days. When we did, he told me that he could not bear that I should continue under the control of the duchess, or in the society of the "odious Mittonet," and he threw out, at the same time, hints of his wish that I would consent to a private union. He did so with some hesitation, which I attributed to his reluctance to take so decided a step, unknown to the duke, who was so very fond and proud of him.

I therefore begged him not to speak of, or think on a project which I was sure would entail so much uneasiness upon his father and himself, but to wait till something favourable might occur.

“Ah, that will never be, my sweet girl," he said. "He is every day urging me to enter into an alliance with a person I detest, merely because our estates join. Now I feel certain," he continued, "that I can never love any one as I love you, Theresa, and as I did her who so heartlessly and unaccountably neglected and forsook me."

Saying this, he turned away from me with great emotion, and I fancied at the moment

that he had some lingering feelings of affection for his first noble but heartless love.

If he had, however, it soon passed away, for he rapidly took my hand, and in great and as I thought unnecessary agitation, said

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My own dear Theresa, can you love me well enough to consent to a life of utter seclusion with one who adores you as you well know I do?

"I will not conceal from you that perhaps I may never dare reveal our marriage. Certainly not during my father's lifetime. If, however, you feel half the affection for me that I do for you, you will not, cannot, hesitate."

Neither did I long, for the idea of being his for ever, though in solitude, poverty, and beggary, was inconceivably delightful to my devoted heart and romantic imagination. therefore agreed willingly to all he proposed.

I

First, my friends, (and they were few enough, heaven knows,) were to be kept in perfect ignorance of our connexion; and next, I was to obtain leave of absence for a week, on pretence of visiting them, while in reality I was to

meet the confidential page of the marquis, who would conduct me to the place where our mar riage was to be solemnized. After which we were to spend the time of my absence from Twickenham at lodgings in London.

All this, which was arranged in our delicious evening walks on the banks of the Thames, seemed too delightful ever to come to pass, though occasional feelings of terror at the boldness of the step would rush into my mind.

At length I solicited and obtained leave of absence, and the day arrived which was to decide my future fate, and which I had been looking forwards to with mingled feelings of hope, fear, and delight.

I had not completed my seventeenth year, which, together with my extreme ignorance of the world, can alone excuse the gross blindness which overwhelmed me.

I got into a London coach, which stopped according to my directions at a small inn about three miles from the Duke of Beaulieu's.

Here I found the page of the marquis, who, putting me and my luggage into a post-chaise,

and himself mounting the dickey, we drove off at a rapid pace, and I soon found myself at Vauxhall Bridge.

A four-oared boat was in waiting, in which I was placed, it was then immediately pushed off from the shore, and I found myself in a short time in the centre of the river.

I was in such a state of bewilderment and agitation, that I could scarcely keep myself from fainting.

It had been decided by Lord St. George, that we were to be united on board his yacht, (which for some days had been sailing up and down the river,) as the most private place for the ceremony; and I, as may be imagined, had no hesitation in consenting to every thing he proposed.

As we neared the beautiful yacht, I could distinguish on the deck the form I most loved on earth, and for whom I would willingly have sacrificed my life.

I remember even now, (poor blind wretch that I was,) that a pang shot across me as I thought how much he was sacrificing for me.

I was no sooner on board than I was taken

down to the cabin by the marquis, who was more eager in his thanks and more affectionate to me, if possible, than ever. Yet, in the midst of his joy, I thought that I could perceive a strange agitation in his manner, and a restlessness that quite puzzled, while it distressed me.

I attributed it, however, to his fears of a premature discovery of our marriage by his father. He made me partake of some refreshment, after which he said,

"Now, my dearest girl, we will admit the gentleman who is to unite us, and who, together with my page, is sworn to secrecy."

Saying this, his lordship summoned them into the cabin, and closing the door, the ceremony was performed by a disagreeable-looking elderly man, in the presence only of the page.

As soon as it was concluded, they were dismissed, but when the marquis embraced me and called me now all his own, and I fondly and gratefully thanked him, I thought that he shuddered, and seemed for a minute to shrink from me.

He soon, however, recovered himself, and in