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sensation, and these humane efforts at length succeeded; she opened her eyes, but again, overpowered by the light, closed them.

In the mean time some of the party more considerate than the others, had procured a coach as near the spot as was possible; the poor wretch was lifted into it, and no one seemed inclined to think farther about her. The coachman before he would move, demanded who was to pay him his fare. Every one disappeared insensibly at this demand. Bellasis alone followed her into the coach, and promised to satisfy the fellow's demand.

"Where am I to drive, Sir?" demanded the fellow.

This difficulty had not yet occurred to Bellasis, he knew not how to answer.

"To any of the hospitals," continued the fellow, 66 or to the nearest workhouse?"

The unhappy woman again opened her eyes, they were soft, beautiful, and apparently expressive of innocence; she sighed deeply, but seemed fast recovering.

"No," said Bellasis; "she appears not accustommed either to hospitals or workhouses."

"Search her pockets, master," added the coachman, " you may perhaps find something which will inform you who she is, and whence she comes, and some money perhaps to pay her fare without paying it yourself."

"Drive on," said Bellasis, "the air seems to revive her; I will satisfy you for you fare."

“That's enough, Sir," replied the fellow, "though you were to bid me drive to Botany Bay; shall I drive you straight

forwards?"

Bellasis replied in the affirmative, and the fellow obeyed. The woman gra. dually recovered, and as the expression of her features returned, discovered a face most expressively beautiful. Her mien, her air, her shape, were above the common model. She was scarcely, except in the tallness of her person, arrived at womanhood; her age did not appear to exceed seventeen; her hair was auburn; her complexion most spotlessly fair. Bellasis regarded her with wonder.

Fears succeeded her return to consciousness." Why did you preserve me," said she, in accents still broken and abrupt. Fears again checked her utterance. Bel.. lasis exerted every effort to console her; for a long time every effort was fruitless. It was not till her first passion of despair had subsided by indulgence, that her grief permitted itself a vent in words." I am miserable," at length said she; "alas so miserable that I must even call my benefactor my persecutor. Yes, Sir, if I owe to you the preservation of my life, I can only accuse you that in so preserving it you but prolonged my misery; had it not been for your mistaken humanity this heart would ere this have ceased to beat.”

Bellasis saw that this was not the mo ment to gratify his curiosity. The coachman demanded further orders. Bellasis was by this time so attracted towards the object of his humanity that he ordered the fellow, without further besitation, to drive to Norfolk-street, in the Strand, his own lodgings.

"Father of mercies!" exclaimed the unhappy girl," in what have I merited this fullness of misery? Sir," continued she, "if with the form you have the feelings of humanity, suffer me to leave you here. I am indeed too miserable to live. I cannot, indeed I cannot, support the infamy which is about to fall on me. Sinking under the weight of other grief I cannot support the addition of the loss of reputation, and the contempt of those by whom I was once beloved and estcemed."

"Fear nothing," said Bellasis; "you shall not return to your friends and family unless it is your own wish. I presage that you are more unfortunate than criminal; and if by your narrative this should appear your situation, your grief shall not be ag. gravated by disgrace""

The coach by this time had stopped at Bellasis's lodgings. The house was kept by the widow of an Officer, who chiefly supported herself by her pension and the letting of her lodgings. Being a woman of humanity, and knowing the real worth of the character of Bellasis, a very short explanation was necessary to procure her concurrence in the admission and relief of the unfortunate stranger. By her ready assistance the unhappy girl was soon re

leased from her wet habits; this was no sooner effected, than declining to rest her self, according to the proposal of the good widow, she requested that she might speak with her benefactor, and that the good lady herself would accompany him.

Bellasis obeyed the summons; if he had been before struck with the beauty and symmetry of the lovely unfortunate, he was now still more astonished; the good widow had habited her in a muslin dress of one of her daughters, and when she rose upon the entrance of Bellasis, he thought that he had never beheld such true grace, and natural beauty. Seating herself, she thus addressed him and the good widow :"I owe you more than I fear I shall ever be enabled to repay. In the moment of despair I was about to commit a crime at which my memory now shudders. I could wish at once to testify my gratitude, and by relating the cause of my attempt, convince you that it is not misery of an ordinary nature which could have thus hurried me beyond the bounds of my duty to my Maker. Listen to a narrative which will move your compassion.

