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had stopped, intending the next day to look out lodgings.

In the morning she arose after sleeping very indifferently, the noises in the house, to which she had been unaccustomed, banishing repose, and went out to seck for a lodging. The low state of her finances would not admit of any thing beyond a single room, and she found the greatest difficulty in procuring even this simple accommodation, as the various people where she applied were very suspicious at seeing such an elegant beautiful girl seeking alone for an apartment so inferior; and several times she was told, they never received persons of her description. At length, after considerable fatigue and mortification she succeeded, and hired a back room on the second floor in a mean street in Maryle-bone, referring the lady of the house to Mr. Taylor for her character; but desired her not to mention her motive for asking, and the woman having such an account

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from Mr. Taylor as satisfied her, admitted Amelrosa that evening. Having left several articles and a small part of her clothes at Mr. Melville's, which were particularly acceptable since her loss, she took them in a hackney coach to her lodging, for which she was to pay seven shillings a week.

When all her expences were discharged, her whole stock of money consisted of two pounds fourteen shillings; but she flattered herself by managing this little sum with great frugality, she should be enabled to make it last till Mr. Melville returned, as she did not think it probable, notwithstanding what the servant had said, he would be much longer out of town. She could have, she knew, what money she required from him, which she would easily repay when engaged in another situation, that her acquirements almost ensured her obtaining. Amelrosa went likewise to inquire after Lucy, but here another disappointment awaited her. Lucy was gone to Bristol

Bristol with the lady she resided with; and she could not avoid thinking, that every circumstance appeared to happen contrary to her wishes.

CHAP. VIII.

Misfortunes on misfortunes press upon me,
Swell o'er my head like waves, and dash me down;
Sorrow, neglect, and want, have torn my soul;
They hang like winter on my youthful hopes,
And blast the spring and promise of my year.

A FORTNIGHT had elapsed since Amelrosa's arrival in London, passed in unavailing hopes and wishes, that consumed her peace of mind, and consequently destroyed her health: while to add to her

misery,

misery, with the most rigid economy, she had nevertheless reduced her small stock of

money to a few shillings only, above the sum she had saved for to pay the next week's rent. The last time she called at Mr. Melville's to learn if there was any prospect of his return, the servant said, she had some expectation he would be home in the course of two or three days, and Amelrosa repaired thither at the period mentioned; but instead of meeting him, as she had flattered herself, was informed to her extreme vexation, that another letter had again been received, which from the purport of it, made his quitting the place where he now was, equally as uncertain as before. Amelrosa felt acutely disappointed, more especially as every calamity seemed to overwhelm her at that moment, and she was destitute of all that tends to render life desirable.. Sensations the most agonizing and impossible to be repressed, rushed into her mind, and when she arrived in Portland-place on her way home, she found herself

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servants

herself so faint, that apprehensive she should fall down on the pavement, she was obliged to support herself, by seizing hold of the area rails belonging to a very handsome house. Some men who were standing at the door, perceiving her senses were just gone, humanely led her into the hall, and an elderly lady who was passing by, beholding her situation, followed her into the house, attracted by compassion.

Amelrosa was plainly dressed in a coloured gown and large bonnet; but the elderly lady perceived that her linen and the rest of her dress were of the finest qua lity; and judging from these appearances, that she was a gentlewoman, and not as it would have been natural to suspect from her personal graces and unprotected state, that she was some unhappy young creatrue, told the servants she was convinced she was a young lady. This encouraged them to be more attentive, than if she had

been

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