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Mrs. Taylor, though ill educated and ignorant, she supposed had possessed a better heart; but like her husband, she perceived this vulgar woman only courted the favor of those who were blessed with affluence; while Mr. Taylor exceeded all she could have imagined that was mean; and the contention he sustained between pride and avarice, was absurd and pitiful in the extreme..

As these reflections engaged her mind, she was aroused from them by the footman announcing to her that a Mr. Melville wished to see her in the parlour. A beam of pleasure to which she had been long a stranger, cheered her heart on hearing this, and she flew to meet him. "I am sorry

to find you do not look any better, my young friend," exclaimed the worthy Melville, when he beheld her; "and it is with the deepest concern I inform you, that I have no intelligence to communicate, that will tend to elevate your spirits."

"After

"After my past sufferings," replied Amelrosa, with a faint smile, "few events will either violently depress or elevate me; but I guess what you will say-my valued friend has not recollected in her will the child of her adoption."

"I am rejoiced that you have anticipated my information to be still worse than it is, as it will consequently not appear so unpleasant to you;-Lady Archdale has bequeathed you one hundred pounds only. It is usual to pay all legacies twelvemonths after the decease of the legatee, but I have interceded with the executors to let you have it in six months, judging you would be in want of it before; and could I have procured it for you earlier, I would with pleasure."

"How good, how considerate you are," rejoined Amelrosa, while a glow of grateful emotion suffused her pale face; and she then proceeded to relate how unfortunate she was in being again disagreeably situated, acquainting him with the character

of

of the Taylors; and that could she have procured money, she intended to have retired for a few months into the country, to re-establish her health, as she could be supported at the cottage of Lucy's father very cheaply.

At present, from the slow fever that preyed on her wasted frame, caused by grief and anxiety, she was incapable of any exertion, that would soon be necessary to maintain herself; but if she continued ill, wretched indeed would be her fate, to have poverty and indisposition both to struggle with. Mr. Melville very much approved the proposed plan of going into the country, and insisted she should not forego it, saying he would lend her the necessary sum of money, which could be repaid when she received her legacy; and while her health and spirits were being restored by the pure air of Dorsetshire, he would be seeking out for a respectable situation, as governess or companion for her. Amelrosa assured him

that

that the most energetic and ardent language could express but in a very inferior degree, the sentiments of gratitude that pervaded her bosom, at this instance of his friendship and humanity; and after some further conversation they parted,-Mr. Melville having first desired she would send for him as soon as she heard from Lucy.

A week had nearly elapsed since her residence at the Taylors, and each revolving day discovered increasing proofs of their meanness and eagerness to get rid of her, which heightened her impatience to hear from Lucy; when one morning she was agreeably surprised by her appearance. The affectionate girl's eyes sparkled with delight at the sight of Amelrosa, and she placed an open letter in her hand, which on the perusal she found was from Lucy's father, who demanded no more than five pounds every quarter, to lodge, board and wash for the lady.

These

These moderate terms were lower than she could have expected, and she told Lucy she should be most happy to accede to them, were she not afraid it would be a disadvantage to her parents to take her at such a low price; but Lucy quickly silenced her scruples by assuring her, that provisions were reasonable in that part of the country, and her father by keeping a little farm procured every article necessary for the table at a still more cheap rate, within his own small domain. In consequence of hearing this, Amelrosa immediately sat down and wrote to Mr. Heartwell, informing him she should be at Stoke Morton, the name of the village where he resided, in four or five days; and giving the letter to Lucy, desired she would put it into the post for her; and call likewise at Mr. Melville's before she went home, with her compliments, and request he would be so good as to come to her the first moment he was at leisure.

Amelrosa

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