speedily manifested themselves. The very next
incident in the story was in some degree decisive of the catastrophe. Hitherto I
have spoken only of preliminary matters, seemingly unconnected with each other,
though leading to that state of mind in both parties which had such fatal
effects. But all that remains is rapid and tremendous. The death dealing
mischief advances with an accelerated motion, appearing to defy human wisdom and
strength to obstruct its operation.
    The vices of Mr. Tyrrel, in their present state of augmentation, were
peculiarly exercised upon his domestics and dependents. But the principal
sufferer was the young lady mentioned on a former occasion, the orphan daughter
of his father's sister. Miss Melvile's mother had married imprudently, or rather
unfortunately, against the consent of her relations, all of whom had agreed to
withdraw their countenance from her in consequence of that precipitate step. Her
husband had turned out to be no better than an adventurer; had spent her
fortune, which in consequence of the irreconcilableness of her family was less
than he expected, and broken her heart. Her infant daughter was left without any
resource. In this situation the representations of the people with whom she
happened to be placed prevailed upon Mrs. Tyrrel, the mother of the squire, to
receive her into her family. In equity perhaps she was entitled to that portion
of fortune which her mother had forfeited by her imprudence, and which had gone
to swell the property of the male representative. But this idea had never
entered into the conceptions of either mother or son. Mrs. Tyrrel conceived that
she performed an act of the most exalted benevolence in admitting miss Emily
into a sort of equivocal situation, which was neither precisely that of a
domestic, nor yet marked with the treatment that might seem due to one of the
family.
    She had not however at first been sensible of all the mortifications that
might have been expected from her condition. Mrs. Tyrrel, though proud and
imperious, was not ill natured. The female, who lived in the family in the
capacity of housekeeper, was a person who had seen better days, and whose
disposition was extremely upright and amiable. She early contracted a friendship
for the little Emily, who was indeed for the most part committed to her care.
Emily on her side fully repaid the affection of her instructress, and learned
with great docility the few accomplishments Mrs. Jakeman was able to
communicate. But most of all she imbibed her chearful and artless temper, that
extracted the agreeable and encouraging from all events, and prompted her to
communicate her sentiments, which were never of the cynical cast