 maid also informed mine that she did not believe two such relations were expected by the family, nor had she learnt that any account of them had been received.
Worn out by successive disappointments, I could only conjecture that you were still in Languedoc; and unwillingly constrained to relinquish this pursuit, I prepared myself for taking possession of my country residence according to the dying request of Lord Aubrey, where I was anxious to find myself calmly settled. Fatigued with the civilities and attentions paid me by a numerous class of distant

relations and family acquaintance, who crowded on me immediately on my arrival, I determined to set out for Aubrey Castle even at that unpropitious season of the year, in defiance of sundry remonstrances from my friends, and contrary to the wishes of my kind aunt, who promised to follow when the spring was further advanced. How shall I ever bless this resolution, concluded Lady Aubrey, how fervently shall my grateful prayers ascend to the Almighty, for having inspired a measure from which I have derived such unspeakable comfort.
Shall not we too bless heaven, cried I, every hour of our lives, for the fortunate and providential rencontre. Ah! had we known, while we remained in that inhospitable city disowned and unfriended—had we but suspected that it contained one kind, invaluable friend, who could have participated in our difficulties, soothed our disappointments, and





aided us with comfort and advice, what an altered aspect must it not have worn. Lady Aubrey's kind interest would have compensated for every mortification, her friendship would have supported us under every reverse, and blest in her society, the cruelty of our relations would have lost the severe pang it inflicted.
MAY 1.
Lady Aubrey finds herself now so much recovered, that the physicians declare their attendance no longer necessary, and she is now left to Mr. Rudder's care, who generally visits her twice a day.
I have insisted on attending her constantly; and instead of ceremoniously refusing my assistance, she receives it with undisguised pleasure, and regards my solicitude and anxiety with a warmth of gratitude which would a thousand times

repay my fatigues, were they even as severe as she perpetually imagines them to be; but the permission of being constantly with her, is a privilege and indulgence which I would not for the world relinquish. She is still very weak; and I am so peremptory in the duties of my office as nurse, that I will not allow of her conversing on subjects which I know must agitate and affect her. This morning, however, she entreated me to acquaint her where and in what manner we had
