keeping in the back ground, proceeded either from feeling herself too unwell to encounter such a scene; or otherwise, from the idea of offending Lord Conrade, who would, she judged, be provoked to see her at such a moment. However, Amelrosa determined to go the first time she felt sufficiently recovered, to visit the lovely unfortunate emigrant; as she wished to converse with her on the events that had taken place, and was anxious to know how she bore his lordship's ill conduct.

Involuntarily she shuddered, when she remembered she had seen Montague, and was lessened in his esteem; perhaps an object of contempt and hatred, which her apparent infidelity seemed to claim. His unexpected return to England would have elated her heart with transport, had their first interview been more fortunate; but now her surprise, almost too great for expression, was intermingled with the most cruel pangs; and his being prepared, ap

parently, from the words he uttered in his yiolent emotion, to find her faithless, was still more wonderful. The fatal truth, that he had renounced her for ever, was but too certain; and sometimes she considered it was useless therefore to weary herself with conjectures, since she could not recall past felicity. Her thoughts could not rest on any subject productive of pleasure; and to prevent herself from entirely sinking under the present calamity, required the utmost exertion of fortitude. In vain she looked forward with eager expectations, to a letter from Lady Archdale: day after day elapsed, and brought repeated disappointments, till at length she wrote again, fearful her letter had miscarried.

During this interval, she received another letter from Emmeline Glenholme, enclosing a bank-note, and requesting she would be so good as to make several purchases for her, and send them to Scotland. With her brother's arrival she seemed to

tally

tally unacquainted, merely observing she had not heard from him lately, which added to Amelrosa's astonishment; but had she known the circumstances attendant on Montague's sudden appearance, she would have ceased to be surprised.

The Colonel of the regiment to which he belonged, had received private information from Government, some months before it took place, that the troops were soon to be ordered home; but was commanded to keep this intelligence concealed from the officers and men, till he had a public order for the embarkation of the corps. A very short period had elapsed, after Montague's having consented to his sister's going to Sir Robert's, and already seen the white sails of the ship that conveyed her to England, fluttering in the breeze, when the delightful information reached his ears, that his regiment was to embark immediately; vessels for the purpose being just arrived with dispatches from Great Britain

for

Mrs. Stanhope, notwithstanding the littleness of a mind warped with prejudice, and a mean partiality in favor of grandeur and riches only, added to a tincture of jealousy at the superior attractions of Amelrosa to her daughter; Catherine having made her believe, that by her arts she had seduced Lord Conrade from her: yet could not instantly credit that Miss de Merida was so lost to virtue and decency, as privately to intrigue with one man when engaged to another-for in this light had her daughter represented the affair to her.

Mrs. Stanhope, therefore, replied in answer to this accusation, that Lord Conrade and Amelrosa might by accident go into the same house; nor could she decide against her till she had endeavored to make her acknowledge where she visited; and if she did not confess, she would then certainly pronounce her guilty.

With this intention, accompanied by her. daughter,

daughter, she had accosted Amelrosa in the abrupt manner before mentioned, taxing her with the imprudence of her conduct; and from her not saying any thing to develop where she went, had the illiberality and weakness of understanding to conclude, all that she had heard to her disadvantage was true.

In fact, it was exceedingly impertinent to concern herself where Amelrosa went, who was authorised to go wherever she pleased, without being questioned on the subject. The purity of her manners and universal correctness of her behavior, would have been sufficient with any liberal mind, to have exculpated her from blame, unless they had received convincing proofs of error; and Catherine, with the hope of discovering farther evidence of guilt, privately investigated her visits at the house with the strictest scrutiny; and learned, to her complete discomfiture, that it was to a Mrs. Belmont, Amelrosa's visits were intended.

Cau