THE LIVIXO AND THE DEAD. 633 



her eye, its perfect resemblance to herself entranced her \vith amaze- 

 ment and consternation. She could not believe, at first, but that it 

 must be her own likeness, taken by some skilful artist, employed sur- 

 reptitiously to portray her, without observation or suspicion. She 

 gradually, however, became convinced that it was indeed, what it 

 assumed to be, the likeness of another ; and that the resemblance, 

 however wonderful, was altogether accidental. It was richly set in 

 enamelled gold, encircled with costly diamonds. On the reverse was 

 a small lock of hair, enclosed within a small crystal-covered frame 

 at the top, surrounded with smaller diamonds ; beneath which was 

 engraved, within a wreath of rosebuds, beautifully raised, and 

 studded with various coloured precious stones, " The gift of Caroline 

 de la Warre, to Henry Clinton." At the bottom was the date. It 

 was appended to a massy plain gold guard-chain, constructed with- 

 out clasp or locket, and a cord, somewhat longer, entirely composed 

 of thick plaits of hair, of the same description as the lock at the 

 back, and ingeniously woven in a continuous circle. 



So absorbed was Mrs. Ashe in her contemplation of the portrait, 

 and the reflections, profound and mysterious, with which its magic- 

 like resemblance to her own features suggested, that it was some time 

 before she could sufficiently collect her thoughts to enable her to 

 peruse Clinton's M.S., and the paragraph recounting the dreadful 

 catastrophe which deprived the unfortunate Caroline de la Warre of 

 her life, and Henry Clinton of a bride. The perusal was at length 

 accomplished, and Mrs. Ashe sank back on her couch, dissolved in 

 tears. Her first emotions were purely those of sympathy for the 

 unhappy Clinton. But these imperceptibly giving way to reflections 

 on her own ungenial marriage how different, alas ! to that which 

 had awaited that other image of herself ! were succeeded by feelings 

 of admiration at Clinton's constancy to the memory of his betrothed, 

 in flying from those bright scenes of refinement which he was so well 

 calculated to enjoy and to adorn, and, in concealing himself and his 

 sufferings in the gloomy recesses of the forest a living monument to 1 

 his unhappy passion. She dwelt upon his sensibility, his affection, 

 his affliction the goodness and gentleness of his heart and dispo- 

 sition, as described by her neighbours and domestics the superior 

 qualities of his mind, evident from her own observation, during their 

 short acquaintance the refinement of his manners, the quiet lofti- 

 ness of his demeanour, the noble beauty of his countenance and 

 thought, had 



" Heaven made her such a man," 



how different, how blissful had been her lot ! The equal of Caroline 

 de la Warre, in station and in wealth, and so closely resembling her 

 in personal appearance as to be mistaken for her, and under such 

 circumstances, by Clinton himself, she thought that she, too, might 

 have inspired him with an equal love, had fortune but brought them 

 earlier together. Never before had the whole extent of her misery 

 been so apparent as in that dangerous reverie for never had she 

 before been so fully conscious of the boundless capabilities of her own 

 heart for the enjoyment of mutual love and happiness. From that 

 M. M. No. 96', 4 M 



