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Countess, though she sometimes reproached me with causing all her wretchedness, teuderly loved me, and perceiving my health and spirits

explain her reasons for writing her mysterious letter of rejection, of May 1757, to Loid Avondel. This request being made, a few posts brought Lady Avondel the fol-injured by a close attendance on her, she con lowing letter:

"MY DEAREST LADY AVONDEL,

seuted to relinquish my society for a few months. I returned to London with every sanguine hope a young and ardent mind could form, delighted at the prospect of renewing an intercourse with many beloved compa nions, above all the Marchioness of Glenvorne, who had recently formed a most happy and honourable alliance. An important event signalized this excursion. I engaged the affections of the Earl of Avondel, then in the bloom of youth, universally admired and uni

❝ly history is melancholy, but it is connected with what you wish to know. About the time of my birth, some unhappy reasons occasioned my mother to separate from Lord Montoliea. My sister, Lady Honoria Maudeville, continued with her father, and I remained with my mother, who received a separate maintenance till the death of her husband put her in possession of her join-versally beloved. I will not expatiate on my

ture. She then returned to the world, from whence she had long been exiled. She procured for me the best masters, and introduced me to the first circles, though she koew my fortune was only a small annuity, all the Delamore estates having been consigned to your mother. My poor mother attempted to renew her long-interrupted intercourse with this child, but it was cold and formal, unlike the warm affections which result from family harmony. She soon after married Sir James Mandeville, without asking the approbation of her surviving parent, and even the forms of civility were then suspended.

"Lady Montolieu became disgusted with the world, and resolved to bury herself in retirement. The motive which she assigned for this change of plan was to save a fortune for me, I believe some mortifications and neglects from her former friends occasioned that resolution. Her health was then good, and seemed to promise success to her maternal exertions in my favour; and certainly it was a painful sacrifice in one who was still young, beautiful, and fitted to fill a conspicuous place in the first circles. A country solitude presented no charms to her imagination, and her temper, which had never been corrected in her youth, now became extremely burthensome to herself and others. I hope I was not materially wanting in my duty, but my hours passed very painfully. I murmured sometimes in secret, for I was young, Emily, and passionately attached to the world. I had acquired a strong relish for its pleasures, without discovering that they were interspersed with cares and dangers. I fancied innocence had a right to happiness. Ah! may child, how many useful lessons are taught by adversity.

"I was thus situated, when I received an invitation from a friend of my mother's to pass the winter with her in London. The

feelings when assured that I was the object of his choice. Ask your own heart, my Emily; mine was attached to his person, and as sensible of his virtues.

"But I must tell you, for probably his delicacy will not, the circumstances under which he avowed his passion. It was only by his frequent visits to Mrs. Spencer's, and bis refined attention to me, that I was induced to hope i had attracted his regard, since a man of his honour and good sense would abhor the mean triumph of misleading inexperience. It was in his presence Mrs. Spencer received a letter from Dr. R. informing her, that he had been sent for to attend the Countess of Montolieu, whom on his arrival he found dead, after an illness of a few hours. Mrs. Spencer spoke with great concern of my friendless, unprovided situation; and it was then Avondel generously declared his wish to cugraft me on his noble stock. The two-fold intelligence was communicated to me at the same time. Emily, I will open to you my whole heart. It was said I bore my mother's death with fortitude, but I never loved her. I trust I performed my duty, but her wayward temper and extreme severity repressed affec tion. I knew not that her soul was pierced with incurable sorrows, and I too much considered, that through her misconduct I had been deprived of the protection of my father, and the love of my kindred. Her death therefore rather inspired a selfish apprehension for my own future lot, than the tender emotions of filial regret. To know at that moment that I was to be thrown upon the world, a friendless orphan with a scanty provision, inadequate to the claims of my birth and insufficient to extort that respect to my youthful attractions which would awe the licentious from attempting to ensnare my inexperience; to be invited to partake the fortunes of a man whose personal merits conferred honour on his

high dignity and ancient house; to be offered the protection of one of the first characters in the kingdom, and thus be held forth as an object of envy instead of commiseration; wonder not, my child, that the remembrance of my early sorrows faded like the recollection of a distressing dream, when our eyes open to the beauty of a summer morning; or that I surrendered my whole soul to the delight of inspiring and cherishing virtuous and happy

love.

