bitation in the environs of London, which he had fitted up for me in a style of simple elegance. I was indeed the more readily induced to agree to this plan, because Lord Robert, who had been for some time in a declining state of health, grew daily worse, and his recovery was considered impossible.

Mr. Pembroke now visited me whenever he could leave his uncle; and for a short period I tasted the purest hap, piness. At first, indeed, I felt the auk, wardness of my situation, but the uni form respect and tenderness with which he treated me, soon banished every uneasy sensation, and left no room in my heart for aught but love and confidence; that heart which, previous to my knowledge of Percival, had appeared shut to every human being, now ex panded with hope and delight; my mind recovered its tone, and cheerfulness again sparkled in my eyes, and decked my countenance with smiles.

"Your lordship will excuse me if I

pass over the circumstances of my undoing; suffice it to say, that I had no cause to reproach Percival; there was not, I firmly believe, the least intention on his part of seduction. One unguarded moment plunged us both into guilt, and robbed me of peace for ever. Pembroke vehemently insisted upon marrying me immediately, but I as positively refused. I well knew that, should our marriage be discovered, it must prove his utter ruin; and I had too high an opinion of his honour, to doubt his making me his wife the moment he could do so with safety.

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By arguments that were more specious than solid, he endeavoured to reconcile me to the past, and most solemnly did he invoke the Almighty to witness his intention to make me every reparation in his power. I cannot without shuddering recollect the mo. ment in which he imprecated Heaven's vengeance on his head, if ever he deserted me. Unhappy man! may that

"In the evening I received from him a letter, which contained an avowal of his passion in the most delicate and respectful terms; he lamented the reasons that prevented his offering me his hand immediately, but would I condescend (he said) to promise him mine, his uncle was far advanced in life, and it was probable that a short time would enable him to make me his in the face of the world; until then. I would, he hoped (if I accepted his proposals), allow him the happiness of placing me far above the tyranny of Lady Diana, which must, he knew, be utterly insupportable to my spirit.

"The momentary transport which this letter gave me, was perhaps the greatest I have ever experienced; it gratified equally my love and my pride, though the latter induced me positively to refuse placing myself under any pecuniary obligations to him. I did not, however, hesitate to acknowledge my predilection for him; but while I promised

him my hand at the death of his uncle, I steadily refused to leave the protec tion of his aunt. I was now, I thought, possessed of a talisman, that would enable me to bear with patience her ill humour, and I could not think of a state of dependance upon Pembroke, dear as my heart whispered he was to

me:

"In In his answer Mr. Pembroke thanked me with transport for my acquiescence with the first part of his wish, but he remonstrated with warmth against my continuance with Lady Diana. I was, however, firm in my determination; most happy would it have been for me if I could have kept it; but this her ladyship's temper rendered impossible; and, spite of my reluctance to leave her house, I was compelled to seek another asylum.

"Percival now insisted so warmly upon the right he had, as my affianced husband, to provide for me, that I consented to remove to a small retired ha

power, whose sacred name he so dreadfully prophaned, forgive you as sincerely as I do.

"Accident discovered to Lord Robert that Pembroke visited me; he wrote to acquaint me with this circumstance, and to say, that for some few days he feared he could not see me; but he besought me to keep up my spirits, and to rely upon him; he also begged that I would write to him immediately.

"This intelligence terrified me. I dreaded that Lord Robert might insist upon his nephew's giving me up, and, in case of his refusal, might proceed to the greatest extremities. I determined to leave my house directly, and as I thought that I should be more likely to remain concealed in an obscure lodging in London, I took those in which first saw me, and immediately apprised Pembroke of what I had done, and my reasons for it. When I came here, I found I had a new cause of uneasiness. Pembroke had sent me bank bills to a

you