Part 21 (1/2)

He pointed to his cloaths;--'a pocket book'--said he, in accents still fainter

'Enough!--I swear, in this awful moment, never to forsake him'

He raised my hand to his lips--a tender smile illumined his countenance --'Surely,' said he, 'I have sufficiently fulfilled the dictates of a rigid honour!--In these last --when huht--I may, without a crime, tell you--_that I have loved you_--Your tenderness early penetrated ht to shun you--I imposed on myself those severe laws of which you causelessly coid, I had been lost--I had been unjust to the bonds which I had voluntarily contracted; and which, therefore, had on ood uilty of some errors--yet, my conflicts were, even, ainst ainst yours also--The fire which is pent up burns the fiercest!'--

He ceased to speak--a transient glohich had lighted up his countenance, faded--exhausted, by the strong effort he had rew diht him in my arms--and--_he awoke no more_ The spirits, that had hitherto supportedshriek, and sunk upon the body

CHAPTER XXII

Many weeks passed of which I have no re life of sorrow! When restored to recollection, I foundes of the past I learned--

'That I had been seized with a nervous fever, in consequence of having exerted th; that ue on his return, finding me in this situation, of which Mr Lucas had explained the causes, had been absorbed in deep affliction; that, inattentive to every other concern, he had scarcely quitted my apartment; that my child had been sent out to nurse; and that my recovery had been despaired of'

My constitution was impaired by these repeated shocks I continued severalreason, I recalled to ned to me in his last moments I enquired earnestly for the pocket-book he had mentioned, and was informed, that, after his decease, it had been found, and its contents examined, which were a bank note of fifty pounds, so the letters was one from his brother, by which means they had learned his address, and had been enabled to transmit to him an account of thethe disposal of the body On the receipt of this intelligence, the younger Mr Harley had come immediately into ----shi+re, had received his brother's effects, and had his remains decently and respectfully interred in the tohere the fatal accident had taken place, through which he was passing in his way to visit a friend

As soon as I had strength to hold a pen, I wrote to this gentlened to ustus Harley, ned to my care To this letter I received an answer, in a few days, hinting--

'That the e of my deceased friend had not been reat difficulties and many sorrows; that his wife had been dead near a twelve-month; that he had lost two of his children, about the saer, a son, a year and a half old; that it was, at present, at nurse, under his (his brother's) protection; that his respect for e of my friendshi+p for their fa with every request of his deceased brother, prevented hi the propriety of yielding the child to my care; that it should be delivered to any person whoht draw upon hies towards the support and education of his nephew'

I ue these particulars, with a desire of availing myself of his counsel and assistance on the occasion

'You are free, madam,' he replied, with a cold and distant air, 'to act as you shall think proper; but youhed deeply I perceived, but too plainly, that _a iven to my tranquillity_; but I determined to persevere in what I considered to be my duty On the retrospect of my conduct, my heart acquitted , to my fate

I was, at this period, infor my illness, of what I had before but too truly conjectured--That in ustus Harley, and repeated, at intervals, in broken language, the circumstances of our last tender and fatal interview: this, with soue on his return, had, it seems, at the time, inflamed the irascible passions of my husband, alrees, into gloomy reserve: he had watchedattention; since which his confidence and affection became, every day, more visibly alienated

Self-respect suppressed , even more than ever, his estee that time, and my conduct, would restore him to reason, and awaken in his heart a sense of justice

I sent for my babe from the house of the nurse, to whose care it had been confided during ustus in its stead 'It is unnecessary,child--Oh! hat emotion did I receive, and press, you tocountenance the features of your unfortunate father! Adopting you for my own, I divided my affection between you and e of your nurse I taught you to call hted to see you caress my infant with fraternal tenderness--I endeavoured to cherish this growing affection, and found a sweet relief from my sorrows in these tender,considerably injured, I had taken a young woman into my house, to assist me in the nursery, and in other dohteenth year--siirl had resided with me for some months I had been kind to her, and she seeue's dressing-roo on a sopha with her master:--he held her hand in his, while his ared in earnest conversation They both started, onto encrease their confusion, I quitted the roo at dinner, affected an air of unconcern; but there was an apparent constraint in his behaviour I preserved towards him my accustomed manner, till the servants had withdrawn I then mildly expostulated with him on the impropriety of his behaviour His replies were not enerous--they pierced ; but it is not of _myself_ that I would speak I have not deserved to lose your confidence--this is my consolation;--yet, I submit to it:--but I cannot see you act in a manner, that will probably involve you in vexation, and intail upon you reer Should you corrupt the innocence of this girl, she is eon its oers, can sustain and recover itself amidst the world's scorn and injustice The , is that of _custom_, not of reason: break down the feeble barrier, and there is nothing to supply its place--you open the flood-gates of infamy and wretchedness Who can say where the evil e your servant, when you please, ue--not on my own, but on _her_, account If I have no claim upon your affection and principles, I would disdain to watch your conduct But I feelwoman, and would wish to preserve her froht fit to bestow on me your _hand_, when your _heart_ was devoted to another--'

'It is enough, sir!--To your justice, only, in your cooler moments, would I appeal!'

I procured for Rachel a reputable place, in a distant part of the county--Before she quitted me, I seriously, and affectionately, remonstrated with her on the consequences of her behaviour She answered me only with tears and blushes