-- "When, miss, I have seen the your father." "Don't you hear that he set off for Plymouth yesterday ?" "So young-so beautiful-and so false !" "This to me, Lady Astell!-how dare you, madam? When did you know me guilty of falsehood? What you would say to my father, say to me. Make your speech, madam, and depart. I have particular occasion for the use of this apartment." "O Rebecca, do not thus deport yourself towards your aunt," said Mr. Underdown; "consider all her sufferings, and her previous kindness to yourself. Respect and pity her." "I do pity her. Why should she think us liars ?" "I wait for the Commodore," was the only observation that Lady Astell condescended to make. "I assure you solemnly, that your brother is now more than a hundred miles from hence," said Mr. Underdown. "This is what you term, perhaps, a pious deceit." "I take my God to witness it is true," said her old lover, with all the solemnity of an oath. "Then I must pursue him." Stop!" screamed out Miss Rebecca. "Let me tell you, madam, it is useless. He has escaped from your barbarity. He is again where he ought to be. He, at least, is now in his right station, in the command of a gallant ship." "What! can this be true?-to perpetrate other murders." 66 Lady Astell, I do not like to hear my father stigmatized as a murderer-I tell you this quietly. However, I must not much mind this, as your words should have been uttered in a madhouse." "For shame, for shame, Rebecca!" said Mr. Underdown, rising angrily from his chair. Now, for the first time, even for years, did Lady Astell betray emotion. The blood came rapidly to her marble cheek, and as rapidly vanished. Her brow next became suffused with a deep flush, whilst the lower part of her face remained of a deadly white. She was making great efforts not to tremble. Her distress was pitiable. She attempted twice to speak, but failed. At length, her words were audible, but they were no longer the cold and passionless tones with which she was wont to make her stern demand. They were singularly tremulous and tender, and spoken amidst the gushing of her tears. "Horace," said she, addressing Mr. Underdown, "do the world believe me mad ?" He made no reply, but buried his face in his hands. "Yes, it is madness in this world of corrupted hearts to have the feelings of a mother. O Augustus how soon have all forgotten you!" "We hav'n't," screamed out Miss Rebecca, ready to fling herself into her aunt's arms, and to beg her pardon. But Lady Astell, finding all her resolution fast giving way, turned hastily and departed, leaving the young lady and Mr. Underdown to an unexpected tête-àtête. There was a pause for some minutes. At length Mr. Underdown observed, "Rebecca, you were guilty of great cruelty. I think, however, that you have done good. You have given to Lady Astell's mind another and a far healthier train of thought. May it work upon her to happiness-or, at least, produce some approach to serenity. When she next comes, walk up to her at once, embrace and kiss her. How noble a soul is perverted!" "You know that I am to be a good girl now; to learn everything, and make myself a lady. So I will do just as you tell me. I love her dearly, after all; but it is cruel of her to say that nobody thinks about Augustus but |