VII. When night-shades o'er old Ocean creep, Back to the dewy mead I fly, Where finking foft to downy fleep, IX. Dryad Nymphs and Fairy train, Liften, while in merry strain, 1 CHAP. XIII. HENRY, who had mistaken a temporary impulfe of refentment for the conqueft of his paffion, was daily more averfe to the manners and fociety of Lady Frances: her coquettish, affected behaviour was little calculated to ftrike his taste, or fix his heart. While her ladyfhip, early taught to confider rank and fortune as the acme of conjugal felicity, fpent not a moment's confideration on the nameless fympathies, the mutual affections so neceffary to constitute the permanent happiness pinefs of beings, whofe joys and forrows fhould be alike interwoven. She, therefore, in receiving the addreffes of Lenox, felt only the trivial fatisfaction of making conqueft of one, whofe manly beauty and fplendid profpects rendered him worthy of her choice. Henry, a few evenings after his introduction at Lord Delvin's, accompanied Lady Frances to the Theatre, where, as before mentioned, he, a fecond time, obferved Matilda:he thought the looked more beautiful,-more engaging than ever; but she is loft to me, faid he, mentally, and turned haftily away. He ftruggled to appear cheerful the remainder of the night; and on returning home, determined, the next day to visit Matilda." I will go to her," said he, "fhe " she may, probably, hearken to my advice, and it may be yet in my power to "refcue her from a farther continuation of guilt." With this determination he arofe, and after arguing himfelf into all the compofure which the nature of his vifit would admit, he at two o'clock repaired to the house of Mrs. Danvers, of whom, previous to proceeding, it is neceffary we should give an account, after the flight of Matilda: -She went out that evening, and did not return till late: on inquiring if Mifs Ofmington had retired to her chamber, fhe was anfwered in the affirmative. Matilda's travelling trunk lay in the hall after ordering it to be fafely corded, and the carriage to be ready by fix o'clock the following morning, fhe went to ruminate on the fplendor which the purchase of Matilda's ruin would en able able her to fupport the enfuing winter.Having dreffed at the appointed hour, she seemed furprized at Mifs Ofmington's delay, and ordered a female fervant to haften her. Mary, with well diffembled aftonishment, returned, declaring that she was no where to be found!- -Ever mistress of diffimulation, Mrs. Danvers concealed, under an appearance of indifference, the rage and disappointment that tore her bofom. She immediately concluded, that Matilda must have received fome private information relative to the schemes preparing against her;— but from what quarter this intelligence had been obtained, remained to her inexplicable. That it could originate with any of her own domeftics feemed impoffible, as they had all preserved, on former occafions of a fimilar nature, a profound filence. |