of one of whom he knew nothing. At last I rel solved to awaken his remorse, and to move his tenderness for you, by giving you to him as his own child.

"I soon found out, that he was in the frequent habit of rambling alone upon the cliffs af ter dark, and I resolved to avail myself of the rumours, spread over the whole district, of my strange appearance, and supernatural powers, to meet and address him, in a manner that should at least command his attention, if not inspire him with some portion of the general belief regarding me. I carried my scheme into practice with all the effect I was capable of. I started upon him near the sainted well, in so inexplicable a manner, that I saw plainly he hardly knew whether to believe me mortal or no; but when I told him the history of his past life, he shuddered with horror, and was lost in astonishment. I then told him that the only punishment Heaven had assigned to him, was the care of his adulterous child; and taking you from under a cloak in which I had laid you to sleep, I gave you into his arms, and disappeared before he had time to recover from his surprise, or to know whither I had

gone. He believed my tale; and, to hide the infamy of your birth, he gave you out to be the daughter of his widowed sister, who had died abroad.

"Finding my place of concealment convenient for my purposes, I resolved to remain there to watch over your fate. I showed myself frequently to Lord Eaglesholme during his walks on the cliffs; and, keeping up the mystery in which I had first enveloped myself, I continued to have considerable control over a mind, remorse had rendered, in some degree, unsound.

“It was not until after your being carried off, and when I was fully satisfied of the strength of his affection towards you, by his distraction at your loss, that, on his coming to seek me near the well, I at last disclosed to him the secret of your birth, and learned with surprise, for the first time, that it had pleased Heaven to direct me for protection to the very threshold where you had the best right to look for it. And now young lady, said she, in a melancholy accent, it only remains for me to give thee a wretch's blessing, and bid thee farewell for ever-never again shall this disgusting form distress thee!"

Amherst and his bride replied to her at once"No!" said they warmly, "no! we cannot let Our lives shall be devoted to

you leave us.

make yours comfortable."

The poor creature gazed upon them both for a moment, and, seating herself again on the grass, from which she had risen, she burst into a flood of tears, and was for some time convulsed by the intensity of her feelings.

"This kindness," said she, " is more than I can well bear. But it will not do.-I cannot be a burden to you. I cannot be a burden to myself.-I cannot again subject myself to the persecutions of my own species. tomed now to live in solitude, and to be free.Yet, to leave you!" continued she, looking towards Miss Delassaux with inexpressible feeling, "to leave you who are the only living thing which chained me to the earth, is to break my last tie with it, and to pine in living death!" org

I have been too long accus

66

Why should you leave me then ?" said Miss Delassaux, seizing her long and bony hand, through which she felt the warm pulses of a strong affection beating; "why should you leave me? A small cottage shall be fitted up in

Walls and

the most retired part of the grounds.
hedges shall enclose a space large enough, to keep
away even the air contaminated by human beings.
You shall possess the master-key of all around;
and I shall be the only mortal who shall have
power to visit you. Remember! old age must
come on. You saved my young life, and it is
my duty-my privilege-my pleasure--my right!
-to watch over and protect you in your declin-
ing years!"

The Dwarfie was overcome by the warmth of Miss Delassaux's words and manner, through which her heart so eloquently spoke out. She leaned her head upon the hand and the lap of the only being who had really sympathised with her since the death of her angelic mistress. She wept copiously; her humanity returned full upon her, and, giving way to it at once, she yielded to Eliza's wish.

H

CHAPTER XVII.

My niece, my daughter, welcome to my care.

Such his fell glances, as the fatal light

Of staring Comets.

RAMSAY

CRASHAW.

Ah! I'm betray'd, and all my guilt discover'd.

SMITH.

WHEN Eliza and Amherst returned to the house, they found the drawing-room again crowded. Lord Eaglesholme alone was absent.-A group of wondering servants were clustered together at the door, and even Hawkins, had dared to show his face among them.

Eliza had no sooner advanced within the circle, where Lady Deborah was, than Sir William Percival took the young lady's trembling hand, and presented her to her aunt as the daughter and rightful heiress of Sir Marmaduke DelasThe mighty Lady pressed forward to embrace her niece, with an artful flood of tears;

saux.