66

My father is a farmer in Norfolk; the industry of his family before him had put him into the possession of a small estate of his own of about sixty pounds a year; a farm of about two hundred more, held under a gentleman in the neighbourhood, made altogether a very ample income for one accustomed to habits of economy. I was his only daughter.

Fortunately, at least as I then thought it, a maiden lady boarded with my father for the benefit of the sea-air; for want of *any other companion, perhaps, I soon be came her favourite. She instructed me in the English language, drawing, and something of music. I had thus an education far superior to my rank in life, a misfortune, inasmuch as by giving me a distaste to my situation it perhaps facilitated my subsequent ruin. My benefactress died when I had reached the age of sixteen, leaving me five hundred pounds, the half of her whole property.

"Now commences the career of my misfortunes. My father's landlord had not visited his estates since he became of age; it was at length reported that he was coming down to reside, and his subsequent

arrival soon verified the report. Vain of my accomplishments I was eager to produce them before Sir Harry Mirabel."

"Who?" exclaimed Bellasis; but repressing himself, and apologizing for the interruption, he requested her to proceed.

"Mirabel at length called at our farm. I must confess that his handsome person, and elegant manners, impressed me forcibly, and I could not avoid forming a wish that my fate had destined me such a husband. I was flattered to see that Mirabel was still more forcibly struck with me; his visit was long, and under different pretexts repeated twice the same day; his eyes wandered from every other object to fix only upon me.

"Amongst other things my father was distinguished among the neighbouring gentlemen as a most excellent agriculturist, and his opinion was not unfrequently consulted upon this subject. My father, like most men excellent in one thing, was more than ordinarily proud of this reputation, and was never so much flattered as when consulted in this his favourite study.

“Mirabel was not long unacquainted with this ambition, this ruling passion of the good man, and availed himself of it to accomplish his designs. Under the pretence of consulting his opinion upon some one or other of his fields,-what course was best suited to this that was foul, or that which was sterile, he was with him almost every hour in the day. My father, doubly flattered as being consulted not only in his peculiar talent, but by his landlord, was never so happy as in the society of Mirabel; who, upon his part, appeared equally attracted towards my father.

"I need not say that Mirabel had thus frequent opportunities of addressing himself particularly to me. I cannot deny that his conversation was peculiarly pleasing to me, and that he had made no inconsiderable impression upon me before I was sensible of it. Mirabel was too artful to awake me to a sense of my danger by any premature declaration. All his actions indeed were those of a lover, but the word love had never escaped his lips.The praises of my father, who considered Mirabel as a model of perfection, further confirmed me in the dangerous indulgence of these sentiments; every thing thus con

HISTORY OF THE OLDCASTLE FAMILY.

spired to render me the victim of a seduc- || tion as atrocious as it was deliberate.

"Mirabel at length saw that the time was arrived in which he night venture to speak more openly without any fear of I need not counteracting his purpose. say that in the more remote counties of England the season of harvest is considered as the period of general mirth, when all distinctions of master and man are forgot, || and each happy in the bounty of nature, endeavour to promote the general mirth. Alas! in what glowing colours does my fancy at this moment paint my former happiness, when in the days of innocence, and in the cheerfulness of early life, I listened to the harvest carrol, when the cheering horn welcomed the last labours of the reapers, and the fields and woods re-echoed with the harvest-home Alas! these scenes are for me no more, my innocence is fled, my taste is corrupted, and my cheerfulness, the harmony of a guiltless mind, is gone for

ever.

"But let me endeavour to banish the memory of bliss, which can now only agTo return, gravate my present misery. therefore, to my narrative.-It was one evening at the termination of the wheat harvest, that Mirabel chose for the declaration of his passion. My father gave a supper and fiddlers to his men, in an orchard which adjoined his house. Mirabel called in, and invited me to join the happy dancers. I did not refuse the invitation; we danced till we were wearicd. As the evening was warm, and the moon shone with its harvest ray, Mirabel led me in sensibly into the garden, the gate of which opened into the orchard.

thus in the presence of Heaven I swear
eternal love, and eternal fidelity,'-And
with these words he threw his arms around
who was in too much confusion to pre-
vent him.-Pardon me,' said he, again
releasing me; pardon me, I know not
what I do.'

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"With this abruptness, this studied ardour, did he avow a passion but too acceptable to me; he continued in this strain, and repeated so often that I hated him, that he at length extorted a confession that he was not indifferent to me; he pressed me still further with his importunities, and at length brought me to acknowledge that I loved him.

