At the noise of Emily's exclamation, major Belmore and her sisters rushed to the place, each eagerly wondering what could have befallen her: they found her insensible in the arms of Margaret, while Martha was endeavouring to restore her to animation, and so sudden and violent was the shock she had received, that it was some time before even the united efforts of her sisters could recover her to a sense of what was passing around her.

On re-entering the parlour, she found, Fitzharland and her father just returned, and soon gathered from their conversation, a confirmation of the intelligence she had overheard from the lips of the unwary Margaret: she had not sufficient courage herself to demand an explanation, but to the eager enquiries of Caroline and Ethelia, they gave the following statement of the circumstance which affected her.

Melissa Montague-(now by the surrounding circle proclaimed the long lost daughter of the house of Grandeville) had breakfasted that morning with Louisa at the parsonage, but since absconded privately, and was no where to be found; Sunderland had visited her subsequent to his quitting Emily, and solicited a secret interview, during which he betrayed some agitation, and they were believed to have eloped together, although with what intention could not be conjectured; search for them had been in vain, and all they could elucidate respecting them amounted only to this-that the orphan, Melissa, had fled clandestinely from the abode which had sheltered her in her need of hospitality, and fled with Sunderland.

CHAPTER LVI.

"Off, vile habit!

Now view me-hear me !"

"Remember that my faults, though not atoned for,
Are ended."

"Unhappy sex! whose easy, yielding tempers,

Give way to every appetite alike;

And love, in their weak bosoms, is a rage
As terrible as hate-and as destructive."

BROWNE.

BYRON.

ROWE..

SLOWLY broke the sun upon the humble spire which adorned the village of, on the morning of the important day which was to have witnessed the promised eclaircissement; it emitted a red gleam over the hamlet and its environs, ere it shrunk into obscurity behind the hazy atmosphere, the last that was to shine on the unhappiness of one of its worthiest, and most benevolent inhabitants: -the day, notwithstanding, proved gloomy and unfavorable; sadly and wearily passed the heavy hours with Emily-this was to have been the epoch of her return to the course of rectitude, and the arms of felicity; and now what hope of such an issue remained? her lover was far distant-a faithless and unprincipled lover, as at least, she feared; for had he not

basely abandoned her, perhaps to enjoy felicity with another? and was not that other, although humbled and in disguise, a daughter of nobility and opulence? Alas! she saw but too much cause to suspect deeply the fidelity of Sunderland, and in spite of her former well grounded confideuce, to make her dread the possibility even of his returning no more :-for her sisters, as they had nothing material to hope or to expect, from the occurrences of that day; or even to fear from the probability alluded to, of his never again visiting their dwelling, they were not so much agitated, although equally miserable.

Towards the evening came Mr. Fitzharland, accompanied by his sister, and major Belmore:—this addition to the number of their fire-side coterie, added not to its cheerfulness; every one knew that sorrow was an inmate there; all could not smile, and the rest would not, lest grief should magnify an effort meant in kindness, to the resemblance of insensibility.

The sun had now sunk in gloom and sullenness, and the cheerless aspect of the coming night, seemed to throw an increased shade of despondency over the spirits of the noiseless circle; the salutations of Louisa and the newly reclaimed fugitive (for she scorned not still to greet them with kindness) were now over, and each appeared at a loss for something to dispel the melancholy kind of listlessness which succeeded when suddenly, Emily, who sate who sate next the window, anxiously watching for the arrival of one who never until now had forfeited his veracity, yet whose arrival upon such a night, and after such an occurrence, she scarcely dared to hope for, perceived three figures advancing through