“It was at this time that I first discovered the versatility of the world. The future Countess of Avondel was as much courted and admired, as the indigent Selina Delamore had been dreaded and neglected. I received numerous invitations, every matron of rank offered to be my chaperon. I was the glass of fashion and the ornament of society. The most agreeable circumstance connected with this inundation of good-will was my restoration to the countenance of my family. I received an invitation to Mandeville castle, and was civilly treated by your father and mother; yet, as I did not experience that full cordiality which I had hoped for, I shortened my visit, and resolved not to introduce bord Avondel to them, till as his wife I should feel myself elevated above the mortification of perhaps undesigned negligencies.

"The day, my Emily, as you have heard, was fixed; the nuptial attire purchased; the settlements drawn according to the liberal plan dictated by his generous heart. He left me in order to prepare Avon Park for my reception, and I returned to my mother's late residence to make the small arrangements in my province. We met no more!-I wrote the letter which I am required to explain-1 had motives for it-imperious motives, which I cannot divulge nor would the discovery contribute to Lord Avondel's peace; on the contrary, I am convinced it would overwhelm him with horror.

"As concealment now became my duty, I fled where no one knew me; and she, who but a few hours before looked forward to bridal happiness, title, fortune, every desirable good which is ranked in the catalogue of earthly blessings, became a dubious wanderer, an unknown stranger, who, like a proscribed criminal, sought concealment under a borrowed name; and at the moment when she most wanted consolation and support, estranged herself from all she loved. In the morning of life, I looked forward to my future existence as to a cheerless void, unvisited by hope, unillumined by the endearing sympathy of social affection!

"Do not, by beloved Emily, compliment

my fortitude. It consisted merely in enabling me to live through the early part of my trial. You must not suppose that, when the blow was first struck, I supported my disappointment with the equanimity you have been accustomed to see me exert in those happier hours, when the playful prattle of yourself and your brother made me feel that there was something worth living for. I brought into the agonizing contines of affliction a heart strongly attached to sublunary good, and proportionanbly cold to those better prospects our high calling enjoins us to prefer. I am now one of those who, with resigned humility and grateful consent, can enumerate the advan tages, nay the blessings of calamity. You have heard of the accident which has occasioned me so much bodily suffering; it was caused by the stormy emotions of rebellious grief. Dur ing the state of extreme weakness to which it reduced me, terrestrial happiness assumed a very different aspect to that it exhibited when youth, health, hope, and love taught me to forget I was merely a pilgrim and sojourner on earth. Stretched on the bed of infirmity, and, as I believed, of death, the forlorn Selina Delamore escaped those pangs which the be loved wife of Avoudel must have felt. If I wanted the support and comfort of sympathiz. ing tenderness, I did not endure the misery of witnessing the anguish of a heart whose peace was dearer to me than my own. I mused upon his glories, I prayed heaven to shield him in the day of danger, but the ties which bound him to a wretch like me, were dissolved, and thus death had lost half its

terrors.

"Yet, I was not bereft of all external consolations. I had the assistance of a faithful servant, the confidential attendant on my mother. Notwithstanding the mysterious air of my concealment, my appearance interested strangers, who, in my extreme sufferings, forgot the suspicions they entertained of my character, and showed to an unknown stranger all the offices of christian charity. Among the rest I most gratefully acknowledge the services of a skilful physician, and a judicious pious divine. The former so assisted my naturally vigorous constitution as to prevent me from falling a premature victim to grief and despair, and preserved (under Providence) what I thought a valueless life, to be useful to you. The latter told me that, as the immoderate indulgence of grief argued an unsanctified rebellious spirit, so despair could never find the way into a heart which had not broken the injunction against placing our affections on things beneath.

