who approach me with such reverential deference, would shrink back if they only dreamed of the turpitude of the new-made bride. I am forced to exert every energy to conceal the depression of my spirits-a depression attributed by Lord Annandale to a nervous illness, brought on by the awful death of my aunt, and increased by that of Augusta. He often compliments me on my sensibili ty (think what I must feel at such unmerited commendations!) and redoubles his attentions, in order to subdue my sadness. He is, naturally, a kind-hearted and good-natured man, with gentle and agreeable manners; his only failing, and it is a venial one too, is his excessive vanity, which has led him into situations in which his morals have been injured, and his sensibility blunted. He is so grateful for the high opinion of his mental and personal qualifications which he believes me to entertain, that his complaisance and indulgence for me are unbounded, and his generosity equally so. Yesterday he presented me with the family diamonds, which are magnificent. How many thoughts did the sight of them recall! Well do I remember, when the day previous to Augusta's wedding, I was dwelling, with longing and envious eyes on their dazzling lustre, how she turned away, regardless of them; and only answered me with tears, when I expressed my astonishment that she could be so insensible to the pleasure of possessing them. They are now mine; but do they give me pleasure? Alas! no; for they remind me, that, to obtain them, I have lost a jewel beyond all price-the peace that a conscience free from guilt bestows. When I look round on the stately saloons, splendid pictures, and magnificent furniture, of this fine castle, I almost wonder that, being its mistress, I can be otherwise than happy; yet, too late I find, that the splendour purchased by wicked schemes, and successful artifices, can never give happiness. I forget the end in the means used to attain it; and turn with disappointment from possessions which cannot banish the sense of remorse froin my mind. Yet, I am not ungrateful to Lord Annandale-far from it. Nay, more; a warmer feeling of gratitude than I ever thought I should experience towards him fills my heart. It is a mingled sentiment of pity for his being the dupe of the plot I have practieed upon him, and thankfulness for the affection with which he treats me. I wish to repay him, by every exertion in my power for his welfare and happiness; and think, that if there be still a chance of peace for me on earth, it rests on the fulfilment of the duties my new position demands. When he tenderly reproaches me for my altered character and unusual gravity, I feel the colour rise to my cheeks, and vainly endeavour to assume the semblance of gayety; but I cannot long sustain the effort, and my spirits soon droop again. He expresses alarm for my health, and proposes change of climate; but what change of climate or scene can ever banish from my memory the fatal recollections that poison my existence, and dash the cup of peace from my thirsty and fevered lips? Adieu, chère Delphine! votre amie, CAROLINE. THE COUNTESS OF ANNANDALE TO LA MARQUISE DE DELPHINE, Delphine, I am lost! The assassin is here -he has found me! and well do I know that neither the arm of love, nor the protection of our princely household, can shield me from this fiend in human shape. I was regaining some portion of my lost peace-the present was less bitter, the future less frowning; and I began to hope that, by a deep contrition for the past, and a strict fulfilment of my new duties, I might ultimately obtain pardon from the Almighty. But it was not to be; for me there is no peace either here or hereafter: and terror, vagne yet irresistible, palsies my nerves ! I left my chamber this morning with spirits less depressed than usual. The day was beautiful, and all nature seemed rejoicing. When I looked on the vast woods around this princely domain, and the countless herds of deer, grazing on the green lawns that intersperse them, the repose and grandeur of the scene delighted me; and I remembered, with pleasure, that this noble spot called me mistress. Its lord joined me on the terrace, and, marking the pleasure with which I gazed on the view, he drew me more affectionately to his side, and whispered kind, fond words, expressive of his increased partiality to Annandale Castle, now that it had pleased me, and become a witness of his happiness. How soothing is affection! and how do those who, like me, have known little of this sweetener of life, turn, with awakened tenderness, to him who administers the cordial! But why do I dwell on this now? Alas! I cling to the memory of this bright morning, and the hopes I then dared to indulge, as the last remnant of do mestic peace; for the destroyer is at hand, and for his victim there is no escape. Soon after breakfast, my husband proposed driving me in a pony phaeton; and we entered it, in cheerful spirits. Having proceeded through the beautiful grounds, he wished to show me a picturesque point of view at the other side of a neighbouring village; in passing through which we suddenly came on him whose sight nearly deprived me of reason. Hearing the wheels of a carriage, he turned round quickly, and as I caught his glance, I uttered a piercing shriek, and fell back, nearly fainting. Lord Annandale instantly stopped, and, in the kindest way, inquired the cause of my alarm; which, when I had recovered, I attributed to the sight of a child running across the road, and my fears that it would be trampled by the horses. I proposed returning to the castle, feeling too much agitated and unwell to continue our drive; and, even now that some hours have elapsed since I beheld that monster, I feel overpowered with terror: I dread being alone, and tremble each time that a servant enters, lest he should come to announce the presence of my enemy, or be the bearer of a letter from him. Brief as was the glance I had of him, I saw that his apparel denoted the same state of poverty as when I last had the misfortune to behold him: consequently, it is evident that the large sum, and the price of the jewels plundered from my murdered aunt, must have all disappeared, and he is come here to extort fresh supplies. What will become of me? Oh, Delphine! my heart faints within me, and my brain is nearly maddened.— Death, in its most fearful shape, would be preferable to dragging on an existence, every moment of which may be embittered by the presence or menaces of that atrocious man; who, after all my sacrifices, may denounce me when I can no longer administer to his wants. Sometimes, in a fit of desperation, I have thought of avowing all to Lord Annandale; but a moment's reflec tion on the peculiarities of his character has led me to abandon the project. When I look around me, and behold the splendour and elegances of this abode, and the vast train of retainers that await my will; yet think that, in the midst of state and power, I, the mistress of this proud and princely dwelling, must tremble before a wretch-an outcast, with whom the poorest of my dependents would scorn to hold intercourse-must feel that I am an accomplice in his guilt; and that guilt-the murder and robbery of one who stood to me in the position of a parent, who was my sole relative and protector, can you wonder that my brain is nearly maddened, and that I pray for death, unfit as I am to meet it? He has written to me. On entering my chambre de toilette to dress for dinner, my attendant presented me with his letter. "The person who gave it to me, madame la comtesse," said Claudine," was a foreigner-a terrible-looking man; so much so, that all the servants bantered me on the bad countenance and shabbiness of appearance of my visiter; for so he represented himself to be, though I assured them that I did know him. One of his eyes is concealed by a black patch, and his huge whiskers and moustaches nearly cover his face. I certainly have seen him before; -yes, now I recollect having seen that wicked face somewhere. Oh, yes-it was, sure enough, at the village of Ellersly, the very day preceding the shocking death of your poor aunt; for I remember, when I heard of the murder, I immediately said to her maid, good Mrs. Western, that I had seen the most suspicious-looking man imaginable, the day before, in the village. But she answered, that he could have nothing to do with the murder, all the windows and doors having been found fastened on the inside; therefore,' continued Mrs. Western, you see, Claudine, the dreadful crime must have been committed by some one in the house, otherwise either a door or a window must have been found open,'' 6 |