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opportunity which fortune had put in his power; but these were restraints which Sir Thomas had so frequently broken, as in a great measure to annihilate their force.

During the life of his aunt, there were other motives to restrain him; those were now removed; and being solicitous to preserve the advantage which he drew from Miss Sindall's residence in his house, he pitched on Mrs Boothby to fill Mrs Selwyn's place, from whom his former good offices gave him an additional title to expect assistance, by means of the influence she would naturally gain over the mind of one who was in some sort to become her ward. As I am willing at present to believe that lady's character a fair one, I shall suppose that he concealed from her the kind of addresses with which he meant to approach her young friend. It is certain, there was but one kind which the principles of Sir Thomas allowed him to make.

One obstacle, however, he foresaw in the attachment which he had early discovered her to have towards Bolton. This, on the most favourable supposition of the case, he might easily represent to Mrs Boothby, equally hurtful to Lucy's interest, and destructive of his own wishes; and if she was prevailed on to espouse his cause, it may account for those lessons of prudence which she bestowed upon Miss Sindall.

Besides this, the Baronet did not scruple to use some other methods, still more dishonourable, of shaking her confidence in his cousin. He fell upon means of secretly intercepting that young gentleman's letters to Lucy. From this he drew a double advantage; both of fastening a suspicion on Harry's fidelity, and acquiring such intelligence as might point his own machinations to defeat the purposes which that correspondence contained.

CHAP. XIV.

A Discovery interesting to Miss Sindall.

UNDER those circumstances of advantage in which Sir Thomas Sindall stood, it did not seem a matter of extreme difficulty to accomplish that design which I have hinted to my readers in the preceding chapter. Let him, whose indignation is roused at the mention of it, carry his feelings abroad into life; he will find other Sindalls, whom the world has not marked with its displeasure; in the simplicity of my narrative, what is there that should set up this one to his hatred or his scorn? Let but the heart pronounce its judgment, and the decision will be the same.

Hitherto Sir Thomas had appeared as the parent and guardian of Lucy; and though at times certain expressions escaped him, which the quickness of more experienced, that is, less innocent, minds would have discovered to be

long to another character; yet she, to whom they were addressed, had heard them without suspicion. But she was now alarmed by the suggestions of Mrs Boothby; these suggestions it is possible the Baronet himself had prompted. He knew the force of that poison which is conveyed in those indirect approaches, when a woman's vanity is set on the watch by the assistance of a third person. She who imagines she hears them with indifference, is in danger; but she who listens to them with pleasure, is undone.

With Lucy, however, they failed of that ef fect which the Baronet's experience had promised him; she heard them with a sort of disgust at Mrs Boothby, and something like fear of Sir Thomas.

Her uneasiness increased as his declarations began to be more pointed; though they were then only such as some women, who had meant to give them no favourable ear, might perhaps have been rather flattered than displeased with; but Miss Sindall was equally void of the art by which we disguise our own sentiments, and the pride we assume from the sentiments of others.

To her virtues Sir Thomas was no stranger; they were difficulties which served but as spurs in his pursuit: That he continued it with increasing ardour, may be gathered from two let ters, which I subjoin for the information of the reader. The first is addressed,

TO MRS WISTANLY. "MY DEAR MADAM,

"I fear you begin to accuse me of neglect; but there are reasons why I cannot so easily write to you as formerly. Even without this apology, you would scarce believe me capable of forgetting you, who are almost the only friend I am possessed of. Alas! I have need of a friend! pity and direct me.

"Sir Thomas Sindall-how shall I tell it!he has ceased to be that guardian, that protector, I esteemed him; he says he loves, he adores me; I know not why it is, but I shudder when I hear these words from Sir Thomas Sindall.

"But I have better reason for my fears; he has used such expressions of late, that, though I am not skilled enough in the language of his sex to understand their meaning fully, yet they convey too much for his honour and for my peace.

