ing shipwreck of the happiness entrusted to him. The task was a hard one, but the certainty that it was without alternative, steadied his mind, by precluding the vacillations caused by hope, and fixing it upon what it was his duty to do. He recollected Miss Percy's assurance, that divine grace could enable him to keep in the straight path; and trusted in his might who makes his strength perfect in our weakness, and who has never permitted his servants to hope in vain. At Patna, he found his dawk laid; and from a friend, with whom he passed a quarter of an hour before starting, heard a detail of part of the miserable circumstances which made his presence necessary. He travelled night and day without interruption until he reached Cawnpore, and upon his arrival learned with regret that Colonel Howard had only quitted it a few days before to return to Benares. The second morning after his arrival, a letter of Mrs. Dundas was forwarded to him from Patna, informing him that the Lord Huntly was safely arrived at Madras, all well, and that she had seen Miss Fortescue's name amongst the passengers, that as soon as the vessel arrived at Sangor, which would certainly be in the course of the present month, Dr. Dundas intended to go down to meet Miss Fortescue, and conduct her up the river; and again repeated her assurances that every thing for her comfort and convenience should be attended to in his ab sence. Twelve months ago, Fortescue would certainly have received this letter with pleasure, but now he could not bear to think of the feelings which it excited; and dissatisfied with his own thoughts, and dissatisfied with himself for entertaining them, he passed a very miserable interval, from the receipt of this letter until his return to Calcutta. CHAPTER IX. The autumn leaf is seared and dead, I would not be a leaf to die, Without recording sorrow's sigh. HENRY KIRKE WHITE. BENTLY was persuaded, from the sudden summons which had called Fortescue to Cawnpore, that something very serious must have happened to Mr. Marriott; nothing short of his dangerous illness, or inability of some kind or other to discharge his duties, could have laid Government under the necessity of sending another to the station. Charlotte and Elizabeth were too little acquainted with the customs of the country to form even a probable conjecture upon the subject; but they were all equally anxious to hear the truth, and as soon as their boats anchored off Bankipore, the place of European residence near the great Hindoo city of Patna, Captain Bently went on shore to visit their old shipmate Mr. Somerville of the civil service, who was one of the judges at the station. From him he heard what we shall relate more particularly hereafter-a tale of misconduct and suffering which grieved his very soul, and at once explained the cause of Fortescue's summons. Happy as he was in his own family, the wretched history he had just heard impressed his mind with more forcible contrast. Mr. Somerville, though then a bachelor (for his wife was in England) hoped that the ladies would do him the honour to make his house their home for a few days. "I need not tell you, my dear Bently, what satisfaction it will give me to do all in my power to render your stay agreeable to you; and by way of inducement, I can assure you, that we have a most agreeable society at the station, several charming families, whom you will meet here at dinner to night, if I can prevail with you." Bently finding that it was impossible to resist his friend's entreaties without doing an unkind thing, promised that they should at least spend one day at Patna, though they had been so very much delayed on the river, and paid so many visits in coming up, that the hot winds were now set in with great force; at the same time telling him, "that the unfortunate tidings he had just heard, would grieve Mrs. Bently and her sister so much, that they would much prefer taking a quiet dinner with him, to meeting strangers.” "All that shall be just as you please. A few days ago Fortescue passed here on this unfortunate business; but I suppose he will soon be relieved of it, as he is not permanently appointed to the station." When Captain Bently returned to his boat, and recounted to the ladies the unhappy history he had just learnt, it overwhelmed them with natural sorrow; and nothing but the desire to oblige him, could have induced either to go on shore after such tidings. But Bently urged his promise given to Mr. Somerville, and he had, as a motive for so doing, the wish to direct their thoughts from unavailing regret, and to procure for them necessary refreshment for proceeding on their voyage. Charlotte felt very reluctant to accept this in |