ing the countess to permit them to sit up

with him, she refused, unless Miss Barrett or mademoiselle were with them; and no sooner did his weeping girls retire from their harsh stepmother, than he heard her say to her daughter, "What a bore it is to have these tiresome creatures whimpering all day about their sick old father; I am sure it will be a happy release when it pleases God to take him !”

"It is very hard,” replied the amiable Charlotte," that I must sit by the bed-side of the stupid old fellow."

"You know very well, child, that it is of the utmost consequence that he should not be left alone with his daughters. Who knows but he may tell them about the will, and then ten to one they will persuade him to alter it, or make a new one; so we must be on our guard."

This conversation, which Hammond as well as his lord overheard, determined the latter, though weak and helpless in the greatest degree, to take measures which should disappoint his cruel and mercenary countess.

His lordship imparted to the faithful Ham

mond and his physician, in the temporary absence of the watchful countess, his wishes and intentions, and it was soon arranged that a new will should be privately drawn up. This done, it was properly witnessed by the earl's two medical attendants, and then entrusted to the safe keeping of the confidential valet, with strict injunctions not to breathe a word till his safe return to England, when he was to deliver it to his son and successor.

This was what the late earl alluded to when he so often, on his death-bed, bid Hammond 'Remember!'

The latter little thought that a year would elapse before he could execute the last wishes of his noble master.

He had called repeatedly at the town house, after the return of the family to England, (for he had preceded them with the body of the late earl,) but was never admitted, in accordance with the strict orders of the countess. The poor fellow consoled himself, however, with the idea of the speedy return of the young earl, knowing that if he were admitted to his dear and noble

mistresses it was not in his power to confide to them the important will. By this document, Lady Aberayron and Miss Barrett were deprived of the income intended for them by their too generous and confiding victim. His lordship merely left his unworthy and ungrateful wife three hundred a year. The town house and the three thousand a year, were now bequeathed to his affectionate daughters.

The present earl, after communicating this intelligence to his aunt and sisters, informed them that he had ordered his lawyer to come down to Melton the next day to arrange matters for setting aside the first will.

When this gentleman arrived he was closeted for some time with the earl, and then dispatched with a copy of the last will to the dowager countess. Her astonishment and rage was unbounded, and she protested she would dispute the new will, inch by inch.

Notice was given her to quit the castle, which she positively refused to do till the business in question was settled.

After much time spent in useless debates,

the earl proposed that if she would leave the castle quietly, and give him no further trouble, he would pay her for the year which had elapsed since his father's death three thousand pounds, and as long as she lived single, and conducted herself properly, she should receive annually four hundred pounds, instead of three hundred, as mentioned in his late father's last will.

To this at length the countess most unwillingly consented, when she found that it was impossible to contest, with the smallest hopes of success, the validity of that document. She made one request, or rather bargain. It was, that she might immediately occupy the house in town for the next three months, in order as she said to arrange her affairs, and separate what belonged to her in that mansion. Her real reason was to conceal from the world, and the duke in particular, the alteration in her fortunes till after the birthday of his grace, by which time she hoped to be able to bring him over to her wishes respecting the charming Charlotte.

VOL. III.

L

Lord Aberayron, who wished to have no unnecessary display of bitter feeling towards the woman his father had unfortunately chosen to make his wife, consented to her taking up her abode for the time specified at Clareville House, but he insisted that his steward and servants were also to be its inmates.

Lady Aberayron resumed her amiable smiles and invitations to the Duke of Lavandale, who insensibly cooled in his attentions to her fair daughter. This induced them to redouble their artful blandishments, while his grace seemed principally absorbed in his orders and preparations for his approaching birthday, which was to be celebrated with great splendour at his noble mansion, situated six miles from Clareville Castle.

Preparations were also being made for another event quite unexpected by the designing countess.