"Nor is this all.-Last night I was sitting in the parlour with him and Mrs Boothby, (of whom I have much to tell you ;) I got up, and stood up in the bow-window, looking at the rays of the moon, which glittered on the pond in the garden. There was something of envi able tranquillity in the scene; I sighed as I looked. That's a deep one,' said Sir Thomas, patting me on the shoulder behind: I turned round somewhat in a flurry, when I perceived

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that Mrs Boothby had left the room. I made a motion towards the door; Sir Thomas placed himself with his back to it. Where is Mrs Boothby?' said I, though I trembled so, that I could scarcely articulate the words. What is my sweet girl frightened at?' said he; here are none but love and Sindall.' He fell on his knees, and repeated a great deal of jargon, (I was so confused I know not what,) holding my hands all the while fast in his. I pulled them away at last; he rose, and clasping me round the waist, would have forced a kiss; I screamed out, and he turned from me. 'What's the matter?' said Mrs Boothby, who then entered the room. A mouse running across the carpet frightened Miss Lucy,' answered Sir Thomas. I could not speak, but I sat down on the sofa, and had almost fainted. Sir Thomas brought me some wine and water, and, pressing my hand, whispered, that he hoped I would forgive an offence which was already too much punished by its effects; but he looked so, while he spoke this!

"Oh! Mrs Wistanly, with what regret do I now recollect the days of peaceful happiness I have passed in your little dwelling, when we were at Sindall-park. I remember I often wished, like other foolish girls, to be a woman; methinks I would now gladly return to the state of harmless infancy I then neglected to value. I am but ill made for encountering difficulty or danger; yet I fear my path is surrounded with both. Could you receive me again under your roof? there is something hallowed resides beneath it. Yet this may not now be so convenient-I know not what to say-here I am iniserable. Write to me, I entreat you, as speedily as may be. You never yet denied me your advice or assistance; and never before were they so necessary to your faithful

L. SINDALL."

To this letter Miss Sindall received no answer; in truth, it never reached Mrs Wistanly; the servant to whom she intrusted its conveyance having, according to instructions he had received, delivered it into the hands of his master, Sir Thomas Sindall. She concluded, there fore, either that Mrs Wistanly found herself unable to assist her in her present distress, or, what she imagined more probable, that age had now weakened her faculties so much, as to render her callous even to that feeling which should have pitied it. She next turned her thoughts upon Miss Walton; the manner of her getting acquainted with whom I have related in the fifth chapter; but she learned that Mr Walton had, a few days before, set out with his daughter on

duced her to address the following letter to Bolton; though she began to suspect, from the supposed failure of his correspondence, that the suggestions she had heard of his change of circumstances having taught him to forget her, had but too much foundation in reality.

TO HENRY BOLTON, ESQ.

"Is it true, that, amidst the business or the pleasures of his new situation, Harry Bolton has forgotten Lucy Sindall? Forlorn as I now ambut I will not complain-I would now less than ever complain to you.-Yet it is not pride, it is not-I weep while I write this!

"But, perhaps, though I do not hear from you, you may yet remember her, to whom you had once some foolish attachment. It is fit that you think of her no more; she was then indeed a dependent orphan, but there was a small challenge of protection from friends, to whom it was imagined her infancy had been intrusted. Know, that this was a fabricated tale; she is, in truth, a wretched foundling, exposed in her infantstate by the cruelty or necessity of her parents, to the inclemency of a winter-storm, from which miserable situation Sir Thomas Sindall delivered her. This he has but a little since told me, in the most ungenerous manner, and from motives which I tremble to think on.-Inhuman that he is! Why did he save me then?

"This Mrs Boothby too! Encompassed as I was with evils, was I not wretched enough before? yet this new discovery has been able to make me more so. My head grows dizzy when I think on it!—to be blotted out from the records of society!-What misery or what vice have my parents known! yet now to be the child of a beggar, in poverty and rags, is a situation I am forced to envy.

"I had one friend from whom I looked for some assistance. Mrs Wistanly, from infirmity, I fear, has forgotten me; I have ventured to think on you. Be but my friend, and no more; talk not of love, that you may not force me to refuse your friendship. If you are not changed indeed, you will be rewarded enough when I tell you, that, to remove me from the dangers of this dreadful place, will call forth more blessings from my heart, than any other can give, that is not wrung with anguish like that of the unfortunate

L. SINDALL."

CHAP. XXV.

from Sir Thomas Sindall.

a journey to the continent, to which he had been She receives a letter from Bolton.-A new alarm advised by her physicians, as she had, for some time past, been threatened with symptoms of a consumptive disorder. These circumstances, and Sir Thomas's farther conduct in the interval, in

It happened that the messenger to whom the charge of the foregoing billet was committed, was

a person, not in that line of association which the Baronet had drawn around her; consequently it escaped interception.

