"Aye, your sisters' ruin-rank villains both! I know, them well already howbeit, that time is not yet come; I have first a task to perform on the issue of which depends much of my feture happiness; meanwhile regard me with implicit confidence; look on me as a man who deals with others as they think of him, for the best mode of requiting injurious rogitations: believe me sincere, and you will find me so.”

They were now proceeding along the winding path that led to the front, Emily, in silence, meditating a reply, when suddenly she stopped-was it a human voice that faintly broke the surrounding stillness? she grasped his arm with trembling incertitude-again it floated on the gently rising breeze that now fanned the foliage behind her, and resembled the sound of voices apparently mingling in half smothered laughter to acknowledge this and again conceal themselves among the leafy brushwood was the action of a moment :--the countenance of Emily was agitated between fear and doubt; but what was her terror and astonishment wheu she beheld, through the partial foliage that divided them, the beplumed, and now delighted Mountdale, gaily leading forward her sister Caroline, closely followed by Clairfort and Ethelia, all habited and bearing trunks as about to commence a journey. She turned her eyes with a stare of apprehension upon Sunderland, but his were fixed with a dull singularity of expression peculiarly his own, on the parties who were advancing; it seemed to her enquiring gaze, that he was neither surprised nor alarmed at the sight before him.

"You have procured a chaise?" asked Caroline with vivacity, as they brushed past the place of their concealment: Monntdale replied in the affirmative.

"And four horses?" again demanded Caroline.

"And four horses;" was the exulting answer.

They had just gained the front of the mansion, as at this response the ephemeral victim of folly, turning her, head, cast a glance of exultation towards the window of the little chamber, usually occupied by the (as she supposed) unconscious Emily; a chaise and four had more than once been the subject of their controversy, and how proudly did she feel her triumph, in the near attainment of her ambitious hopes! she almost wished her there, to have witnessed the fallacious accomplishment of her long cherished project:-now they reached the garden gate which they were about to open, when Emily no longer doubtful of their intentions, burst at once from the arms of Sunderland, and rushing from her hidden retreat, flew forward in the endeavour, ere yet it was too late, to recal to virtue her misguided sisters.

"Oh! Caroline," she exclaimed, with wildness in her countenance," ill-fated, foolish Caroline! where would you hasten thus-Oh! whither would you flee from all of present tranquillity and future happiness? you too, Ethelia, whom I deemed more prudent! turn not away so coldly, but reflect: think on the end of your rashness-do not leave us Caroline, for the curse of heaven will fall heavily on that child who wilfully accumulates cureless sorrow on its parents!''

At this appeal the group stood disconcerted: at length their conductors stammered out an injunction to silence, and proceeded to jest at her apprehensions, when Emily resumed:

"Talk not to me-I know your horrid purpose; else why these preparations, and what the purport of those downcast looks? but pause before ye execute it-ponder on its consequence: think on your desolate, abandoned home-abandoned not because ye found it desolate, but desolated now, because

by you abandoned: weigh once again your dreadful precarious prospect, probably of the guiltiest kind; what consolation doth it proffer you-what recompense for a father's broken rest-a mother's broken heart-a sister's broken confidence ? Oh! for the sake of heaven---for your parent's sake---for mine and for your own, return---return, and for this time at least forego your fatal resolution!"

Caroline and Ethelia turned for a moment pale: but soon recovering her composure, the eldest looked defiance to all entreaties, and to consequences, frowned contempt.

66

We shall return," said Ethelia to her in a mild and somewhat undecided tone, "before-before-" she would have proceeded and uttered a falsehood, but just then Sunderland, who had hitherto kept behind, made his appearance: he had not advanced many paces ere they descried, and by the bright moonshine immediately recognised him:---Ethelia paused, and her sister started as if struck with a sudden explanation of this barrier to their close-planned egress; a new light shot like wildfire over the mind of Clairfort, and as instantly communicated itself to his companion: the former advanced with his hat cocked, and an air of bravado towards the now sup posed detected, and confounded moralist, but was withheld by his more considerate, and somewhat less coxcombical friend, Mountdale; who recollecting the similarity of his own situation, and the danger of delaying a moment in such circumstances, felt certainly no inclination to come to an eclaircissement---he accordingly evinced by signs his impatience to proceed; and thrusting Caroline out first, while he muttered something to Emily, fairly dragged Ethelia after him; and, as this passed momentarily, ere Sunderland could stride across the lawn that intervened betwixt them, had closed the gate, and was hurrying Clairfort forward.

Ethelia, as she passed the rustic palisade against which Emily was now leaning for support, slightly jerked her garments and would fain have spoken, but her sister seizing her arm impelled her forward, and they tripped away together; Caroline intent only on her own destruction, but Ethelia with reluctance, often looking backward and reiterating to Emily--"we shall return"---as in commiseration for her wretchedness---by this time Sunderland was by her side, but she regarded him with indifference; he sustained her on his bosom, but she felt not his embraces; he endeavoured to console her, but she heard not his voice.

"They have taken the road to London," she exclaimed, clasping her hands, "and in that labyrinth of iniquity they will sink---perish--and be forgotten! this is the meaning of your ambiguous words---your warnings to my father---O yes! these are the base crocodiles you told me truckled only to deceive all is now unravelled: and look," she continued, advancing a few paces beyond the enclosure," where stands the vehicle that must convey them to those abodes of infamy! now they ascend the chaise---Mountdale follows them: the door closes---the lash resounds, and hark! they are gone---they are gone for ever!"

As she concluded, the heavy rumbling of the carriage wheels spoke them swiftly on their progress; she sank again upon his shoulder, and sobbed bitterly.

"My dearest Emily," said Sunderland, after many vain attempts at consoling her," what we have just witnessed is nothing more than I have long expected---must I say than I have wished for, before I obtain your attention ?”

'Oh! Arthur," rejoined Emily, in the greatest distress, "you could not wish my sister's destruction---you could not