Freelove was a genteel young person, whose parents having died in very necessitous circumstances, left her a dependant on the world. She had for some years experienced all the bitterness and mortification of a dependent state, and had in that time frequently changed her patroness, when a lucky destiny, to use her own expression, introduced her to my excellent lady. Pitying her portionless and unprotected condition, your benevolent mother offered her an asylum in her house, where she soon learned, in ease and abundance, to lose all recollection of the miseries of straitened circumstances and abject dependence.

"This person accompanied sir Richard and lady Courteney to the castle, the latter of whom appeared in perfect health till the last day of her journey, when she complained of great internal heat, accompanied with an uneasy sensation. Supposing it, however, only the effect of the painful anxiety she felt about Charles, and F 4

the

the consequence of fatigue, she retired almost immediately on her arrival, in the hope a good night's rest would prove an infallible restorative. Miss Freelove was of the same opinion, for she recommended sir Richard, on seeing lady Courteney sink into a tranquil slumber, to retire to another apartment, and not disturb his lady. Not imagining her complaint of a serious nature, he did so, but at midnight was roused out of sleep by the ringing of my lady's bell, and on entering her chamber, was inexpressibly shocked on beholding her supported in bed between Miss Freelove and Kitty Hobbs, the upper housemaid, in the most excruciating agony. The internal heat, of which she had first complained, was now increased to an insupportable degree, and attended with acute pain. Sir Richard, almost distracted at this sight, rushed out to dispatch a courier in haste for the nearest physician, and then again flew back to her chamber. The family by this time were all alarmed,

and

and the housekeeper, with other of the servants, in gloomy silence, and all drowned in tears, had now collected to the antichamber and my lady's apartment. From poor old Ellison, whom the sight of her kind mistress in this pitiable condition had nearly deprived of life, I learned the following particulars :

"On the re-entrance of sir Richard, the dear expiring lady beckoned him towards her, and motioning with her hand for the servants to withdraw, they all retired but Miss Freelove and the housekeeper. I feel I am dying, my dear sir Richard,' says she, and that no power of medicine can save me.'

Your father, at these words quite overcome with sorrow, could only fling himself distractedly beside her, and groan out in sobs his anguish.- No time, my dear husband, is to be lost,' resumed your dying mother. I have certain favours to ask, certain promises to exact, before death seals my lips finally.'

"Sir Richard, as he tenderly grasped her hand, promised faithfully to perform whatever she required, when, in broken voice, the dear lady continued-'Scarcely less dear to my maternal heart, sir Richard, is our own lovely daughter than that noble boy, the son of my kinsman. He is unendowed of fortune, and without parents or natural protectors. Continue to be to him a generous protector and kind father; become in fact his father, by the gift of your daughter's hand, if their inclinations oppose not such union, when they attain maturity: so shall he then enjoy with her the fortune to which he would be entitled in case of her death without issue; so shall my spirit rest in peace, in the promised completion of what has long been the dearest object of my wishes, and it shall with greater pleasure welcome yours, after the faithful performance of this sacred engagement, in a happy eternity.'

"Your father, Geraldine, as he wept

on

on her clammy hand, pledged himself by a solemn vow to the performance of this sacred obligation; and your sainted mother smiled, though writhing in the painful agonies of death, at the fond hope of having her wishes in this point accomplished. One word more, dear sir Richard,' exclaimed, after a momentary pause, the generous lady; never forget my faithful Fanny-secure her a provision for life-promise never to separate her from my daughter.'

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Sir Richard promised, and my lady was again about to speak, when articulation became suspended by violent convulsions, which so distorted and racked her delicate frame, that poor old Ellison, unable to support her, sunk quite exhausted by the bedside, and Kitty was called to her assistance.

"Your father meantime, distracted with grief and terror, rushed out of the chamber to dispatch a second, and after him a third messenger for the doctor; and then again F6

flew