfe of honour, would at her feet abjure the infamous Harley, and all her flagitious fifterhood.

Lady Monteith's perturbed mind ftill poffeffed fufficient clearness to refift the adoption of fuch a dangerous expedient, which, by inflaming the violent paffions of her lord, was more likely to make him caft off all the decorum which a dread of difcovery impofed, than to check

check the career of his vicious indulgence; and her delicacy pointed out the imprudence of arming his pride in the cause of a courtezan, when fhe hoped it might be made the happy inftrument of releasing him from a degrading connection. "I have," faid fhe, "prescribed to myself but two "rules for my conduct in this unfor"tunate affair: and to thefe I will

rigidly adhere. I will never reproach "lord Monteith, nor will I ever divulge

his indifcretions. Even my Lucy, the "partner of my foul, does not know that "the dejection which fhe muft obferve "in me proceeds from any other caufe "than latent indifpofition."

"There are certainly many reasons "for withholding fuch confidence from "Mifs Evans; and when I confider "your father's age and increafing in"firmities, I renounce a plan which

"the

"the refpectability of his character once fuggefled to me, of acquainting him with his fon-in-law's conduct, "and urging him to affume the tone highly becoming an injured and affec "tionate parent."

"O! for Heaven's fake! reject that "idea," exclaimed the terrified countefs. "Let not the halcyon calm of "his declining years be clouded with a "doubt of his child's happiness. How " ungrateful, how impious fhould I be, "to draw from repofing age the pil"low on which it finks to reft, cheered "by approving confcience, and hold"ing fweet communion with that peace"ful world for which it has been long "preparing."

"And are you not afraid that his "paternal folicitude will pervade your pious concealment ?" inquired Fitz"I have feen him watch your << varving

ofborne.

varying looks, and caft glances on "lord Monteith ftrongly indicative of

"You alarm me. Surely I had bet"ter leave Powerfcourt immediately, "before thofe fufpicions fhall be con"firmed."

"That proposal, madam, indicates your customary prudence, though it is "hard at fuch a time to deprive your

felf of the comforts of his tender affec"tion, and the foothings of Mifs Evans's friendship. Whither will you direct "your penfive steps?"

"Not to that cruel world, Fitzof"borne, which has tarnished my repu"tation, and robbed me of my huf"band's heart. I will go to Monteith,

and embrace my dear little girls, " from whom I have been ten months "feparated. Their playful prattle will perhaps amufe me; at least their un

"difcern