"I rose from the couch of infirmity languid and delicate in health, but strong in mind, duly appreciating the brevity of human life, anxious to secure the immortality for which it was meant to prepare me, ready to fulfil the unknown duties which inscrutable wisdom had preserved me to discharge, and so sensible that I was in the hauds of one who would dispose of me in the way which would ultimately tend to my advantage, that I was able, with the most entire acquiescence, to say, • The will of Heaven be done?'

be a faithful expositor of our reciprocal sentiments. I allude to the scarcely probable event of any difference of opinion arising between you and your lord, or of your finding yourself exposed to those temptations from which your rank, and the reputation of your husband, if attended by discretion and exemplariness of manners on your part, will most probably secure you. Yet, alas! I too well know, that neither high birth, reputation, nor purity of intention, can prevent the daring seducer from attempting to contaminate matronly chastity and virgin innocence. Beware, then, my Emily, lest you invite his approaches. The honour of a wife is seldom attempted till she shews her seducer that she may be wrought upon to hate or despise her husband.

"I have laid open my whole heart, Emily, not knowing whether this letter is to be submitted to your Lord's perusal. If the affection he bore me have so far subdued the keen sense of injury, which his lofty mind must feel, as to induce him to forgive me, his generous heart will rejoice to hear, that his once beloved Selina is happy; that she is so

"I continued in obscurity some years, till the death of my sister again summoned me to the performance of actual duties. She knew of my retreat and its motives. It was necessary she should, as I received from her the annuity which was my support. She led a gay, and as it was termed, a happy life, till she sunk under the fatigue of continual pleasure. I attended her in her last illness, and received her orphan children as a solemn trust. Sir James, who died a few months before her, had appointed his brother to be their guardian, and as General Mandeville was on the Continent, I was for some time allowed the delightful employ-happy, so contented with her lot, and so conment of nursing and educating you both. On his return he took George from me; he was then of an age to require being removed from female superintendance. The same prudent concern for your welfare induced him to take you also, when your time of life gave you a claim to an establishment suited to your birth and fortune.

"And now, my love, you must perceive I had sufficient reason to decline residing with you; nor will I even expect the indulgence of your company at Lime Grove. A load of obloquy has been thrown on my character, which, as my story will not be told, I cannot

remove.

vinced that it was a meet correction of a disposition which had cultivated refinement of sentiment and sensibilty of feeling to a degree that unfitted her for the conflict of life, that she would not change her present portion even for yours, my darling child, whom she esteems the most enviable of all human beings next herself. You possess and enjoy all the good this world can bestow, I am still happier in having ceased to regret its loss.

"SELINA DELAMORE."

For a year or two Lord and Lady AvonThe wife of the Earl of Avondel del lived in an uninterrupted state of hapmust, like Cæsar's, be as untainted in her piness, when a female friend of his Lordfame as in her person. My misfortunes are ship, whose life he had preserved from the now almost forgotten, my person is known to grasp of a tiger in India, arrives in England. few. Why should the censorious, the curious, The name of this female is Lady Paulina and the tattling, be invited to rake up the Monthermer; she was an Italian by birth; ashes of my mysterious history, and to cast extremely beautiful and accomplished; them on your untainted fortunes? Why should wealthy, and much addicted to intrigue and it be proclaimed, that you were educated by pleasure. Lord Avondel becomes enone who had forfeited every pretence to prin- amoured of Paulina, and she gradually ciple and honour? Calumny has been busy seduces him from Emi'y and his home. with my name, and I have never stepped forThe husband of Lady Paulina, General ward to refute its slanders. You want go Monthermer, is about this time expected companion but your husbaud, no director nor adviser but him. If, however, cirfrom India. The lovers, though nothing cumstances should arise which might make criminal had hitherto passed between a reference to an unprejudiced umpire desirthem, became alarmed; an elopement is able, any cases of decorum best submitted to planned; a cottage taken, and they prefemale indulgence and delicacy, the pen maypared to meet at the selected spot. Mean

No. IV.-Vol. I.-N. S.

