wrecked on the shore, they sternly examined and defied every passenger. I could hardly persuade myself that some of these were not stragglers from the banditti of Williams, and blessed Heaven as though all peril had been past, when we arrived at the homely dwelling of Arthur. It stood on a lonely part of the shore, where lofty cliffs shooting far into the sea, gave safety in the little bay to a few fishing-boats and small vessels. Ah, how do our awakened passions entirely curb every prejudice! Those livid lightnings, at which my nature ever before shrunk, appeared of late but the quivering lamp of love. Now I saw and heard undaunted the encircling sea (once the happy boundary of human pursuits), whose restless waves roar a proud defiance to all who dare approach it; and my sole fear sprung from learning that the wind was entirely contrary, and the watery chasm yet impassable.

Too late we lamented departing unattended. Unable in this sequestered spot to discover any part of what had passed in the court since our flight, and unwilling to

trust, as well as unable to spare our guide or his friends to make an inquiry at the next town, several tedious days elapsed in melancholy and conjecture. Arthur, not being able to go out in his own vessel, without suspicions and examinations we durst not encounter, hired a large fishingsmack, in which he stored the few necessaries our limited situation allowed us to provide, and I watched without ceasing the playing of its streamers. One evening I perceived them suddenly point towards France: rest having recruited my strength and spirits, I started up in a transport of joy. The few mariners being gathered at last together, I stept with a lightened heart into a miserable boat, which bore us swiftly towards that destined to convey us over, when two strangers riding full speed to the shore, called to us to put back with the most frantic eagerness. I took the alarm, and offered the mariners imaginary worlds to row on, when Arthur insisting that he knew the voice, turned the boat. I threw my arms round my lord, as though, my

heart would have opened to hide him; and regardless of his remonstrances, that we could be in no danger from only two people, however hostile their intention, my senses died away. Recovering at last, I found myself in the cabin of the vessel, reclining on the bosom of lord Leicester, while a youth who knelt at my feet pressed my hands alternately to his lips" Look up, my beloved," cried my lord," and see whom fortune has united in our exile.""Ah, rather do not look up, lovely Matilda," cried Miss Cecil (for it was that sweet girl indeed in the habit of a boy), "till you have considered what reception you ought to give the selfish friend who has dared to interweave her fate with yours. Yet hear before you judge me," added she, rising with a mild majesty which gave unspeakable graces to the blushes that every moment visited and retired from her cheeks. "I am going to lay my whole heart before you both. It is in vain to attempt veiling a weakness from lord Leicester, so many circumstances have concurred to betray; it remains with me then to ennoble it. The

discovery of your marriage, my amiable friends, quenched the last feeble hope which lingered in my heart. Convinced that my partiality could never constitute his happiness, I instantly resolved it should become his pride. Self-love expired before the elevated idea. Ah, what but this could have enabled me to lead him into the garden at midnight, and take a look I then thought a last one, without dropping a single tear? I saw in a moment all the merit, the charms of her character whom he had chosen. Should I hate her then for being all I would have endeavoured to be? for accepting that distinction (which not depending on youth, beauty, merit, or fortune) is the dearest bounty of indulgent Heaven? Ah, no, my heart was juster, and welcomed her as one born to divide it with lord Leicester. Solely intent on the prosperous flight of both, I almost forgot the servant's planted in the Recess, and the monsters that infested it. I fancied to myself those hours, when all your dangers past, you would sometimes think of her, who could only think of you. I heard

both sigh, and wishing but to be enough remembered to soften without wounding either heart, I sighed myself; and started from these pleasant reveries at the voice of our steward, who rushing abruptly into the room, dismayed my every sense with his recital. Rejoice, madam, rejoice,' cried the man with honest zeal, and think this stranger born for your service. Never can we enough adore the astonishing interposition of Heaven! It is not long since when tired with watching in the dungeon, a variety of voices struck our ears, which soon approaching us, every man summoned all his courage; shortly the door was unbolted, and a ruffian darted in, whose daring look was changed to an icy paleness (which lights from behind reflected) when he found each arm seized by one of our people, while a third held a pistol to his head. Uttering a faint imprecation, he alarmed the rest, and both sides immedi

ately fired. We then pushed forward without any regard for those who fell, and pursuing the rest through the various avenues of the den, secured them all, as