lady. He had no sooner passed than I entreated my mother to hasten forwards, observing we were in danger and must proceed as quickly as possible to the city, being secretly afraid, which I did not communicate to her, that Zamara would return with some of his myrmidons to seize and betray us to justice. My poor mother exerted herself to the best of her ability, but at her age the fatigue and alarm overcame her, and at the moment we reached your gate she was taken ill with a fainting-fit; which has proved fortunate in the end, as by that means it has introduced us to you, lady, the object we were seeking after."

Here Jacome finished his recital, in which Amelrosa and Lord Rossmore had felt considerable intérest; more particularly from its having disclosed the motives for her confinement in the forest and assassination, and likewise the family to which she belonged. She thanked him again for the service he had rendered her, of which she estimated

estimated the value more than ever, and congratulated him for having at length had resolution to quit such a vicious and dangerous mode of life, as he had followed for some years; while his lordship assured him he would use every exertion to serve him, which he had in his power from his father the Earl of Cliffden, being acquainted with some of the first families in Portugal. In the meanwhile, Lord Rossmore added, he gave his mother and himself permission to continue at his quinta, till this affair was settled to his advantage; and during that period he had better not quit the house or grounds,, to avoid encountering any of his enemies.

Having dismissed him to the kitchen, Lord Rossmore informed Amelrosa, he was more than ever convinced she was his daughter, from the circumstances Jacome related respecting Zamara, and his having her confined in the Moorish palace; however, he should go and visit the next day

Signora

Signora Valeria, the lady who was the friend of her mother, Elmira de Zamara: and at whose house Elmira had given birth to Amelrosa. In consequence of this resolution his lordship repaired on the following day to Marserellas, where the Signora resided, on the opposite side of the river Douro, some distance from Oporto; and Amelrosa awaited his return with a heart fluttering with expectation and hope; of which she dreaded the disappointment, as this lady, Lord Rossmore expected, would more clearly elucidate the mystery that enveloped her descent.

Till the shades of evening lowered his lordship continued absent, and then entered conducting a lady between thirty and forty years of age, habited in black, with a mild and melancholy aspect. She took Amelrosa's hand when Lord Rossmore introduced her, and melted into tears; saying the same loveliness of form and native grace, distinguishes her, as shone conspi

cuous in my dearest friend, though she is fair like you. Amelrosa, much affected, could with difficulty articulate; concluding from the words the lady uttered that her tears flowed for her amiable and unfortunate mother; and his lordship now withdrew to avoid speaking on a subject that lacerated his feelings, and forcibly renewed the remembrance of his poignant sorrows. Signora Valeria then informed her, that within these seven or eight months, she was summoned to the death-bed of a woman, who was with Donna Elmira when she expired, and received from her previously a letter to be delivered to Signora Valeria after her decease, which she never however gave into her hands, but kept back, to threaten Don Luis de Zamara with, and extort money from him; and likewise prevent him from neglecting to pay the annuity he had promised to allow her, for ill-treating Elmira and hastening her to the grave, that he might enjoy the fortune that would devolve to him at her demise. Her father

father had repented of having married her to Don Rodrick, as he treated his daughter extremely ill, and behaved so ungratefully to him that he died of a broken heart. The woman added, that feeling herself drawing near her end, she wished to atone for her cruelty to Elmira, and disobeying her last injunctions, by delivering up the abovementioned letter to Signora Valeria.

"My feelings were exceedingly wounded at this circumstance," continued Valeria, "from its reviving the memory of the loss and misfortunes of my friend, to whom I was tenderly attached, though younger than myself; and since her death have never mixed with the world. I left the unhappy wretch, and returning home eagerly and with deep emotion perused the long-written characters of that dear hand, consigned in the bloom of beauty to the silent mansion of the tomb. And imagine my astonishment when the letter informed. me, that her child, whom I thought dead N. 6

and