"I know not how long our conversation would have continued, had not the voice of my father summoned us to the suppertable.-Say nothing to your father of what has passed, Mary; confide in my love and my honour, every thing will turn out in time to our satisfaction; but it requires time, and must not be hurried. The prejudices of the world are against me, a world that is unacquainted with your worth and accomplishments. But it shall not long continue in this ignorance; too long has this thatched roof concealed you from that admiration and love to which your beauty and merit entitle you, and which will follow you wherever you shall be seen."

"It would be almost endless to recount the various means to which Mirabel had recourse to confirm his impression upon my heart. I must not however omit one, A few days after the scene I have now mentioned my father's lease terminated, Confident of a renewal from the apparent friendship of Mirabel, my father atfended cheerfully on the day previous to its expiration. His downcast looks and evident agitation on his return, sufficiently signified to me that he had met a repulse.”

"How lovely is the night,' said he; would to Heaven that I was happy enough to enjoy it.'-And are you not happy? said I.-No,' replied he; and cursed be the prejudices of the world which make me "Yes, Mary,' replied he in answer to miserable; cursed be my own imprudence my inquiries, I must leave a farm which that has hurried me to the precipice; and has been my father's before me, and which cursed. No,' resumed he, to my asmy father himself received from my grandtonishment at his abruptness; 'blest, for ever blest, be your perfect beauty, since it father, having been in our family altois united to a heart as perfect. Yes, sweet-gether near a hundred and thirty years. est Mary, I love, I adore you; Heaven alone knows the sincerity of my passion. In vain have I struggled against it; my passion bears every thing before it, and

It enabled them by its profits to purchase the small estate which has descended to me, and it was enabling me, by my further industry, to lay up a store for thee. It is

a farm by which any one with attention and suitable husbandry must prosper. But we must leave it, my girl, though being born in this house, as well as yourself, I cannot help considering it as my paternal home. Yet Sir Harry is not in fault; he had promised it to another long before he knew me, and the honour of a gentleman is his oath. Let us prepare to quit it.'

"The melancholy despondency with which my father was affected upon the loss of this farm, which, according to his own words, from the length it had remained in our family, appeared almost an inheritance, determined me to make a trial of my interest with Mirabel."

"Yes,' said he, in answer to my application, before I had well even hinted it, I had indeed promised it, but-but-your wish is sufficient; can I refuse that you should dispose of a part of what you must shortly possess the whole. Yes, dearest Mary, never will my heart own a moment's ease till I throw myself and fortune at your feet. My future prospects of farther advancing myself in life, depend upon the favour of an aged uncle, the Earl of G-, of whom I am the heir, my mother being his eldest sister in a family where there were no males. I must not offend him by an abrupt union. Such is the cause of my delay, but you see my house is repairing. Yes, dearest Mary, I must endeavour to render it a worthy abode of a wife like thee. Return, and advise your father to apply once more. The lease shall be renewed for double its former period."

"This was accordingly done. My vanity was highly flattered by my success in this affair. I am persuaded that it was so intended by Mirabel, and that he had never designed to displace my father, but only employed the pretext of a promise that I might act as I had done.

“Nothing, in fine, was neglected which the imagination of the most artful seducer could suggest. I had contracted a fondness || for reading which a village circulating hibrary could but ill supply. Mirabel daily and almost hourly sent me one or other of the most popular novels of the day. Need I say that all these were se Jected with a view to his main purpose. Thus the writings of the infamous H——, and his companions, who have endeavoured

to corrupt the former simple manners of our nation with the degraded stupidity of French philosophy, were preferred even to those of Mrs. Wollstonecraft, as foolish as flagicious, and Miss Williams, who, forgetting the natural humanity of her sex, triumphs in the victims of democracy, and hails with transported emotion the Age of Reason and of Liberty. Would to Heaven that the too mild laws of our country had enacted some restraint on writers like these, whose meritricious style, and fallacious reasoning, however despised by those of solid judgment, are yet infinite in the production of mischief, and by inculcating the disbelief of a state of futurity, reinove one of the most salutary restraints upon the excesses of the passious.

