opened himself at large to the superior; told her who he was, and as much of his history as was necessary to further his views; and he secured her good-will-which, however, did not seem to require it-by the promise of a very large benefaction to the hospital.

In the evening he visited Rosalie again, but all the while in the presence of the superior, who had now become his most zealous friend, and was ready to promote all his plans. These were, after watching with care every symptom of returning health of mind in Rosalie, and ascertaining that it would not be endangered by it, to obtain the sanction of Donna Mencia (the only one necessary, from her want of relations or guardians) to allow of their espousal after the rites of the Catholic Church; and that they should then repair to Madrid, where the ceremony should be re-performed, according to the English ritual, in the ambassador's chapel there. "She will then be my own," said Penruddock, "and the God who restored her to me will, I trust, continue to bless us."

Four days have now elapsed since this resolution was taken, during the whole of which we have had the delight to witness increasing health and collectedness of mind in this exquisite person. Her sufferings over, her intellects have been completely

restored. Indeed the little derangement they experienced was produced by grief alone. That gone, all doubts cleared, her return to reason, and with it to happiness, has been a thing of course.

The project has been opened to Donna Mencia, who has written a melancholy and still penitentiary letter to Penruddock, and another most touching one to Rosalie. To her, however, by Penruddock's earnest desire (resting it chiefly, but properly, I think, upon the fear of its causing a relapse), she has not confessed the weight that lay so heavily upon her heart; and having herself done so much towards retribution, at the risk of her own ruin, she seems surely to merit as much favour as can be granted her. She has consented with joy to the plan proposed, and the more easily because she has had a conference upon it with Gamarra, who, having no scruples himself, has undertaken for the acquiescence of his abbot; who is of a character too like his own to imitate his terrible predecessor. Thus all is in the fairest way of settlement.

To-morrow I set off myself to Madrid, leaving Penruddock and his second-time betrothed to proceed to Las Huelgas, where the Catholic ceremony is to be performed. I am then to prepare for the repetition of it; under another dispensation, and I really cannot tell you in what good humour with

the world this happy termination of this once unhappy story has put me. I will write more when all is over; which, however, will hardly be completely so till we are all again in England.

I conclude, à l'Espagnole - May you live a thousand years!

W. F.

CONCLUSION.

The Editor again to the Reader.

Though there are several more letters from Fitzwalter, relative to his hero Penruddock, it is right I should tell thee, courteous reader, why I here stop short, and end this eventful history.

In the first place, there are no more events to communicate-at least, out of the common way; and after the marriage of the hero and heroine of a book, people care little for what is to come.

In the next place, it has been suggested to me, that if the reader really wishes to know the complete end of the story, it will be easy for me to tell him in a few lines of my own; -and this I proceed to do.

After the second marriage ceremony, at Madrid, Sir Robert and Lady Penruddock went to England with Mr. Fitzwalter, who had become a prodigious favourite with them both. They stopped no where till they got to Penruddock Hall, where Oldacre, who had been regularly informed

of every thing, was waiting for them; and they were soon joined by Lady Bracebridge, who absolutely devoured Rosalie with kindness. Mr. Broadbelt, too, was out of his wits with joy.

But this was not all the good which now opened upon Sir Robert; for he, in time, found a vast change in the politics, not merely of his neighbours, but of all England. The Reformers in general were satisfied with what they had done; and the root and branch men, such as Wingate and young Penruddock, seemed to be reduced to a few madmen. With respect to these last two, a great change was at hand. In less than two years Wingate went to pieces, by a speculation that failed, and did not pay sixpence in the pound; and young Penruddock lost all his influence in his uncle's neighbourhood, by the arrival, in that time, of two chubby boys, with which the beauteous Rosalie presented her husband. He made all sorts of submissions to Sir Robert, who, however, would not see him, though he forgave the injuries he had done him, and allowed him two hundred a-year. With this, he set up for a patriot at Wetherby, pretending he had lost his all in the service of his country. But even in this he failed; and being no longer heir, and not able to spend money, was considered as a mere adventurer, who wanted to bring himself into notice.