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length hers. She succeeded in banishing Sedley's image, save as "One of God's crea

tures, that had something more of his Maker's image than the many."

And now her whole thoughts were of the unhappy Jessy, and she dreaded to think what could have caused her strange and haggard appearance, and her absence from her home at that unusual hour. In the meantime Jessy had effected her escape from the grounds, and by hiding whenever she saw any one approaching, she had reached Lady Sedley's house unobserved. She approached the windows of a morning-room opening into the garden, and concealing herself behind some shrubs, she saw the interior of the room without being seen herself.

The table was laid for breakfast, and Sedley was seated by it reading a newspaper; his face was turned towards Jessy, but his eyes, as they rested on the paper, were concealed by their long lashes; his countenance was calm, yet sad, and his attitude listless and languid. Suddenly he

maniac, she could think of nothing but those words. A thousand instances now recurred to her recollection, proving the truth of the assertion; and she grieved sincerely for Sedley's infatuation, and prayed that it might end, so as to spare him any suffering. But soon her thoughts turned to Jessy, and again did she shudder as she remembered the expression of her countenance and the frightful stains on her face. She ran along the path which Mrs. Bently had taken, calling loudly on her name; and opening the little wicket, she looked up and down the road, but could see no appearance of her. In great alarm she returned to the house, and mentioned her fears for Mrs. Bently's reason to her husband, who immediately proposed calling on Major Bently.

When she found herself alone, Teresa strove with all her energies to regain that power over her thoughts and affections which she had felt before this interview with Jessy; it was difficult difficult, but she was resolved, and fight

__very ing in a good cause; and the victory was at

length hers. She succeeded in banishing Sedley's image, save as "One of God's creatures, that had something more of his Maker's image than the many."

And now her whole thoughts were of the unhappy Jessy, and she dreaded to think what could have caused her strange and haggard appearance, and her absence from her home at that unusual hour. In the meantime Jessy had effected her escape from the grounds, and by hiding whenever she saw any one approaching, she had reached Lady Sedley's house unobserved. She approached the windows of a morning-room opening into the garden, and concealing herself behind some shrubs, she saw the interior of the room without being seen herself.

The table was laid for breakfast, and Sedley was seated by it reading a newspaper; his face was turned towards Jessy, but his eyes, as they rested on the paper, were concealed by their long lashes; his countenance was calm, yet sad, and his attitude listless and languid. Suddenly he

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threw down the paper, and folding his arms on his chest, and letting his head droop, he appeared to be in earnest thought.

Jessy stole softly from behind the shrubs, and stood for a moment before the open window, trusting that he would look up and perceive her. At length, finding that his reverie continued, she entered the room, and walked noiselessly close up to him-still he did not notice the intrusion, till she said, in a hollow, low voice-" Sedley, I would speak with you."

Starting from his meditations, Sedley raised his eyes, and stared in mute astonishment at the figure before him. His first impression was the same as Teresa's-that she was mad, and the expression of her countenance confirmed him in this opinion. Under this conviction he addressed some soothing words to her, trusting he might induce her to return home under his guardianship; but Jessy, guessing his design, shook off the hand which had taken hers, and seating herself opposite to him thus addressed him :

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"Herbert Sedley, I am, it is true, strangely ill

my brain; but I am not so mad as not to be perfectly aware of what I am saying, and I wish to tell you something which will outrage your feelings and curdle your blood."

Here she paused, and a frightful convulsion passed over her features, and there was that in her look and tone which stilled the pulses of Sedley's heart, and caused him to listen in breathless silence. At length she pressed her hands tightly against her brow and continued

"I am now Sedley on the brink of another world, and a terrible world I fear it will prove to me; and before I go hence I would have you learn that you have been the evil star which has ruled my destiny. You start and look amazed at my assertion, but I will prove it. Oh, Sedley! dear Herbert," she continued with tenderness, "what a sweet tide of recollections flow back on my heart with memory of those happy days when I first came under your mother's roof-when I was innocent and my conscience unstained by crime. You soothed and com

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