When Bolton received it, he was not only alarmed with the intelligence it contained, but his fears were doubly roused from the discovery it made to him, of his letters not being suffered to reach Miss Sindall. He dispatched his answer, therefore, by a special messenger, who was ordered to watch an opportunity of delivering it privately into the hands of the lady to whom it was addressed. This he found no easy matter to accomplish; nor would he perhaps have been able to effect it at all, but for an artifice to which he had recourse, of hiring himself on a job in Sir Thomas's garden, for which his knowledge in the business happened to qualify him. He had indeed been formerly employed in that capacity at Sindallpark, and had there been well enough known to Miss Lucy, who was herself a gardener for amusement; and, after leaving that place, having gone to the neighbourhood of London for improvement, he was met and hired by his former acquaintance, Mr Bolton.

The very next evening after he had got into this station, he observed Miss Sindall enter the garden alone. This was an opportunity not to be missed; on pretence, therefore, of fetching somewhat from the end of the walk she was on, he passed her, and pulled off his hat with a look significant of prior acquaintance. Lucy observed him, and, feeling a sort of momentary comfort from the recollection, began some talk with him respecting his former situation, and the changes it had undergone. She asked him many questions about their old neighbours at Sindall-park, and particularly Mrs Wistanly; when she was soon convinced of her misapprehension with regard to a failure of that worthy woman's intellects; Jerry (so the gardener was familiarly called) having seen her in his way to Bilswood, and heard her speak of Miss Lucy with the most tender concern. "And what was your last service, Jerry?" said she.-"I wrought for Mr Bolton, madam."-" Mr Bolton !"" And I received this paper from him for your ladyship, which I was ordered to deliver into your own hands, and no other body's, an't please your ladyship." She took the letter with a trembling impatience, and, whispering that she would find an opportunity of seeing him again, hurried up into her chamber to peruse it. She found it to contain what follows::

"I have not words to tell my ever dearest Lucy, with what distracting anxiety I read the letter that is now lying before me. To give her suspicions of my faith, must have been the work of no common treachery: when she knows that I wrote to her three several times without receiving any answer, she will, at the same time,

acquit me of inconstancy, and judge of my uneasiness.

"That discovery which she has lately made, is nothing to her or to me. My Lucy is the child of heaven, and her inheritance every excellence it can bestow.

"But her present situation-my God! what horrible images has my fancy drawn of it! For heaven's sake, let not even the most amiable of weaknesses prevent her escaping from it into the arms of her faithful Bolton. I dispatch a messenger with this instantly. I shall follow him myself, the moment I have made some ar rangements, necessary for your present safety and future comfort. I shall be in the neighbour. hood of Bilswood, for I am forbidden to enter the house, Sir Thomas having taken occasion, from my resigning a commission which would have fixed me ingloriously in a garrison abroad, that I might be of some use to my country at home, to write me a letter in the angriest terms, renouncing me, as he expresses it, for ever. I see, I see the villainy of his purpose; 'tis but a few days hence, and I will meet him in the covert of his falsehood, and blast it. Let my Lucy be but just to herself and to

BOLTON."

She had scarcely read this, when Mrs Boothby entered the room. The Baronet had, for some days, quitted that plan of intimidation, which had prompted him to discover to Lucy the circumstance of her being a wretched foundling, supported by his charity, for a behaviour more mild and insinuating; and Mrs Boothby, who squared her conduct accordingly, had been particularly attentive and obliging. She now delivered to Miss Sindall a message from young lady in the neighbourhood, an acquaintance of hers, begging her company, along with Mrs Boothby's, to a party of pleasure the day after. "And really, Miss Sindall," said she, with an air of concern, 66 I must enforce the invi tation from a regard to your health, as you seem to have been drooping for some days past. Lucy looked her full in the face, and sighed that look she did not choose to understand, but repeated her question as to their jaunt to-mor row. "Miss Venhurst will call at nine, and expects to find you ready to attend her. "What you please," replied the other;" Miss Venhurst is to be of the party, I have no objection." The consent seemed to give much satisfaction to Mrs Boothby, who left her with a gentle tap on the back, and an unusual appearance of kindness in her aspect.

Lucy read her letter again; she had desired Bolton to think of her no more; but there is in the worthiest hearts a little hypocrisy at tending such requests: she found herself happy in the thought that he had not forgotten her.

When she opened her bureau, to deposit this

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"MADM,

TO MISS SINDLE.