Bb

time Lady Selina Delamore had been watching over the unsuspicious Emily. Lord Avondel's arrival at the cottage chosen for his adulterous intercourse, is thus described, after Paulina's journey had been retarded by an embarrassment || prepared by the friends of Emily:

"Lord Avondel alighted at the garden-gate with an air of rapture; inquired if the lady was arrived, and was shewn into the parlour. My loveliest dearest friend,' said he, perceiving a female advancing to meet him; but the imperfect light showed it was not Paulina. A form worn to that sort of ethereal transparency, that the soul seemed ready to burst through its mortal mound, a countenance illuminated by piety, though deeply touched by grief, the well remembered lineaments of consummate beauty, injured, but not annihilated by sorrow and time; all struck on the soul-harrowing recollection of the guilty Avondel, and he recoiled with horror from a voice whose exquisite music reminded him of the happier days of innocence, hope, and virtuous love. I need not add that voice was Selina Delamore's, who, as he turned to shun her unexpected presence, bade him stay and hear a sister's woes.

.

marry him, being his sister, he hurried back to his wife, renounces Paulina, and becomes contrite and self-reformed.Paulina, however, with the usual subtlety of the Italian, works his ruin; accuses kim to her husband, General Monthermer, of an attack upon her honour, the consequence of which accusation is a challenge. The meeting is thus described;

vous.

"Lord Avondel arose very early, and found the General waiting at the appointed rendezA night devoted to intemperance had rendered him still more sanguinary, and absolutely deaf to every attempt at explanation, and throwing off his, coat, told him he was ready to begin. The Earl answered he was unarmed. Monthermer branded him with the name of coward, and Avondel confessed he did fear to violate those laws which his station called upon him to defend.

"You should have thought of this,' said Monthermer, when you broke the ties of honour and friendship, and attempted to bring disgrace and misery into my family.'

"General Monthermer,' returned Lord Avondel, with solemn earnestness, according to that low estimate of principle which satis"Avondel staggered against the wainscot,fies ordinary minds, I could deny your charge, his failing knees sunk under their burden. Selina endeavoured to support him. I am your sister,' she repeated. The mutual guilt of our parents gave me birth, and doomed the prime of our days to anguish. Avondel, you Owe all your sorrows to a guilty assiguation, to the licentious passions of our father, and the criminal weakness of my most wretched mother!"

"Selina! Selina!' said the Earl, shivering with horror, as he grasped her trembling arm, Is this your long-concealed secret !' This, and no other, so help me heaven,' said the devout recluse with lifted eyes, then turning their mild lustre on the Earl, she added, it is a secret which nothing should have torn from me but the wish to save you from that remorse which my dying mother endured. Here are the documents to prove my veracity. The hand-writing of the Earl your father, and the dying confession of Lady

Montolieu.'

When Selina had acquainted the Earl with the circumstances of her parent's guilt, and the motives of her refusal to

but I will own that 1 feel myself a culprit, aud I give you a superiority which I never before acceded to any man, by asking you to pardon an intentional offence. I have trifled with the affections of Lady Paulina, but this is all my offence.'

"This is not all,' returned the infuriated husband. You must publicly acknowledge your basenes in defaming the virtue you could not corrupt.'

"Avondel was roused to indignation by this proposal, and he became so regardless of his personal safety as to forget he was unarmed and unattended in the presence of a furious enemy. With proud contempt he answered, that he would never degrade himself by making concessions to such a woman as Paulina. Mad with rage, Monthermer rushed upon him and buried his sword in his bosom!'

After this assassination General Monthermer flies abroad, and in an agony of Avondel likewise dies on the bed of penicompunction dies by his own sword. Lord tence, and Paulina retreats into infamy and contempt.

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