THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. 631 



reflections, the work of a moment, and having formed her resolution, 

 she hastily approached the couch, and, placing her hand on Clinton's 

 shoulder, gently attempted to shake him into consciousness. 



" Mr. Clinton !" said she, in a hurried tone, in which delicacy, 

 and fear, and sympathy, were touchingly blended " Mr. Clin- 

 ton ! for heaven's sake, throw off this delusion. We have never 

 met before, believe me ; and if this emotion, so strange and un- 

 accountable, continue, we must never meet again never. You 

 mistake me for some other my maiden name was Duchesne. Look 

 at me again, Mr. Clinton ! There ! You see I am not the Caro- 

 line for whom you took me. Oh, my God ! he has fainted again. 

 Sir ! sir ! unless" you instantly throw off this weakness, I must call 

 for assistance. Thank heaven ! he revives again. Here, sir, take a 

 glass of wine another 'twill restore you to yourself. And now, 

 Mr. Clinton, throw off this agitation, and relieve me from this really 

 distressing scene." Clinton strove hard to regain his composure; 

 but his eyes were riveted on the countenance of the lady. " Your 

 emotion, I am convinced," she continued, " was real and irrepressi- 

 ble, on your part; but which, I am assured, as regards myself, is 

 unfounded and impossible." 



" Madam," returned Clinton, who had risen on recovering his con- 

 sciousness, and had listened to the latter part of Mrs. Ashe's address, 

 in great confusion " Madam, I know not whether I am more 

 astounded at your miraculous resemblance to a young lady, for whose 

 calamitous and untimely loss I am daily and hourly suffering, or at 

 the delicate consideration and fortitude which you have displayed. 

 Yet, believe me, madam, my astonishment falls far short of the feel- 

 ings of gratitude with which you have inspired me." 



Mrs. Ashe having re-assured him of her sympathy in his misfor- 

 tunes, extended her hand, which he respectfully took in both of his, 

 and, bowing over it until it was touched, for a moment, by his pale 

 and chilly brow, led her to a seat beside her suffering infant, and was 

 soon absorbed in the interesting functions of his profession. 



Sensitive persons are ever subject to a morbid fear of having even 

 their most trivial words and actions misconstrued, by those whom 

 they esteem ; and, in cases of great moment or delicacy, will often- 

 times writhe themselves almost into madness, lest a misconception, or 

 a doubt, should be entertained on any point on which they feel that 

 their honour and veracity might, in the remotest degree, be liable to 

 even the shadow of a suspicion. Under the influence of this latter 

 feeling, Clinton, on his return home that night, sat down, after much 

 tormenting reflection, to pen a more detailed vindication of himself, 

 in the eyes of Mrs. Ashe, than the peculiar circumstances of time 

 and place had allowed him to make. He recounted, unreservedly, 

 the whole progress of his attachment to a beautiful and wealthy 

 young lady, whose mind, disposition, and accomplishments were the 

 full realization of even his fastidious conception of the beau ideal of 

 feminine perfection. He recited the many unobjectionable offers, 

 from quarters of the highest distinction, that she had rejected ; and 

 dwelt, with modest gratitude, on her unhesitating acceptance of his 

 own humble, yet audacious suit. For the rest &e could not trust 



