All uneasiness, relative to the future destiny of this beloved son, was done away by his generous friend, who, unasked, gave a positive assurance of providing for him in the civil line. This destination was highly gratifying to the tenderness of Egbert's family, who could ill have borne the idea of a separation from him: but how uncertain is human happiness! In the midst of his felicity, the noble patron, the disinterested friend of lord Henry, was snatched from the world, leaving unfulfilled his intentions in favour of Egbert. Ere lord Henry or his family had in any degree recovered from the shock occasioned by his sudden death, a message came to inform him his services were no longer required by government. This unexpected dismission from an office which he had filled with such honour to himself, and benefit to others, lord Henry could only impute to the inveterate rancour of the marquis, whose malevolence, he had reason to believe, time had rather increased than diminished, and whom he knew to be intimately acquainted with the successor of his lamented friend. Beneath this stroke....a stroke which levelled all his hopes and expectations in the dust, his spirits utterly failed; a deep and corrosive melancholy fastened upon his soul....that silent, that affecting melancholy, which, instead of venting itself in sighs or exclamations, "whispers the o'erfraught heart, and bids it break."

The endearments of his wife and son, far from allaying, rather added to his misery, as every proof of their love heightened his affection for them, and rendered more poignant his regret at being unable to administer to their comforts.... Egbert, at this unhappy period, was in his twentieth year,

........" Of fresh and stainless youth;

In voices well divulg'd; free, learn'd and valiant;
And in dimension, and the shape of nature,

"A gracious person."

Though lord Henry could not shake off the gloom which oppressed him, he made every exertion in his power to procure a provision for his family; but, alas! all his applications were ineffectual, though made where he had every reason to hope they would prove successful....to those whom, in the zenith of his prosperity, he had served....to those whom he had lifted from indigence and obscurity, into ease and affluence.

Those early instances of perfidy and ingratitude, gave Egbert (whose notions of friendship and honour were enthusiastic) a disgust to the world, which he could not overcome, without the greatest difficulty; and increased the predilection he had always felt for a country life. Like the poet, he thought....

"Oh! knew he but his happiness....of men
"The happiest he, who far from public rage,
. With a choice few retir'd,
"Drinks the pure pleasures of the rural life."

Some pretended friends, more cruel than others (for to keep alive expectations which we never mean to realize, is of all cruelties the most atrocious), deluded lord Henry with false hopes; and in attending upon them, the sum he had saved while in office, dwindled away almost unperceived. Debts were then unavoidably contracted, and a prison at last became his home!

Despair now took entire possession of him, and he rapidly approached that goal, which was to terminate his misfortunes. The anguish of lady

Henry at this period, was too great for description. The misery of losing the man she adored ....a misery of itself sufficient to overwhelm her, was heightened by her inability of procuring him. the necessaries he required. She shrunk with horror from his ghastly looks, and with difficulty could prevent the wild screams of sorrow and despair from bursting from her heart.

Egbert struggled with his feelings, in order to support her, and sooth the last moments of his father. These moments were spent in fervent prayer for the welfare of his family; and with the sigh which released his suffering spirit, he feebly articulated a blessing on them. “My dear child," cried the venerable Kirkaldy, to his daughter, when all was over, "let the idea of the happy exchange he has made, reconcile you to his loss. Think of the happiness he now enjoys in the mansions of heaven....in the bosom of his God; and cease to regret his release from want, pain, and confinement."

The unhappy Rosaline was conveyed from the prison, to lodgings almost as wretched as her destiny. As soon as the first transports of grief were over, she recalled her scattered thoughts; and, reflecting on the duty she owed her son, resolved once more to try and soften the heart of the marquis, to whom she had written several times, though without effect, during the fatal illness of her husband.

She accordingly wrote a most affecting letter, describing the sufferings of the unfortunate lord Henry, and the deplorable situation of herself and son; and concluded, by entreating him, in the most energetic manner, to extend the hand of pity and compassion to them in this their deep

distress, and suffer the death of her lamented husband to expiate the offence which had provoked his resentment.

In due time she received an answer, which she opened with mingled emotions of hope and fear. But, alas! how soon did every pleasing idea vanish before its contents, which briefly stated, that whatever the sufferings of lord Henry had been, he had richly deserved them. This consideration therefore precluded the commiseration which a reflection upon them might otherwise have excited. All solicitations on her own behalf, she was positively assured, would forever prove unavailing, as he (the marquis) had solemnly determined never to relieve the being, to whose artifices he imputed the destruction of a son, who never in the slightest instance had infringed the duty and respect he owed him, till his unfortunate acquaintance with her commenced.

But, as he thought it a pity the innocent should suffer for the guilty, he consented to take her son under his protection, provided he bound himself in a solemn manner never more to have any intercourse with her: but except he agreed to this measure...except they both subscribed to the articles of an eternal separation, and rigidly observed them, he declared his unalterable resolution never to notice or befriend him. He desired them both, but especially lady Henry, to deliberate ere an answer was returned to his letter, as by that answer his future conduct towards her son would be irrevocably determined.

"Oh monster of barbarity!" cried the agonized Rosaline, as she dropped the letter from her trembling hands," will nothing appease thy unrelenting vengeance, but my draining the cup of sorrow to the very dregs?"....Her soul recoiled from

the idea of parting with Egbert, her joy, her hope, her comfort: but when she reflected on the misery, the obscurity she would doom him to, by retaining him, she resolved, like the scriptural mother, to resign her child, rather than devote him to destruction.

When the letter of the marquis, and the determination of his mother, were made known to Egbert, grief, indignation and surprise, for a minute suspended his faculties; then suddenly falling on his knees, he grasped the hands of lady Henry with vehemence, and with uplifted eyes, called upon God to renounce him, if ever he deserted her.

Kirkaldy, in a transport of joy, embraced him, rapturously exclaiming...." I knew, I knew how my boy would act!" while his mother, falling upon his bosom, wept aloud, and with her tears mingled prayers to heaven for his preservation. Egbert insisted upon answering the marquis himself, which he did to the following effect:

TO THE MARQUIS OF METHWOLD.

"MY LORD,

"It does not require the least deliberation to answer your letter. The feelings of nature prompt an immediate reply, and urge me to tell you that your protection, on the terms it is offered, I utterly reject.

"Could I accept it upon such terms, I should be unworthy of a much higher protection than your's ....the protection of a just and merciful God, who punishes, not rewards, the violation of duty. To him, to that gracious Being,

"Who doth the ravens feed, "Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,"