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 THE INFANT AGNES, FOUND ON THE SOFA li V MH. ! i: V : 
 
 f'uie jiii;e 
 
OP 
 
 a SBoHern Ceile .: j 
 
 WHICH REALLY .tiAPFEMEn. 
 
 rOUKDBD ON FACTS IN HIGH LIFE, 
 
 Though Sorrow on our steps attend, 
 Be Hope our guiding-st^r and friend ; 
 And should Despair our hearts assail, 
 Oh ! let this cheering truth prevail 
 O'er its attacks — There is a Power 
 Can change our fortune in an hour, 
 And raise us from a low abyss 
 To gcenei of most exatic bliss. 
 
 BY A FAVORITE AUTHOR. 
 
 LontJont 
 
 PRINTKO FOR THE COMPANY OF BOOKSEXLKRS 
 
 Price SiiPpence* 
 
• • t ; •• 
 
THr 
 
 0be o( §atnt sagne^, 
 
 IT was on the eve of Saint Agn^^? iq the year .on©' 
 thousand seven hundred and seveat^-b ihd, "that a m&^t' 
 respectable party were assemWed -at. Mr*.elyw;o\s, -^^ 
 gentleman in possession of a ' larg-e, ^ni iinh^mlj^^t 
 fortune, residing in an elegant retirement near Old 
 Windsor to celebrate the forty-sixth return of his 
 natal day. 
 
 The table had just been cleared of the'remains of an 
 elegant supper, and the guests with their hospitable 
 entertainers, encircled the blazing fire, listening to a 
 inirth inspiring tale from the lips of a facetious worthy 
 baronet, Sir Marcus Conyers, when a loud knocking at 
 the hall door caused much surprise, for the clock had 
 some time announced the midnight hour. 
 
 One of the serx'^ants entered and informed his master 
 that a lady waited in the front parlour, who wished to 
 see him on a sudden emergency, to which great im- 
 portance was attached. 
 
 " Surely, James," said Mr. Irwin, in an angry'accent 
 " }ou did not at this time of night give admittance to 
 a stranger ! — V\ hat is the lady's name V 
 
 •* I did not open the door, sir," replied the footman; 
 '* nor was it the fault of them that did; for no sooner 
 was the Jock, pulled back, than the lady rushed in and 
 intreated in such urgent terms, to see our master, that 
 we thought we should do wrong by refusing her request.'' 
 
 *' Did you ever see her before, James? — answer my 
 questions instantly,'' said Mr. Irwin with vehemence. 
 
8 THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 
 
 ** I never did sir, I am certain she is a perfect stranger 
 to me," *< Follow me then," said Mr. Irwin. " You 
 shall not go," said his lady; but she spoke too late; he 
 was already descending the stairs with Sir Marcus, to 
 whom he had given a signal to accompany him. 
 
 Consternation succeeded surprise for on opening the 
 parlour door, it was discovered that the intruder had left 
 the apartment by meansof a window that opened on the 
 lawn ; but the room was not vacant, a baby of about 
 two months old, lay asleep on the sofa, unconscious of 
 its deserted state, and the ardent gaze of strangers. 
 
 . , T,he gentle,nje,n I.O;oi[ed at each other for some minutes 
 hi sifent amAz<3mehi. ' Sir Marcus was the first of the 
 pair who recovered tlhe- powers of speech sufficient to 
 . )ht<^rr.og?ito i6qbu;tlf^:and James, the only domestics 
 wJqo hail '^een the triidhight visitant, as to her dress and 
 other important particulars. 
 
 Both the men persisted in declaring that the lady had 
 no child with her when she entered at the hall door, that 
 her hands were perfectly free from any burthen, nor did 
 her dress, which was light, elegant, and fashionable ad- 
 mit of any concealment. They declared the person of 
 the lady was a stranger to them, yet to their mutual 
 astonishment, she appeared perfectly acquainted with 
 the house, for passing the break fast- parlour she entered 
 the one appropriated to dinner, and desired James to 
 apprize Mr. Irwin of her wish to see him, and supposing 
 the lady to be some near relation, or particular friend 
 of the family ^s, that could venture Jo come at such an 
 hour, he h^tened to obey hen 
 
 Mr. Irwin and Sir Marcus agreed, that though the 
 men were certainly, imprudent in leaving the fair stran- 
 ger by herself, yet no serious blame could be attached 
 to them, and then ordered the remainder of the men 
 servants to join these two in pursuit of the fugitive. 
 
