"You shall see her," cried the old man. "Follow me." The marquis followed, and he led him into the chamber of Ellen; where, raving in all the violence of fever, and her fine features distorted by disease, he beheld the object and the victim of his affection! This sight, this unexpected sight, completely overcame him, and he sunk nearly insensible on the bed beside her; but unable to endure the idea that he was the cause of her illness, he started up again indignantly, and demanded to know who or what had occasioned her disorder. "O, it is all owing to you," replied the mother, "all unhappiness on your account." << till you Aye," cried the old man, came amongst us we were happy, but now" here tears choaked his voice, but he proceeded thus; "I have brought you hither, my lord marquis, to show you this sad sight, in order to save, if possible, other poor parents from misery like ours. Look on that girl: when you came hither she was gay as the lark, and ruddy as the rose. You tried to gain her affections, though you knew could not make her your you wife; and here she lies on her deathbed, destroyed by you! O, my lord marquis, when next you enter a poor family like ours, think of my poor Ellen's fate, and do not trifle with the happiness of an innocent young woman!" "What will she, must she die ?" cried the marquis, almost as frantic as Ellen,. who was in the most violent paroxysm of a brain fever. "So the surgeon told us," replied the mother; but my poor boy Philip was so unwilling to believe him that he is gone in search of other advice; and as he will soon be back again, I conjure you my lord marquis to go away; for, if he should come and see you, no doubt there would be murder done; then I should lose through you both my children." Here she burst into tears, and the marquis, wild and desperate as he was, shuddered at her words and felt the force of her appeal. "I will go," said he;" and to night I ought to be on my road to Dover; but I cannot leave England without hearing how my poor Ellen does : therefore if you will promise to send me word how she is, I will go away; else I will stay here till the moment of my departure." "We promise to let you know," replied the father, mournfully, "and indeed a few hours will decide her fate; so look your last at her, and bless your good stars, that to her misery you have not been able to add dishonour, but that she is going to appear before her maker as pure as she came from him !" This dreadful speech acted upon the conscious Fontanges in so forcible a manner, that uttering a loud and heavy groan, he staggered towards a chair and fainted away; and when he recovered, it was with difficulty he could prevent himself from falling at the poor old man's feet, confessing his fault, and imploring his forgiveness; but the hope that if Ellen died the sad secret would perish with her, or that if she lived, she would not for the sake of her parents' peace disclose it, fortunately had power to restrain him, and making a great effort to conquer his selfupbraiding emotions, he folded the poor unconscious Ellen in a last embrace; then rushing out of the house, returned to his lodgings, where he awaited in an agony. of mind which reflection rather increased than subdued, some intelligence from the farm. At length it arrived, and he heard that Ellen was pronounced out of danger; the phrensy had subsided, and she had sunk into a calm refreshing sleep. "Then now I will go," exclaimed Fontanges; and, |