to be otherwise," she replied. "To tell you the truth, Grace, it has struck my mother that it would be very possible, through William's means, to get Mr. Meredith to give her a receipt for his debt; that is, I mean, to give up the bond he holds: and, you know, that would be a great relief, because " Grace did not wait to hear any farther explanation. "And can it be possible, Maria, that you can coolly, for a mercenary purpose, thus trifle with poor William's feelings?" she interrupted, in a tone of reproach. Maria, however, was totally insensible to her reproaches; she was content, she said, to know that she could save her mother, and she concluded by observing "It is in your power, Grace, by telling him all this, to disappoint your mother's expectations; perhaps you will think it your duty to do so: but confi "There is no occasion for any threats, Maria," returned Grace; "I feel, if you do not, the impossibility of my representing either my mother or you, in the light which I must do were I to betray your dence. I shall keep your secret; but I wish, I do wish," she added, with emphasis, "that I had never heard it." 2 L CHAPTER XVI. "That such things were, And were most dear to us." SHAKSPEARE. THE time at length arrived which Mrs. Woodford had fixed for her departure, with her family, from Rose Farm. She had succeeded to her utmost wishes in cajoling William, who had been led, by indirect insinuations, to believe that his success with her depended entirely on his uncle's giving this proof of the sincerity of his friendship towards the children of his deceased friend. Mr. Meredith had, indeed, at first, stoutly protested that he never would consent to William's marrying one who had jilted him as soon as a richer match offered, and who now, as he said, only consented because she had been disappointed of making, that match, and feared she might not meet with another; but Mr Meredith's obstinacy was no match for his nephew's perseverance. He was anxious, too, to see the latter settled, fearing, as he observed, that he might take some mad-headed freak, like his brother; and, therefore, he yielded to purchase Mrs. Woodford's consent at her own price. "And now, dearest girl," said the sanguine youth, as he gave the coveted bond into Maria's hand, "there exists, I trust, no farther impediment to our imme diate happiness, and to-morrow my uncle will ride over with me, and settle with your mother ——” "No, not to-morrow, William," interrupted Maria, breathless almost, with shame, though rejoicing in the success of her efforts-"not to-morrow; give me one day to-to prepare: that is, no, your uncle must not come to-morrow, nor you either. I shall lay my commands on you for the last time"-and she tried to assume a playful smile, to disguise her agitation, and her real meaning; "to-morrow you must stay at home, and leave me to myself." more. William remonstrated, grumbled, persuaded, and implored; but all in vain. Maria was firm, or, as he said, obstinate; and he departed-to behold her no The next day was devoted to their remaining preparations; and, at dark, Mrs. Woodford, Maria, and Grace, were driven to the next town, in the cart which had been used by Mr. Woodford to attend the markets in the neighbourhood, and from that alighted only to enter the mail-coach, which, at that hour, passed through towards London, by the way of Bristol and Bath. So secretly had all been managed, that, with the exception of the boy who drove the cart, and his father, who had previously conveyed their luggage to the waggon, by which it was sent forward on the same road, not a single person was aware of their departure or destination, the only female servant who remained having, on the previous morning, upon some frivolous pretext, been discharged, and the men sent out of the way. The silence of the boy was effectually secured by his being deaf and dumb, as well as scarcely possessing |