conflict of his mind caused by some dreadful events has produced a fever. Fly, hasten to him, and communicate as soon as possible to me if there are any favorable. symptoms. Gracious Heaven though I have deserved it, let not my old age be childless, who hoped to have seen my grand children !'

"Ill as he had behaved, I could not avoid feeling compassion for him, and flew with the hope of relieving his fears, as well as from the impetuosity of my own feelings to my beloved master. I found him in a raging delirium, in which he incessantly called on his dear Elmira, his father and some other persons whose names I forget. Immediately I sent for the most skilful physicians, and with their aid and my own unwearied attention, he was fortunately restored to health, to the extreme joy ofhis father and all who knew him. But how sadly altered, scarcely bearing the most trifling resemblance to his former self.

"A deep

"A deep melancholy seized possession of him, which no circumstances or time have since been able to eradicate; occasioned by discovering that the unfortunate Elmira was delivered of a female infant, of which he could gain no intelligence, notwithstanding his researches, than that it was supposed to have died, and its hapless mother two months after its birth forced to give her hand to the nobleman who loved her.

66

Previously they dissolved her marriage with Lord Rossmore, pretending it was illegal, which had such a fatal effect on her delicate constitution, added to the jealousy and ill usage of her detested husband, from whom she did not conceal her aversion, that overwhelmed by a complication of misery, she expired of a broken heart three days before the arrival of her faithful Rossmore.

"His lordship, martyr as he was to

sorrow

sorrow and distraction, at this intelligence; yet sought after her husband in a paroxysm of despair, convinced he was the person who had treacherously informed his father he was attached to a low woman, and was determined he should expiate his crimes on the point of his sword; but the cowardly soul of his injurer shrunk from his just resentment, and he concealed himself, till Lord Rossmore, worn out with grief and disappointment, bade adieu to the fatal shores that had produced him such keen and irremediable anguish.

"He was travelling to the abode of Heartwell, when he was suddenly and violently seized with a dangerous fever, caused by the repeated and furious conflicts his mind had sustained. His servant instantly sent a courier to Lord Cliffden, who arrived at a moment when one of his delirious fits had left him, and he lay in a fearful stupor and knew not any object around him: his eyes were glaring and fixed, and looked

exceed

exceedingly large from his face being meager, sallow and livid. Cold sweats hung on his clammy forehead, and the Earl with horror and contrition contemplated his victim; learning from the servant, the cause that had reduced him to such an affecting situation, and wished but too late, he had rather promoted than prevented the union of his son and the unfortunate Elmira,-now reposed from all persecution in the last retreat of the wretched, whither her husband soon promised to follow her.

"Lord Cliffden requested his servant would mention to him, at the first interval of reason he had, that his father wished to see him; which accordingly the man did, but the name of his father brought so many cruel recollections, that in the anguish of his soul, he sent word he could never see him more; and was again seized with deJirium.

"Miserable at the effect his message had

pro

produced, the Earl made no further attempt to see him, but departed for the Castle, and as the only resource and hope, sent for Heartwell as before mentioned, on whose attention to his son, knowing his attachment, he could depend.

"When Lord Rossmore was entirely recovered from his illness, he requested his father would give him Greystone-hall for his residence, its gloomy and retired situation suiting the present unhappy state of his mind, which had received an incurable wound; and from that period, excepting the two years he passed in France, during which time my misfortunes happened, (said Heartwell,) he has never quitted it for a longer interval than a week or fortnight. He placed me, after being ruined in his absence, in this small farm, paid my debts, and to him indeed I have twice owed every thing, and he is continually making me presents. He does not know Lucy is in service, if he did he would insist on paying

for