EPISODE FROM AN UNPUBLISHED NOVEL. 311 



vague excuse that was suggested. I retired, and got home I know 

 not how ; where I remained, for a time, in a trance of absolute stupor, 

 alike incapable of reason or action. The transition of my rnind from 

 this was to a state of perturbation little short of phrenzy : it cannot 

 be described by me, though it never can be forgotten. At length, 

 the self-evident conclusion forced itself irresistibly upon me : either 

 I must speak and act immediately, or or must quietly resign myself 

 to suffer the greatest misfortune, as I supposed,, that could befall a 

 human being. The time for hesitating and procrastinating timidity 

 was passed ; my determination was soon fixed : if I must be the most 

 miserable, it should not be without a struggle to make myself the 

 happiest of men. 



I knew enough of the intended bridegroom of Lady Elizabeth, to 

 be thoroughly persuaded her delicate and discerning mind could 

 have made no such choice, and that therefore she must have been re- 

 quired, blindly, to obey her father's commands : she could never 

 have been consulted. So I reasoned ; but, as it was essential to re- 

 move all doubt, I prevailed on my only sister, with whom I was a 

 great favourite, to go that evening to the Opera, to contrive to con- 

 verse with Lady Elizabeth in the saloon, while they should be 

 both waiting for their carriages, and, if possible, to learn her true 

 sentiments. 



The young ladies met in the saloon, and as they both spoke Italian 

 as fluently as English, which fortunately the companion of Lady 

 Elizabeth did not understand, a desultory conversation was began 

 by remarks on the piece and the performers, sometimes in French, 

 sometimes in English, but oftenest in Italian ; in which language my 

 sister, as soon as she thought she might with safety, began the fol- 

 lowing dialogue. 



" So, Lady Elizabeth, my brother has been informed that you are 



to give your hand to Lord ?" 



" By whom was he informed ?" 

 " By your family." 

 Indeed I" 



" Are you a stranger to your own intended marriage?" 

 " Not absolutely, yet almost." 

 " Shall I give you joy ?" 



" Joy ! I know your kind heart ; you do not mean to put me to 

 the torture !" 



" Heaven forbid !" 



" I am looked upon, by the mistaken world, as a young creature who 

 has but to wish for and to have all the blessings, all the pleasures, all 

 the happiness of life poured into her lap. The helpless lamb, taken 

 by the farmer to Smithfield, and sold to the butcher, is a thing to be 

 envied by me." 



The emotions of Lady Elizabeth were dangerous ; the tears were 

 ready to drop ; my sister hastily turned round, and called to an ac- 

 quaintance at some distance. This gave Lady Elizabeth some relief, 

 and my sister had too much sensibility, and too much prudence, to 

 renew the conversation. 



I had no sooner heard the account my sister gave, than I resolved 