"I writ this from a sincear regaird to yur welfer. Sir Tho. Sindle has a helitch plott against yur vartue, and has imployde Mrs Buthbie, whu is a wooman of a notoreus karicter in Londun, to asist him. They wil putt yu on a jant tomoro on pretens of seeing Mss Venhrst, butt it is fals: for she is not to be thair, and they only wants to inveegle yu for a wicket purpes. therefor bi advyzd by a frinde, and du not go. "Yur secrt welwishar, "R. S."

Amazement and horror filled the mind of Lucy as she read this; but, when the first perturbation of her soul was over, she bethought herself of endeavouring to find out her friend in the author of this epistle, whose compassion seemed so much interested in her behalf. She remembered, that one of the servants, who was sometimes employed to ride out with her, was called Robert, which agreed with the first initial of the subscription of the note she had received. At supper, therefore, though she wore a look of as much indifference as possible, she marked, with a secret attention, the appearance of this man's countenance. Her belief of his being the person, who had communicated this friendly intelligence, was increased from her observation; and she determined to watch an opportunity of questioning him with regard to it.

CHAP. XVI.

Miss Sindall has an Interview with Robert.-A resolution she takes in consequence of it.

AFTER a night of wakeful anxiety, she was called in the morning by Mrs Boothby, who told her, that breakfast waited, as it was near the hour they proposed setting out on their jaunt. "Miss Venhurst," continued she, "has sent to let you know, that she is prevented from calling here as she promised, but that she will meet us on the road."-" I am sorry," answered Lucy, with a counterfeited coolness, "that I should be forced to disappoint her in my turn; but I rested so ill last night, and my head aches so violently, that I cannot possibly attend her."-"Not go!" exclaimed Mrs Boothby; "why, my dear, you will disjoint the whole party; besides, I have not time to acquaint the

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Venhurst family, and it will look so odd."would look odder," said Lucy, "if I should go abroad when I am really so very much indisposed."- Nay, if you are really so much indisposed," answered the other, "I will send our apology, late as it is."- -"But you shall not stay at home to attend me," interrupted Lucy.

"Indeed but I shall," replied Mrs Boothby; "it was on your account only that I proposed going. Keep your chamber, and I will send you up some tea immediately."-And she left the room for that purpose.

Her attention indeed was but too vigilant for the scheme which Lucy had formed, of examining Robert about that note she had found in her bureau; but accident at last furnished her with the opportunity she sought. Mrs Boothby having left her, in order to preside at dinner, sent this very servant with a plate of something to her patient above stairs. He would have delivered it to one of the maids at the door; but Lucy, hearing his voice, desired that he might come in, on pretence of talking to him about a young horse she had employed him to ride for her, and, sending the maid on some errand, put the paper into his hand, and asked him if he was the person to whom she was indebted for a piece of information so momentous. fellow blushed, and stammered, and seemed afraid to confess his kindness. "For God's sake,” said Lucy, " do not trifle with my misery; there is no time to lose in evasions; what do you know of Sir Thomas's designs against me?"-" Why, for certain, madam," said he,

The

66 servants should not blab their masters' secrets; but your ladyship is so sweet a lady, that I could not bear to see you so deceived. Sir Thomas's valet-de-chamb is a chum of mine, and he told me, after having made me promise to keep it a profound secret, that his master designed to entice you on a party with Mrs Boothby; that they were to stop at a solitary farm-house of his, and there Sir Thomas""Forbear the shocking recital!" cried Lucy."To be sure it is shocking," said Robert, "and so I said to Jem, when he told me; but he answered, (your ladyship will forgive me for repeating his words,) that it mattered not much; for she is nothing better, said he, than a beggarly foundling, whom my master and I picked up, one stormy night, on the road, near his hunting-place there at Hazleden; and, having taken a liking to the child, he brought her home to Mrs Selwyn, pretending that she was the daughter of a gentleman of his own name, a friend of his, who died abroad; and his aunt, believing the story, brought her up for all the world like a lady, and left her forscoth a legacy at her death; but, if all were as it should be, she would be following some draggle-tailed gypsey, instead of flaunting in her fineries here.”

Would that I were begging my bread, so

pur.

her escape; but the consciousness of her pose stopped her tongue when she would have uttered some pretence for talking with him. At times her resolution was staggered by the thoughts of the perils attending her flight; but her imagination presently suggested the danger of her stay, and the dread of the greater evil became a fortitude against the less.

