she perceived a person standing near whose towering form Lord B could belong to no other than Osmyn. Her heart died within her bosom, and she wept without ceasing until she reached her home. Let not woman repose a confidence in the strength of her mind, or in the brilliancy of her genius; for the prudence and safety of her conduct, her irritable feelings, her acute sensibility, her ardent imagination, even her innocence, afford her no protection against weakness and error. highly gifted, she must rise superior to vice, and will be incapable of crime; but they cannot always guard her from danger, from suffering, and opprobrium. Thus The prudence that reflects, compares, and regulates the feelings to social happiness, and to selfish safety, is the virtue on which woman can best depend, is the virtue by which the world's opinion must still be ruled and governed. Ida now felt the full force of her error in her conduct to Lord B—; his last words, as they recurred to her mind, were now understood. She feared there could be no alternative in the mind of Osmyn-either he must believe her attached to the dangerous englishman, or governed by a vain and coquettish insensibility, which led her to encourage hopes she never meant to realize. This thought distracted her; she did not wish that Osmyn should believe she loved him-her pride forbad it. But she did not wish him to suppose she loved another; her tenderness shrunk from it. The next day she discharged her debt to Osmyn, simply inclosing him a bill for the money which he sent by Stephaniki; and the next day Lord B. - Bcalled at her house; but Ida was not at home, her restless mind still led her abroad. He called again—she had not yet returned. In the evening, as she sat at dinner with her brothers, a letter was put into her hands-it was from Lord B- and she read the following lines in powerful emotion. LETTER. 66 Ida, the victory is yours; I am conquered, and the influence of the world is subdued; you have taught me how false and how dangerous is the opinion that separates virtue from the graces, that draws a line of demarkation between that which is good and that which is fair, and that places sentiments of admiration, and feelings of respect in opposition to each other. Oh! Ida, wherefore, indeed, should a distinction exist between all that delights the imagination, and all that is required by the mind; between that which should excite love, and that which must secure esteem; between that which we must inevitably adore, and that which we must decidedly respect: why should not the weakness and the strength of man, be equally considered, and that which is necessary to the imperfection of his nature, be blended with that which can alone purify and exalt it. Ida, you have taught me to discard the influence of an unjust and vulgar prejudice, which teaches that the genius of woman militates against her duties; you have said to me, genius in its greatest extent is but to know and to appreciate the wonders and the charms of nature, and to feel and ascertain that line of conduct which contributes to the happiness of the community, to which we belong; you spoke, and I was charmed. But I beheld your theory brought to the test of a severe acumen, and then, and not till then, I was convinced! Ida, thou whom once loved art never to be forgotten; thou whom I have so long and fruitlessly sought, as my mistress, wilt thou now consecrate the endearing name by adding to it the rights and privileges of a wife?" Something of triumph, of pleasure, |