Part 22 (1/2)

'I cannot stop, lady, to explain o along'

'Do you come,' enquired I, in a voice scarcely articulate, 'from , who has somewhat of consequence to impart to you--Hasten, lady--there is no time to lose!'

'Lead, then, I follow you'

He helped htning

CHAPTER XXV

I asked no more questions on the road, but attempted to fortifyAfter about an hour's ride, we stopped at a s alone, at a considerable distance fro, elderly, woe, and assisted ht In her countenance were evident lass of water; and, having drank it, followed the woman, at her request, up stairs She seeeht be requisite--I determined not to exhausta small chamber, I observed a bed, with the curtains closely drawn I advanced towards it, and, unfolding the in a state of apparent insensibility

'She is dying,' whispered the wo convulsions; but she could not die in peace without seeing Madaiveness'

I approached the unfortunate girl, and took her lifeless hand--A feeble pulse still treazed upon her, for soh--her lips th, opened her eyes, and, fixing theuid fra her hands together, uttered a few incoherent words

'Be pacified, ry with you--I feel only pity'

She looked wildly 'Ah! irl--but not--Oh, no!--_not a murderer!_ I did not--indeed, I did not--murder my child!'

A cold tremor seized h my veins!

'My dear, ive me?--Oh! that cruel, barbarous, man!--It was _he_ who did it--indeed, it was _he_ who did it!' Distraction glared in her eyes

'I do forgive you,' said I, in broken accents 'I will take care of you--but you must be calm'

'I will--I will'--replied she, in a rapid tone of voice--'but do not send me to prison--_I did not murder it!_--Oh!tone of frantic violence, and was again seized with strong convulsions

We administered all the assistance in our power I endeavoured, with success, to stifle my emotions in the active duties of hu her to the care of the good wo to send medicines and nourishment proper for her situation, and to reward their attentions--desiring that she ht be kept perfectly still, and not be suffered to talk on subjects that agitated her--I quitted the place, presaging but too e toave me I enquired, with trepidation, for my husband, and was informed--'That he had returned soon after my departure, and had shut hi followed by Mr Lucas, he had turned fiercely upon hi hi, he had affairs of importance to transact; and should any one dare to intrude on him, it would be at the peril of their lives' All the family appeared in consternation, but no one had presumed to disobey the orders of their master--They expressed their satisfaction at my return--Alas! I was impotent to relieve the apprehensions which, I too plainly perceived, had taken possession of theirhand, traced, and addressed tohi to be the coht I added--'Let us reap wisdoed passion_! It is not to atone for the past error, by cutting off the prospect of future usefulness--Repentance for what can never be recalled, is absurd and vain, but as it affords a lesson for the time to coht experience! I will never reproach you! Virtuous resolution, and tiue, be no longer the slave of error; inflict not on my tortured mind new, and more insupportable, terrors! I await your directions--let us fly--let us suth, bravely stem the tide of passion--let us beware of the cri steps, I sought the apartment ofhihs burst every instant from his bosoht be the more likely to attract his attention

Presently, I had the satisfaction of hearing him take it up After some minutes, a slip of paper was returned, by the same method which I had adopted, in which ritten, in characters blotted, and scarcely legible, the folloords--

'Leave me, one half hour, to my reflections: at the end of that period, be assured, I will see, or write, to you'

I knew him to be incapable of falsehood--my heart palpitated with hope

I went to my chamber, and passed the interval in a thousand cruel reflections, and vague plans for our sudden departure Near an hour had elapsed, when the bell rang I started, breathless, from my seat