I were but out of this frightful house!"- "I wish you were," said Robert, simply; for I fear there are more plots hatching against you than you are aware of: is not Mrs Boothby's Sukey to sleep to-night in the room with your ladyship?""I consented, on Mrs Boothby's importunity, that she should."—"Why then," continued he, "I saw Jem carry a cast gown of Mrs Boothby's, she had formerly given to The hour of eleven at last arrived. Mrs Sukey, but which she asked back from the girl Boothby, whose attendance was afterwards to on pretence of taking a pattern from it, into be supplied by that of her maid, had just bid his master's dressing-room; and when I asked her good-night, on her pretending an unusual him what he was doing with it there, he wink- drowsiness, and promised to send up Sukey in ed thus, and said, it was for somebody to mas- a very little after. Lucy went into her dressquerade in to-night."- "Gracious God!" cried ing-closet, and, fastening the door, got up on a Lucy," whither shall I turn me?-Robert, if chair at the window, which she had taken care ever thou would'st find grace with Heaven, to leave open some time before, and stepped pity a wretch that knows not where to look for out on the wall of the garden, which was broad protection!"-She had thrown herself on her enough a-top to admit of her walking along it. knees before him." What can I do for your When she got as far as the gate, she saw, by ladyship?" said he, raising her from the ground. the light of the moon, Robert standing at the Take me from this dreadful place," she ex- place of appointment: he caught her in his claimed, holding by the sleeve of his coat, as if arms when she leaped down. "Why do you she feared his leaving her." Alas!” answer- tremble so?" said she, her own lips quivering ed Robert, "I cannot take you from it."-She as she spoke. "Is the horse ready?"-"Here," stood for some moments wrapt in thought, the answered Robert, stammering, "but―""Get fellow looking piteously in her face." It will on," said Lucy," and let us away, for heaven's do!" she cried, breaking from him, and running sake!"-He seemed scarce able to mount the into her dressing-closet.-"Look, Robert, look horse; she sprung from the ground on the pad here; could I not get from this window on the gar- behind him. "Does your ladyship think," den-wall, and so leap down into the outer court?" said Robert, faintly, as they left the gate," of -"But supposing your ladyship might, what the danger you run?"-"There is no danger would you do then?"-"Could not you pro- but within those hated walls." ""Twill be a cure me a horse?-Stay-there is one of the dreadful night;" for it began to rain, and the chaise-horses at grass in the paddock-do you thunder rolled at a distance. "Fear not," said know the road to Mrs Wistanly's?"-"Mrs she, "we cannot miss our way."- "But if they Wistanly's!"-" For heaven's sake, refuse not should overtake us They shall not, they my request; you cannot be so cruel as to refuse shall not overtake us!"-Robert answered with it. I would do much to serve your lady- a deep sigh.-But they were now at some dis ship; but if they should discover us "Talk tance from the house, and striking out of the not of ifs, my dear Robert ;--but soft-I will highway into a lane, from the end of which a manage it thus-no, that can't be either-the short road lay over a common to the village in servants are in bed by eleven."-" Before it, which Mrs Wistanly lived, they put on a very an't please your ladyship."- "If you could quick pace, and in a short time Lucy imagined contrive to have that horse saddled at the gate herself pretty safe from pursuit. so soon as all is quiet within, I can get out and mcet you."-" I don't know what to say to it." -Somebody from below cried, Robert-Lucy was down on her knees again." Stay, I conjure you, and answer me."-" For God's sake rise," said he, " and do not debase yourself to a poor servant, as I am."-" Never will I rise till you promise to meet me at eleven.”—“ I will, I will (and the tears gushed into his eyes,) whatever be the consequence." Sukey appear ed at the door, calling, Robert, again ;-he ran down stairs; Lucy followed him some steps insensibly, with her hands folded together in the attitude of supplication.

In the interval between this and the time of putting her scheme in execution, she suffered all that fear and suspense could inflict. She wished to see again the intended companion of

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CHAP. XVII.

Bolton sets out for Bilswood.-A recital of accidents in his journey.

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As I flatter myself that my readers feel some interest in the fate of Miss Sindall, I would not leave that part of my narration which regarded her, till I had brought it to the period of bet escape. Having accompanied her thus far, I return to give some account of Mr Bolton.

According to the promise he had made to Lucy, he set out for Bilswood, on the second day after the date of that letter she received from him by the hands of his gardener. Tha

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