after hearing this unnatural message, was entirely deprived of reason, and wanted us to kill her, but we could not find it in our hearts to do it, though it would have been a charity to have put her out of her misery. So we took her back to the first inn we could find, and got a doctor for her; but he said nothing at all could be done for her, and, unlike most of the English doctors, said he would not pick our pockets, by sending her medicine, for it was impossible she could live many days.

We thought maester wouldn't be angry if we stayed with her and saw her decently buried.

CHAP. XIV.

"Parent of Virtue! if thine ear,
Attend not now to Sorrow's cry,

If now the pity streaming tear,
Should haply on thy Cheek be dry,
Indulge my votive strain, O sweet Humanity."

After an oppressively hot day the inviting coolness of the evening tempted the ladies to take a ramble as far as an adjoining village.

They insensibly extended their walk farther than they intended, when on a sudden they observed the sky become very dark, the heavy clouds entirely ob

scured the beauty of the sun which was just setting, and the whole face of the atmosphere announced the approach of a thunderstorm.

They accordingly hastened to the nearest shelter and entered a poor cot-tage, they were greatly shocked at the miserable scene which presented itself; in one corner of the room on a wretched bed lay the emaciated corpse of a man, whom the poor woman (who was in a state of the greatest distress) said was her husband," he died last night ladies, having been out of work for thirteen weeks, we were reduced to the severest poverty, my poor children every day. crying for bread, did but add to our misery, our cruel hard-hearted landlord.

with sorrow beheld him, after a long and severe contest with some French

cuirassiers, fall a victim to their overpowering numbers.'

On hearing this afflicting intelligence, I was overwhelmed with a kind of stupor, and remained in a state of insensibility for a considerable time. They at length succeeded in bringing me to my recollection-alas! it was but awaking me to a world of woe.

⚫ I ran distracted to the field of battle, viewed with anguish the heaps of slain with which the ground was covered, but succeeded not in my search; the servants of my hostess dragged me away, and carrying me home adminis

tered an opiate, by the assistance of which I procured a few hours rest, and became more composed.

The loss of one whom we tenderly love, is one of the most bitter evils of human life; for it wants that reliever which palliates all our calamities, I mean hope for no one is so totally undone, but that he may still cherish expectation, but this entirely shuts out all such comfort, and leaves a melancholy impression, which nothing but time by the aid of Providence can obliterate.

I was determined to return to England, and not being willing to encounter

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