said she, on entering the room,

we are fixed in

our resolve; in one hour we depart. You must not see the Duke; I have written him a letter, and you may add what you please; but we must not tarry here. It would be disgraceful to us to violate the laws of hospitality, or to bring reproach on the roof where so much friendship dwells."

For a considerable time, I had not the power of speech, and tears alone spoke the conflict of my bosom. Not to see the Duke again was agony; but to bid him farewell was despair and madness. I obeyed, and was in our travelling carriage within the hour. Mr. Doricourt alone knew the reason for our precipitate retreat. The rest of the party was made to believe that we had received accounts of the illness of a near relation, and were therefore forced to take this sudden step. The girls affected to feel regret at my departure; but I detected a secret satisfaction in

VOL. I.

C

their

their eyes: they had no rival now with the beau The youngest kissed me, and squeezed out a tear fro her eye-lid: it was of that inferior water, which dis simulation, self-interest, or fancy counterfeits to gai an end, to disarm a husband, to get a reconciliation when in the wrong, or to cheat our own sex, and par ticularly a rival. Far different is that gem, that bril liant of the first water, which beams in affection's eye which trembles on the cheek of sensibility, or which reflects the object we adore. Tears are as various as jewels; their value differs greatly; and women have them at command. I saw the insincerity of these; whilst Jane, in a most provokingly insipid tone, said, "I don't know what the Duke will do when he hears of your departure," laying great emphasis on the word do, and making as light of my concern as her regret and regard were at bidding me farewell. "Shall I," continued she, "say any thing to him for you?" "Nothing," replied I, gravely. We embraced,

not

not cordially, and parted. Mr. Doricourt saluted us with much sincerity, and seemed to say, "Adieu, I honour your conduct, and you have greatly relieved my mind." The letter was left for his Grace; but I could add nothing to it. My mother just observed that I was indisposed, and thanked him in the most becoming terms for his regard and partiality to me.

Our journey was uninteresting, and it was resolved that we should not long sojourn in London, but depart for the Continent. Our plans were, however, to depend greatly on our dispatches from Lodge. A heroine of romance would, here, fall dangerously ill and keep her bed, would perhaps lose her reason for a time, or lay violent hands on herself, or run away and immure herself in a convent, or finally, would perform something wonderful; but as truth is my guide, I shall state the plain fact, which was, that I bore this severe affliction with great fortitude,

C 2

tude, though I became so tremulously nervous, that th opening of a door threw me into a spasmodic affec tion, and that I was absent, low spirited, and debili tated to a great degree.

Our dispatches from the ci-devant ambassador contained an account of the violence of the Duke's distress, in the first instance, of his determination to follow us to town in the second,-of his writing, which letter was intercepted by my mother, and of the Duchess and of his guardians being apprized of what had passed. The party at the Hall was now dispersed; Lord Lackworth run away with the French governess and deserted her; Tom Turflove almost broke his neck in hunting, and was borne home in great danger; the Clergyman got an excellent living, and the next year married a Right Honorable, to whose son he had been travelling companion; the young ladies were all heart broken at losing their

beaux; and it was resolved to keep them another winter in retirement before they were to be presented at Court and ushered into the beau monde. The Duke accompanied his mother to

Castle; and it

was agreed that he should go abroad without loss of

time. What a general defeat!

This being the case, we retired to Woodbine Cottage on the banks of the Thames, until further dispatches should be forwarded to us, marking his Grace's destination, in order that we might take an opposite direction, for it was resolved to separate us as far as possible. I took up my pen more than once to address him whom alone I could ever love; but female pride withheld me from writing. Since he had been prevailed upon to be silent, it was my duty to be so likewise. I had not, at this time, the knowledge of the suppressed letter, and doubtless we neither of us appeared, what we were, in each others