CHAPTER VII.

NARRATIVE CONCLUDED.

The news arrives:

Untold, she saw it in her servant's eye:.
-her heart was apt to feel!

She felt it seen

YOUNG'S NIGHT THOUGHTS.

LOUISA was much surprised in the morning, at the sight of a strange female: asking Mary, if she belonged to the cottage, she was informed it was a person who lived about half a mile from them, nearer the high road, 'for whom (being a widow in very indigent circumstances) Mrs. Rivers had built a little cot, in which, with her father and three children, she now lived: "and," continued she, "by my mistress's assistance, and feeding a few sheep on the moor, makes a decent livelihood. She comes to us three or four days every week, at which times she makes us bread, for which we have an oven, and likewise performs all the houshold work to which I am unequal: her father tends our little garden; they are the only neighbours

Mrs. Rivers now entered, and kindly asked the mother of her children's health; adding, "as it is a fine frosty morning, what think you of a walk, Louisa?" to the which Louisa assenting, was, after the morning occupations, executed.

Mrs. Rivers and her young friend, accompanied by Mary, directed their steps between the hills, whose high tops sheltered them from the wind. "I think," said Mrs. Rivers, "I cannot have a better opportunity than the present, to finish my melancholy story, as my spirits too are tolerably easy." Louisa bowed, and Mrs. Rivers began.

Henry received an answer from his amiable aunt in eight days, desiring us to go to her house in Kent; at which place she would meet us. In the postscript, she added, Mr. Rivers had received the news of our marriage better than she expected.

"We set out the next day; the third night from which, we reached her seat: it was only twelve miles from London; and the morning after, I clasped my benefactress in my arms; who, after mutual congratulations, informed me, that, on my not returning the day of the pretended visit, my maid had been extremely inquisitive, had gone out, and remained a considerable time; and, though I sat up the whole night,' continued she, there was not the least noise,

from whence I concluded she was in the secret, and went to give information of your absence, and accordingly gave her warning. Now, my dear Henry, I would have you immediately return to London, and pay your duty to Mr. Rivers; I shall remain with Maria some days, as I have already told him.'

"Henry soon after departed for town; after which, I informed Mrs. Rivers, that Henry, on our journey to Scotland, had inquired of me, if any one had ever addressed me, from whom I could suppose that letter came: I replied in the negative, that I had seen no one but in the presence of the family. She thanked me for my tenderness, as she expressed it, of her peace:

Mr. Rivers returned,' said she, the third day after your elopement; he betrayed no signs of passion or anger, but was gloomy and thoughtful; which I hope will pass off, and all be well.'

"Henry returned the same evening; his account of his uncle agreed with Mrs. Rivers's; he said, on his entering the parlour, Mr. Rivers started: 'So, Sir, you imagine you have duped me? begóne, and beware my revenge.' After some recollection, he accepted Henry's excuses, seemed more reconciled, but appeared lost in thought. "In short, to hasten to the fatal hour that deprived me of every earthly happiness, I shall

dear husband; which was often increased by the addition of Mrs. Rivers's company. Alas! how many years of sorrow have followed, what appeared to me a moment, so swiftly did it pass! I lived entirely in Kent, Mr. Rivers never desiring to see me: I carefully avoided his presence, nor once visited London in that time.

"One day, my dear Henry had been at his uncle's: he returned very melancholy; after much intreaty, he told me the cause—Mr. Rivers had received letters from India; that the person with whom my Henry's fortune was intrusted, was dead; that his executors were contending about the estate; that without his appearance to make good his claim, which Mr. Rivers would impower him to do, he must infallibly lose it.

Ah! cannot I go?' said I.-'Impossible, my love, consider your situation:' for indeed I was far advanced with child. 'Had it not been for my uncle's imprudence,' continued he, in not recalling my trifling fortune, this had not happened.'- A scene followed, which a mind possessed of sensibility like yours, Louisa, can better imagine than I describe; so painful still is the remembrance, that I must pass over the remainder of my story as slightly as it will permit. Mrs. Rivers arrived from town: she had heard the news, and joined her tears with mine. Said she,I cannot see so violent a necessity for

Henry's going; eight thousand pounds cannot hurt Mr. Rivers's estate; but alas! he is determined, and we must obey. Raise your dejected spirits, my love; I will never leave you; Henry can trust to my care; and, should the angel of death remove me, still is Maria not destitute.'

"In short, after several interviews with Mr. Rivers, it was fixed for my loved husband to go with the first ship that sailed, which was in three weeks. The fatal hour arrived,-alas! my agonies at parting were but forebodings of what I afterwards endured. Mrs. Rivers could not sooth me; a kind of dreadful surmise continually haunted me, that we should meet no more. We parted without a word, speechless woe denying every resource but a last-last embrace,

"And now, my dear Louisa, Mary must inform you the rest; I have neither spirits to relate, nor fortitude to hear it." So saying, she walked slowly on, and Mary continued.

"Mr. Henry Rivers had not been gone long before his uncle paid my mistress a visit, and seemed much reconciled; but alas! scarcely had two months passed since my young master's departure, before his servant, the only one that attended him, returned mourning to England, with the dreadful news, that his master, in three weeks after they sailed, had caught a fever, and, after being delirious a few days, expired in his