Theresa; I always detested it, and never wore it but once, because it was the rage; as for that shawl, it is my aversion, and also that scarf, they will be quite outré by the time that I am out of mourning!"

Then she would begin crying afresh, and ask Lady Hammond to send for Lenoir to order her weeds!

I really was rejoiced to leave her room, so disgusted was I by her heartless conduct. I did not like at such a moment to say that I meant to quit her service, but I determined to do so at the very first opportunity. I was, however, spared the pain of speaking first on the subject, as, when I returned to the room, Lady Hammond said, "My daughter will have no further need of your services, Theresa, as my own maid will, for the future, attend upon her ladyship."

"I do think it very hard, mamma," sobbed Lady Dryden," that you should persist in thinking I must do without a separate attendant. It is quite cruel to talk of retrenching just now; there is plenty of time to think

about that. Theresa is only to have thirty pounds a year, and I am sure I can well afford that. Besides, she suits me so well."

It was in vain that the prudent mother argued the matter, therefore I said that it was not my intention to have remained longer than a year in my present situation, and that I would, as it appeared more desirable under the present circumstances, quit it immediately.

This settled the business, as far as I was concerned; both ladies commending me for my past services, for which, however, they held out no prospect of payment.

They soon after left the house, and I never saw them more.

The following day the newspapers were filled with accounts of "the distracted state of the inconsolable widow."

I received a note in the course of the evening from Lady Eustace, saying that she wished to see me as soon as possible, and if I could come at once to say so, and she would send her carriage for me.

Of course I hastened to obey her, and found

her ladyship alone.

She had just heard of

this frightful catastrophe, and with her usual thoughtful kindness, wished me, when she found that Lady Dryden was gone to her mother's, to come at once to her house.

I most thankfully and gratefully accepted her offer, but told her ladyship that I feared I could not stop that evening, as I had been summoned to attend, together with the housemaid and porter, the coroner's inquest. This very painful scene I could not avoid, as we had heard the fatal shot, and first discovered the body.

I need not dwell longer on this distressing subject, but merely state that the third day after, Sir Thomas Dryden was buried as privately as possible.

Sir William directly after paid off and dismissed all the servants, who were extremely impudent to him for not giving them mourning.

"I shall pay for the liveries you now wear," said the new baronet, "out of affection to my poor brother, but as to giving any thing more to such a set of lazy, impudent scoundrels, it

is quite out of the question; and you may think yourselves very fortunate that I do not have you all up at Bow Street as a set of thieves; so leave the house this instant."

Mr. Duncan was detained in custody, as Sir William Dryden had obtained some proof of the wholesale manner in which he had robbed and wronged his thoughtless master.

I shall now bid adieu to this subject, after doing that justice to Sir William Dryden which neither his brother's widow nor the world rendered him. He sacrificed two years' income to pay off the tradesmen's bills, and allowed Lady Dryden an ample pension; and yet, because it was paid quarterly, and with the understanding that it should cease so soon as complaints should reach his ears that she again ran in debt, he was loaded by her with angry invective, and all her visiters were informed of her brother-in-law's "cruel parsimony."

And, as I mentioned before, though he paid every tradesman, yet, because he would not pay his brother's gambling debts, nor give the

a situation. She had, therefore, with her usual consideration and kindness, almost secured a fresh shelter for me before I had heard a word of her intention.

The wife of her cousin, Colonel the Honourable Sidney D'Arcy, was at this time in search of a young person with such qualifications as I possessed, and as my kind friend thought that the situation would be much more agreeable and suitable to me than the one I then filled at Lady Dryden's, she spoke so strongly in my favour to Mrs. D'Arcy, that she was very desirous of engaging me.

It was to make me this communication that Lady Eustace sent for me the day of the frightful end of Sir Thomas Dryden.

It may easily be conceived with what eagerness and gratitude I availed myself of the kind offer now made me of accompanying Lady Eustace in her carriage to the residence of Colonel D'Arcy in Street, for the purpose of being presented to his lady for her approval.

Mrs. D'Arcy was apparently about thirty years of age, in a very delicate state of health,