 His commands were instantly obeyed ; and Mr. Ir- 
 win raising the still sleeping infant in his arms, exclaim- 
 ing *'Thou at least art no imposter;" ascended with 
 his innocent burthen to the drawing-room, accompa* 
 nied by his friend Sir Marcus. 
 
THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 9 
 
 It is impossible for the weak eJBforts of the pen to do 
 justice, and delineate, with full effect, the scene that 
 ensued, from the explanation given by the gentlemen 
 Mrs. Irwin was almost mad with jealous fury, her wor- 
 thy husband striving in vain to appease her by assu- 
 rances of what certainly was the truth, his innocence 
 and ignorance of the whole transactionj save what had 
 been related. 
 
 The war of words was at length suspended by one of 
 the ladies remarking that it would be judicious to inves- 
 tigate the infaiit's clothes, as there possibly might be 
 concealed among them some papers that might cast a 
 light on this dark and unpleasant aiFair. 
 
 Mr. Irwin thanked his fair friend for this suggestion 
 and tenderly entreated his wife to undress the baby ; 
 but she scornfully refused to touch the brat ; and rising 
 up, declared her intention of ringing for the housemaid 
 to perform that office ; but Susanna Sedgely had al- 
 ready taken the infant on her knee, and divested it of 
 its upper robe. She noted the frowning aspect of the 
 lady hostess, and with a sweet smile, peculiar to hot 
 benign countenance;, said, " Mrs. Irwin^ I mustintre^t 
 you to excuse me, and attribute what I am now do- 
 ing to the prying curiosity for which antiquated mai- 
 dens have long been proverbial." 
 
 Mrs, Sedgely soon produced a paper that she had dis- 
 covered carefully pinned to the child's inner garment 
 Mr. Irwin took it, and favoured his attentive auditors 
 with the contents. 
 
 ** The little girl thus thrown on your protection, 
 (and if you refuse it shelter, on the mercy of the world) 
 is not the offspring of illicit love: Tae fatal afFc'ction of 
 the unfortunate parents of this poor innocent has re- 
 ceived the sanction of the church ; they fondly looked 
 forward to the period, when Shaking off the manacles 
 of secrecy and restraint, they might appear vthat they 
 reaUy were, and attend to their offspring with all the 
 delight and fond endearments chaste wedded love can 
 bestow ; but their hopes are blighted, alas^! for ever; 
 they must carefully veil the past in oblivion; and the 
 miserable authors of her being will not, ah J dare not 
 
10 THE EVE OF ST, AGNES. 
 
 acknotvledge the little darling they now cast from 
 them, with a regret that can never wholly cease but 
 with existence. The parents are personally strangers 
 to Mr. Irwin and his lady, but their opulence and ex- 
 tensive charity, and above all other indu<;ienients, their 
 having no offspring of their own, caused this step to 
 be taken. May they fulfil the anxious wishes of an 
 anxious father and mother, and God*s choicest bles- 
 sings reward them 1" 
 
 The company appeared much alFected by this appeal, 
 but the obdurate Mrs. Irwin, vehemently declared she 
 would send the child to the parish workhouse, as soon 
 as it was light, and let the churchwardens settle the af- 
 fair, for she would not be made the credulous tool of 
 some base romantic wanton. Mr. Irwin generously 
 endeavoured to soften the heart of his lady towards the 
 little foundling; but she was not to be moved, and 
 persisted in her determination with adamantine firm- 
 ness. 
 
 The convivial harmony of the party appearing like- 
 ly to terminate in domestic altercation of the most un- 
 pleasant nature ; the guests prepared to withdraw, with 
 the exception of Sir Marcus Conyers and Mrs. Sedgely 
 who seemed much interested in the fate of the Infant, 
 when the entrance of the servants who had been sent 
 out to search for the lady, caused them to resume their 
 seats. They had been wholly unsuccessful ; for the 
 fair fugitive had managed too adroitly to allow them 
 the least traces of her retreat from the outer [gate, 
 though they could clearly discern, that she had an as- 
 sistant in this affair ; for the print of a man^s footsteps 
 were legible with her's acrossthe lawn, and it seemed 
 probable that he had conveyed the child to her through 
 the parlour window, and they then eflfected their re- 
 treat together. The servants were dismissed: and an 
 altercation again commenced between Mr. and Mrs. 
 Irwin, regarding the support of the child. " Cease dis« 
 puting, my dear friends," exclaimed Mrs. Susanna 
 Sedgely, ** I have made up my mind. My income, 
 it is true, is rather too confined to admit of such an ad- 
 dition to my domestic establishment, but economy, 
 strictly exerted; will enable me to gratify my whim. 
 
THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. h 
 
 Henceforth the child is mine. I am of an age to defy 
 the shafts of censure, and to silence the voice o£ 
 scandai.^^ 
 
 " Call it not a whim," said Sir Marcus; **it is an 
 act of pure benevolence, tbat adds lustre to the amiable 
 and exemplary character you have always borne, You 
 must allow me to present this little foundling with a 
 wardrobe ; and as I am an old bachelor, am certainly 
 no judge of these articles, I must trouble you to be my 
 proxy in the purchase ;'*'' and with these words the good 
 Baronet presented JVJrs. Sedgely with a bank note for 
 thirty pounds, which she received with ineiFable grace. 
 
 Mr. Irwin grasped the hand of the little Infant, and 
 fervently congratulated her on the good fortune she had 
 met with, several of the company followed his exam* 
 pie; but Mrs. Irwin, vexed at a conduct she had not a 
 heart to imitate, (for her charities were only those of 
 an ostentatious nature) very cooly joined in the topic, 
 and it being announced, that Mrs. Sedgely's servant 
 was waiting for her in the hall, the good lady departed 
 with the infant daughter of her adoption. 
 
 The above circumstance naturally gave rise to a num- 
 ber of conjectures in the neighbourhood, and the affair 
 was strictly canvassed^ yet even suspicion had nothing 
 to build on ; no young lady in the vicinity had been con^ 
 fined by an ostensible indisposition, nor made a visit 
 from home, and the niore the alfair was thought on, 
 the more mysterious it appeared. Bui this wonder, 
 like most other wonders, did not last in full force above 
 nine days; it then faded gradually awaj, and at last 
 was seldom honoured with a thought. 
 
 No mention having been made of the name of the 
 child in the written paper, nor the least hint that it 
 had been baptized, Mrs. Sedgely determined tohave that 
 necessary rite performed without delay. Sir Marcus 
 Cony ers was godfather, and the good lady, with the 
 rector's amiable wife, were the tvvo female sponsors, 
 and a writteti paper describing every particular, date, 
 &c. of the infant's introduction to Mrs. Sedgely 's no- 
 tice was drawn up, and properly attested by several 
 witnesses of that memorable ev^nty and placed in the . 
 clergyman's hands. 
 
12 THE EVE OF ST. A.GNES. 
 
 It being the eve of St, Agnes on which the little 
 girl was deserted by her natural protectors, the child 
 received that name, to which, by the desire of Mrs 
 Sedgelj, St. Eustace was added out of a tender remem- 
 brance to a person deceased, who had once been most 
 deservedly dear to her. 
 
 Agnes St. Eustace gave early indications of superior 
 beauty, and her mental capacity and excellent disposi- 
 tion afforded the most exquisite delight to her liberal 
 benefactors. 
 
 Sir Marcus Conyers was never weary of nursing her, 
 and attending to the prattle of his little fairy, for by 
 that appellation he often called his favorite ; his visits 
 to Mrs. Sedgely's were very frequent on her account, 
 and ultimately led to a very unexpected event one that 
 never would have taken place, had not their mutual 
 solicitude concerning their infant j)rG^e^e cemented a 
 firm and still increasing confidence and friendship. 
 They had both in their youthful days, been the victims 
 of disappointment where they had fixed their fondest 
 hopes and valuable affections, and they had both formed 
 what they then thought the most stable resolutions ne- 
 ver to depart from the calm solitude of a single life. 
 Sir Marcus and the worthy Susanna had been neigh- 
 boars for nearly five years previous to the introduction 
 of Agnes, and no idea of a union had entered their 
 heads ; they had met at several parties, entertained a 
 high opinion of each other's conversation, and those 
 qualities vvhich reflect a lustre on society, and there 
 it rested ; but the frequent intercourse that now 
 subsisted between them, brought them perfectly 
 acquainted with each other's domestic virtues, 
 and a thousand excellencies presented themselves to 
 view. Sir Marcus after due deliberation made an 
 offer of his hand, and he at first met a refusal ; but it 
 was not given in so stern a manner ajs to deter him 
 from repeating it ; and Sir Marcus, in his fifty- eighth 
 year, led Mrs. Susanna, in her forty-ninth to the altar 
 o^ Hymen. Thisjwas a marriage founded on|pure esteem 
 and friendship, and a mutual desire to render happy 
 the winter of their days. The arrangements for ths 
 well assorted nuptial were by them conducted with 
 such privacy that nc' one, Mr. Irwin excepted, and a 
 
THE EVE OF ST. AGNES, 13 
 
 friend of the baronet who came from London to be 
 present at the ceremony^ had the least idea of what 
 was going; forward ; it was therefore a topic of sur- 
 prise to the elegant circle around them; nor were 
 there a few spinsters who envied Lady Conyers, and 
 expressed their wonder why the prefeience was given 
 to her. 
 