"But that I may not unnecessarily protract my narrative, it will be sufficient to say, in one word, that Mirabel was himself even in the slightest step of his progress. The period of sheep-shearing in the country is a period of festivity, and more particularly was so with my father; who prided himself as an agriculturist upon his growth of wool. Mirabel, who, I am persuaded, cares as little about any public improvement as if he were a creature of another world, under his usual pretext of zeal for the interests of agriculture, was present, and gave an entertainment in his park upon the occasion. I danced with him as usual. The music, the season, the general festivity, produced a more than ordinary effect upon my animal spirits; Mirabel perceived it, and removing me insensensibly from the company, availed himself of it to plead the interests of his love.

"Must it be indeed so long,' said he, 'before I can call you my own? My uncle cannot indeed live many months, and then I am free. Must I live thus despised even for that period. Dearest Mary, would to Heaven that you could but know how ardently I love. Why am I thus hated?" Hated," replied I; why do you employ such language? I do not hate you."

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"This is the language of your tongue,' said he, how different are the sentiments of your heart, and the evident conclusion to be drawn from your actions. Yes, I am convinced, Mary, that I am the object of your hatred."

"I cannot recal without horror the event of this fatal evening. I became the victim of seduction, and from that moment the most miserable of women. Before Sir Harry left me, he threw himself on his knees, and in a form truly awful, invoked the vengeance of Heaven upon his head, unless he fulfilled his vows, and proclaimed me his wife in the face of the church and the world. Yes,' my Mary, added he, rising, from this moment do I consider myself as betrothed to you in the presence of my Maker; the ceremonies of the church shall confirm my union Within a few months I shall reach the age of twenty-five, the period when the will of iny mother renders me in a great degree independent even of my uncle. Then will I conclude our union, aud proclaim you my wife.'

"So affectionatly did I love my betrayer that, after the first remorse attendant on a lapse from innocence into vice, I was almost happy, and considering him as my husband, and myself as equally beloved by him as I tenderly loved him myself, I became insensible to consequences. Alas! let inexperienced youth avoid the first steps into a course of profligacy; the corruption of the heart soon follows the first lapse, and recovery is rendered impossible by insensiblity to our danger.

me of his resolution. My cousin himself reminded me of my former vow of constancy. Though I was in some degree confounded at the resolution of my father, when I reflected upon my own situation, I was so initiated in duplicity by a long habit of mystery, and secrecy in my correspondence with Mirabel, that I did not. hesitate apparently to encourage the addresses of my cousin, and affected a readiness to comply with my father's wishes. I had indeed a purpose to effect by this contrivance: I wished to excite the jealousy of Mirabel, and thus hurry him to the conclusion of his engagements.

66

My contrivance in some degree succeeded. Mirabel still loved me, and therefore beheld with a jealous eye the assiduities of my cousin. One day I more than usually pressed him on the subject of my situation, and in an agony of tears lamented the certain loss of my reputation unless something were done without delay. Mirabel insisted with passionate warmth that I should no longer walk alone with my cousin. I promised that I would obey him. I delivered him the anchor, the memorial of the honest sailor's affection, I threw myself in his arms; in a passion of tears implored him to save me from infamy. and under the name of his wife restore me again to my self-esteem. I avowed my "I was awakened from this insensibility love, and appealed to his generosity. Milaby finding myself pregnant, and now for bel himself was moved; he embraced me the first time did I see my folly and cri- with tenderness, appointed a place of meetminality in its proper view. Sir Harry stilling on the morrow evening, and promised consoled me by repeating his promises that a few months should render me his wife. I believed him because it was necessary to my peace to do so, and we readily believe what we ardently wish.

"At this period a cousin of mine, a young midshipman, a few years older than myself, arrived at my father's; before I had become acquainted with Mirabel, my cousin William had been most distinguished by my favour. My father had encouraged our early love, and upon his last departure for sea we had exchanged tokens. I still wore about my person the silver anchor with which he had presented me. His person was now tall, well-made, and manly. My father determined that he should become my husband, and informed

that I should then be satisfied.

"At the appointed time I hastened to the interview. Mirabel and a gentleman in the habit of a clergyman, were already there. Now, my Mary,' said Mirabel, taking my hand, I will fulfill my word. This gentleman, a clergyman, will unite us in the private chapel of my house; we can reach it unperceived. For a while, however, you must be content to forego the name and public distinction of my wife, as the situation of my affairs requires this secrecy.'

"Too happy to object to any thing, I hesitated not to follow, and was united to him before the altar of the chapel, according to the ceremonies of the church. From this moment I became the happiest of

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