They were preparing to follow Mr. Greville one morning to her ladyship's, when a messenger came from her house to inform them all was over with lady Oswald, who had breathed her last sigh, about ten minutes after the arrival of Mr. Greville, in the arms of her beloved son! "Poor dear woman!" cried Mrs. Greville, returning into the parlour, and pulling out her handkerchief, "I am really very sorry; but I thought, indeed, she could not last long." "No, to be sure," exclaimed Gertrude, as she folded up her cloak, "she looked shockingly last night. Lord! I think her death must be a very happy release to poor Mr. Oswald, as well as to herself, since there were no hopes of her recovery." "Yes indeed, I think so too," replied Mrs. Greville. Here Jacintha, who was at work in the parlour, hastily rose, and quitting the room with indignation....an indignation she did not attempt to conceal, repaired to her own, where she gave vent to the sorrow inspired by the death of lady Oswald: but she did not weep for her alone; pity for the son was intermingled with regret for the mother. She could easy picture to herself what his feelings must be at losing such a parent, such a friend; and she shed as many tears, perhaps, at the idea of his sufferings, as at the melancholy event which caused them. She was not long permitted to indulge her dejection. Mrs. Greville soon called her from her chamber, to desire she would see the apartments destined for Mr. Oswald prepared immediately for his reception. Perhaps this was the only order which she could at that moment have obeyed without reluctance for though convinced, his residing under the same roof with her, would make her be more narrowly watched than ever, and oblige her to observe the greatest circumspection in all her words, her looks, her actions, lest the secret of her heart should be discovered, she could not avoid being pleased at the idea of it. Notwithstanding immediate preparations were made for him, Egbert did not remove to Mr. Greville's till the last mournful duties had been paid to the remains of his mother; his own house was then shut up, and all the servants, except one, who accompanied him to his new abode, dismissed. But neither change of residence, nor the attentions of Mr. Greville's family, could dispel the gloomy sadness which took possession of his mind, from the moment his mother expired. In losing her, he lost not only the tenderest of parents, but his only natural friend, the only relation whom his heart acknowledged; and he could not help considering himself as a dreary, solitary, unconnected being, without a claim upon the attentions of any human creature, but what common friendship gave him. He brooded over this idea, of all others, perhaps, the most afflictive to a heart of sensibility, with the deepest anguish; and his health soon began to suffer from the depression of his mind. Woodville, who felt deeply interested about him, united his efforts to those Mr. Greville used to try and rouse him from it. He at length prevailed on him to make an excursion in his company into North-Wales. Constant exercise, change of scene, and the agreeable society he was led into, had the happiest effect upon Egbert; and, at the expiration of two months, he returned to Wyefield with renovated health and spirits. Jacintha, who had not more secretly than sincerely lamented the declining state in which he left her father's, rejoiced at beholding this happy change. In the sympathy, the pity, his melancholy excited in her bosom, her resentment against him had been utterly forgotten; nor could she so far revive it, as to overcome her tenderness, even when he had ceased to affect her sensibility. Her efforts, however, to conceal that tenderness, were not so difficult as she had at first dreaded they would prove; pride, lending its aid to strengthen them, in consequence of the coolness, the indifference of Oswald's manner to her upon every occasion. Encouraged by this cold and negligent behaviour to Jacintha, Mrs. Greville and Gertrude began their long meditated attacks upon his heart. Oswald, however, aware of their designs, though without appearing to be so, always stood upon his guard, and took care, neither by words nor looks, to give them the smallest hope of ever succeeding in such designs. But in defiance of his caution and reserve, they resolved on persevering in them; for time and perseverance, they knew, had often effected wonders, and on these they relied to bring about the accomplishment of their wishes. The return of christmas revived, or rather rendered more acute a thousand painful remembrances in the mind of Jacintha; and she was compelled to struggle with her feelings, in order to be able to preserve any appearance of cheerful ness. The visit which she and Gertrude had been so long in the habit of making to the house of Mr. Frankland, was this season prevented by the removal of his family to Bath; a circumstance which would have mortified and disappointed Gertrude very severely, but for the amusements she partook of in the neighbourhood. From these, as well as from every other pleasure, Jacintha was almost entirely excluded by Mrs. Greville, who always contrived, however, some plausible pretext to Mr. Greville for leaving her at home. To impose upon him, indeed, was a very easy matter, as he was so completely deceived by her artful conduct and pretended virtues, that he submitted almost entirely to her judgment, and seldom interfered in the management of her family. During the holidays he went with Mrs. Greville and Gertrude to pass a day at the house of a farmer who lived about three miles from Wyefield; and that very morning Egbert set off with Woodville to a gentleman's seat at the other side of Chester, where they intended staying a week. Jacintha spent a lonely and melancholy day. The pointed neglect and unkindness of her mother, in thus excluding her from society, and confining her to home, weighed heavy upon her heart, as well as many other circumstances. About evening the weather became so tempestuous and severe, that she began to be doubtful of the return of her parents that night; she resolved, however, on sitting up for them, while there was the least likelihood of it. The maid and the boys went early to bed; and Jacintha took up a book in order to beguile the tediousness of time, and divert her reflections, which became more sorrowful on being left to herself. The pathetic play of Tancred and Sigismunda was not calculated, however, to dispel the melancholy of her thoughts; and her tears soon began to stream for her own sorrows, and those of the amiable and unfortunate lovers. For many minutes after she had concluded reading, she remained in a mournful reverie, contrasting her present feelings with those she had experienced at this season the preceding year; and, like poor Margaret, she was ready to exclaim, as she thought upon the cruelty of Egbert's conduct.... "How could you say my face was fair, "And yet that face forsake? "How could you win my virgin heart, She was roused from her melancholy meditations by the increasing fury of the storm, which howled with savage violence around the house, drifting the snow in heaps against it, and frequently shaking it to its very base. She now relinquished all hopes of seeing her father and mother that night, for none who could obtain shelter from such a storm would, she imagined, brave its violence; and, with a sigh of compassion for those who might be exposed to the inclemency of the present hour, she was about retiring to her chamber, when, between the pauses of the wind, she fancied she heard voices. She instantly became alarmed; and hastening to a window, and half opening the shutter, by the light which was reflected from the parlour upon the garden, beheld two men within a few paces of the house. With trembling hands she fastened up the window; but ere she had well closed it, an unsuccessful effort was made to open the halldoor, which was followed by a loud knock. now thought of flying to the chamber of the maid; but recollecting that presence of mind often pre She |