תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

what it is separates her from Mr. Belmont. I respect and love her, and fear she has been used hardly, to be reduced to death's door, as she is; but she is so mild, she never complains of any body. I dares to say you wonder to find us in such a lonely place, as much as I do to meet you here: but you must know, Ma'am, that when we were in Lunnun, mistress told me, she would go to some country place, a great distance away, and did not care how dull it was, if so be it was in some lonesome place where she would not be likely to be found out; and not to say any thing to the woman of the house where she lodged, though she was a good kind of body, that it might be impossible for her to be discovered.

"Northumberland is my native country, Ma'am, and having an aunt who lives at a village a few miles from this; I desired her by letter, to look out for a cot house, such as my mistress described, and taking

us, we came down to it; nor. Belmont, knowing where

to."

ome additional conversation passed, and Amelrosa then parted from the nurse, and returned home ruminating on the strange event that had occurred. It was too late, she had considered, for her to visit Minette that evening, as she could not have remained but a few minutes with her. The next evening she thought time had never moved more slowly, till the young ladies were summoned to their mother, and was no sooner left alone, than she flew, rather than walked to the hamlet; and the nurse perceiving her, as she stood at the window, immediately opened the door and conducted her into a small parlour, where in a large arm chair, she shuddered at beholding the feeble and emaciated remains of Minette. Her eyes looked wild and hollow, having entirely lost their former lustre; but a beautiful bloom still played on

her

her cheeks, from the feverish heat that inwardly consumed her. The whiteness of her skin was yet more brilliant, and so transparent, that her azure veins were discernible. A languid smile beamed on her sweet, though altered countenance; and extending her hand, which like the rest of her person was reduced merely to skin and bone, Amelrosa affectionately pressed it; but impressed from her appearance, with the idea that she was in the last stage of a consumption, she was unutterably affected, and obliged so turn from her to wipe the tears that she could not, with all her efforts restrain, and almost choaked her in endeavoring to conceal.

She flattered herself, that Minette did not perceive her emotion, but was painfully undeceived by that unfortunate girl suddenly exclaiming: "In vain would you hide the compassionate goodness of your nature, and consoling is it to Minette, that the tears of virtue and benevolence consecrate

crate her grave." Shocked and astonished, Amelrosa strove to inspire her with the hope that she would recover, apprehensive that the prospect of approaching dissolution might increase her illness, and add to the weakness of her fragile form; but to all her reasonings, Minette replied,

"Your amiable motive I feel and am thankful for; yet you cannot deceive me. I know that I have not long to live. Death will be to me a blessing, as I shall find myself released from the acute misery I suffer from the reproaches of my conscience; and by my repentance, I hope my errors are expiated. For what should I wish to live to drag on a wretched existence. Vicious people may continue to lead a life of dishonor, and with constant dissipation banish thought and remorse; but Minette, though she has erred, was not formed for a life of guilt.

66

'Alas, she continued, (in a deep toned mournful

moumful voice, while convulsive agony shock her feeble frame.) the fatal blow was struck to sever me from this world, when I knew that I was a murderer-that I had by my ill conduct, destroyed the best of father's,—and can I exist to say it, deprived my innocent sister of her only protector."

Here she paused, overcome with the dreadful recollection, and horror and compassion were delineated on the countenance of Amelrosa, at hearing her talk thus wildly; and she rejoined,-" My dear friend, you must certainly be mistaken. The Marquis De Luneville is not dead, and even if that event should have taken place, why do you accuse yourself as the cause? An illness, not in the least degree connected with the mind, has most probably deprived him of existence."

"Could I hope it were as you represent," said Minette, deeply sighing," the re flec

« הקודםהמשך »