alarmed at the little girl's report; "for I fancied," faid fhe, "that those horrid men, who were here the other day, might have got into the house; but, on going to the place, I was convinced there was nobody—I am perfuaded fhe faw only her brother.—It was dusk, and fome of the ftories fhe had heard were in Nancy's head. encourage her in You had better not any of these fears: in this inftance, I affure you, they are groundless, for I examined into the foundation of her apprehenfions myself." Mrs. Wansford fhuddered at this exertion of courage, and left her-far from being convinced that Nanny had been mistaken. CHAP. CHAP. VI. Io sol, fra viventi As the hour approached on which Althea had promifed to meet Marchmont, fhe became fo apprehenfive and uneasy, that he could not for a moment remain in the fame place, but traversed the inhabited rooms with fuch vifible inquietude, that, had not Mrs. Wansford been at that time bufied more than ufual, fhe muft have obferved it. At any other period fome contrivance would have been neceffary to shake off the attendance of the children, who were accuftomed to follow her when fhe The went for her evening walks in the garden or gallery; but now the impreffion of fear was fo recent on their minds, that, instead of importuning her for permiffion to accompany her, they kept close to their mother, and Althea, with a beating heart, walked flowly and unobserved towards the great door of the old hall, which was, fhe believed, the only entrance to the deserted buildings. On reaching it, however, fhe ftopped; recollecting, at that moment, that she neither knew how to open the door, nor probably had ftrength to do it. She hefitated; but not long, for footsteps were heard within, and the door was opened by Marchmont. Althea ftepped haftily in, but the could not speak. Marchmont closed after her the great heavy door, and the noife of its fhutting re-echoed through the vacant rooms. Amidst the deep dejection that visibly hung over him, a gleam of pleasure lightened lightened in the eyes of Marchmont ; yet hardly did he venture to express what he felt, before it seemed loft in fad reflections on his condition, and how different a reception he was giving to Mifs Dacres from what he might have done under other circumstances. He was in the place where his ancestors had dwelt in affluence and in honour; but he was himself a wretched wan derer, concealed like a culprit; receiving a vifit of charity and compaffion from a young woman, in whom, as he plainly faw by her countenance and manner, commiferation was not unmingled with terror. Senfations fo full of pain and mortification he endeavoured to fubdue ; and in a manner the most refpectful, though his voice trembled as he spoke, he thanked her for her goodness and condefcenfion." In this wretched scene of defolation," faid he, "where can I afk Mifs Dacres to honour me with her attention ?" Althea, Althea, who perceived how much he was affected, anfwered, with a faint attempt to look cheerful, that place was altogether immaterial: adding-"If you, Sir, have, as I fufpe&t, refided here fome time in the prefent condition of the house, it cannot furely be any great hardthip for me to remain, at least as long as may fuffice for me to hear how I can be fortunate enough to do you any service." "I will not," replied Marchmont, as he led the way up to the great room where Althea ufually walked-" I will not attempt, Madam, to express how deeply I am fenfible of your goodness and condefcenfion. The firft moment I faw you, I believed all I have fince found to be true of your character.Your charity to the poor old fervantwho has shared the calamities of my family, made the deepest impreffion on my mind. With her I found a temporary afylum; and from her I heard, that VOL. II. Mifs G |