 Agnes was now in her fourth year, and this marriage 
 gave increase to her juvenile pleasures ; she was blest 
 with the constant society of her two best friends, and 
 treated in every respect as if she was their own child. 
 This caused her to be regarded with much attention 
 by their guests ; for they began to conjecture that she 
 would be heiress to the worthy pair; ev«n Mrs. Irwin 
 whose suspicions had now been removed from her hus- 
 band to another quarter, relaxed from her accustomed 
 sternness of deportment towards the interesting little 
 foundling; and, on the following eve of St. Agnes, con ; 
 descended so far as to present her with a coral neck- 
 lace, curiously clasped by a small pair of gold doves 
 of exquisite woikmanship, and invited her to pass a 
 week with some young relations of her own, who 
 were coming from town to spend the remainder of 
 their holidays. This term was, however^ abridged to 
 three days; for both Sir Marcus anil Lady Conyers de- 
 clared, that they could not part with he^f for a further 
 period, 
 
 Mrs, Irwin was nearly allied to a noble family; her 
 father being the second and youngest brother of the 
 late Earl of Wilmington, and her visitants were Lord 
 Col vi lie and the Ladies Jemima and Utrecia, the chil- 
 dren of the present Earl. His lordship, who was the 
 eldest of the innocent trio, had only attained his ninth 
 year, Agnes soon became a decided favourite with him, 
 and he declared it to be his opinion, that Miss St Eus- 
 tace was a better playfellow than either of his sisters, 
 for Jemima was so prim, and afraid of her dress, and 
 Utrecia liked too much her own way. He was sorry 
 when the three days elapsed for her return to Blossom 
 Lodge, and he used his useful eloquence to so much 
 purpose, that he obtained from Sir Marcus a grant, 
 though rather reluctantly given, for another day. 
 
14 THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 
 
 The Colvilles remained a fortnigiit with Mrs. Iruin, 
 during which time they were frequently invited to Blos- 
 som Lodge ; and Lord Colville then returned to the 
 house of his tutor in Golden-square, and the two ladies 
 to a seminary conducted on a superior style near Ham- 
 mersmith ; the children having to lament the early loss 
 of an amiable, exemplary mother ; and the father being 
 at present abroad in an official capacity, this mode of 
 education had been deemed most eligible for the 
 present. 
 
 The three ensuing years passed on without any par- 
 ticular change; the time had glided on in calm content 
 with Agnes and her benefactors; the Colvilles had been 
 visitors during the stated recesses allowed by their 
 preceptors, and had always renewed their friendship 
 with Miss St. Eustace with increase of pleasure to all 
 parties. 
 
 Lady Conyers having been indisposed with a dan- 
 gerous nervous complaint, change of air and scene wa? 
 recommended. Sir Marcus left to her the choice of 
 place, and she seleoJed the IsJe of Wight. A month 
 passed there had th(vmost salutary eft'ects; to return 
 home was now thoughit desirable, and a day was fixed 
 for that purpose, to the great glee of Agnes, who longed 
 to go back to her little library, playhouse, and poultry. 
 A family of the name ofDashwood, with whom the 
 Conyers had contracted a desirable intimacy, were quite 
 hurt at the thoughts of qui ting Cowes, and by way 
 of taking an impressive farewell, a party on the water 
 was proposed, in a pleasure yacht belonging to Mr. 
 Dashwood. The weather was exactly what might be 
 wished for such a purpose, and they had a most plea- 
 sant sail; their repasts was elegant, and rendered ad- 
 ditionally pleasant by a small band of harmonious mu- 
 sic, which was stationed on board. All the company 
 were in charming spirits, and none more so than Lady 
 Conyers. Alas! human pleasure is fleeting and uncer- 
 tain; one moment we are at the zenith of blissful de- 
 light, and the next dreadful reverse plunged into the 
 loweiit abyss of despair. Thus it occurred with our 
 aquatic party. On their return, a storm, violent as 
 it was rsudden, arose, and upset the yacht; most for- 
 tunately, relief was instantly afforded from the sur- 
 
THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. U 
 
 roanding vessels, and not a soul perished but the poor 
 little cabin-boy. Bat the ill effects of the accident did 
 not end here : Lady Conyers received a shock from 
 Trhich she never recovered; cold chills were succeeded 
 by burning heats alternately ; her nerves' were shattered, 
 and reason at intervals forsook her throne ; she wished 
 to return home, but to remove her from the Isle of 
 Wight was impossible, for the very mention of crossing 
 to Southampton would throw her into convulsions ; and 
 after lingering in the most excruciating sufferings for 
 nine weeks, she expired in the arms of the sorrowing 
 Sir Marcus, while one of her hands was affectionately 
 pressed to the bosom of Agnes | the benign looks the 
 dying lady cast on them fully testified her sense of their 
 love and attentions, and the consolation they gave her, 
 even in the pangs of death ; she found it hard to part 
 from these truly beloved objects ; but the Christian tri- 
 umphed over the woman, and she resigned her soul into 
 the hands of him who created it without a murmur. 
 
 The principal of Lady Conyer's fortune, at her de- 
 fease, became the property of a relation ; but the re- 
 serves she had made (and since her marriage with Sir 
 Marcus they bad not been inconsiderable) had, at the 
 co??imencement of her first illness, been settled, with 
 the full consent of the worthy baronet, on Agne? St. 
 Eustace. The sensibility she had shewn, during every 
 period of the late lady's aflflictions, served to endear 
 her closer to his heart, and he made a number of re- 
 solutions in her favour. 
 
 He returned to England as soon as decency would 
 f>ermit ; for the beautiful scenery of the island where 
 he had lost her he held so dear was now grown hate- 
 ful to him; they repaired immediately to Bath, and, 
 ffiter a stay of a few weeks, finally settled at Blossom 
 Lodge. How different were the sensations of Agnes 
 on returning home to what she had anticipated ; young 
 as she was, every object reminded her of her dear mam- 
 ma, for such she had been long accustomed to calf 
 Lady Conyers ; her spirits were so much depressed, that 
 it soon began to have a visible effect on her health, and 
 Sir Marcus, by the advice of Mrs, Irwin, placed her in 
 the same seminary with the two young ladies of the 
 Colvilie family.^ 
 
16 THEEVEORST.^AGIS^ES. 
 
 Unfortunately for Agnes, Sir Marcus (to whom a 
 single life was now grown intolerable (entered again * 
 into the holy state of matrimony; biitlthe wisdom and ^ 
 prudence that marked his first 'Choice was not now at-^ 
 tended to; his second wife was only iwenty- two, .and 
 possessed an uncommon share- of artifice. She bad not 
 resided long in the vicii^ity of Blossom Lodge when shp 
 cast her eyes on the baronet. The ill state of Lady 
 Gonyer's health gave her hopes, and by means of a 
 lady to whom she was related, she contrived to get in- 
 timate with the family ; and her attentions to Agn^s, on 
 whom she was always lavishing little gifts, soon caused 
 her to be a great favourite with Sir Marcus and his 
 amiable wife ; she had the hypocrisy to insist on sitting 
 up occasionally with Lady Conyers, administered the 
 medicines with her own hand; when her ladyship re- 
 covered so far as to be able to proceed to the Isle of 
 Wight, no one was louder or more frequent in their 
 coi)gratulations than Miss I'heodosia Rivers, though 
 the sincere wish ;of beart was to have her laid in the 
 silent grave. The fatal accident that occurred, left 
 Sir Marcus a prey to her wiles and stratagems : imme- 
 diately on his.return to Blossom Jjodge, she paid visits 
 of condolence, and won his regard by a thousand at- . 
 tentions, trivial perhaps in themselves, but gratifying 
 to the heart. It must be acknowledged, that the ba- 
 ronet thought the lady rather too young; but what 
 then ? she did not object to his age ; she was very steady, 
 very neat in her dress, loved domestic retirement, and ' 
 abhorred every species of dissipation. In short, he es- 
 teemed her more prudent by far than many ladies among 
 the circle of his acquaintance who had numbered twice 
 the years of his Theodosia. Poor, short-sighted, in- 
 fatuated Sir Marcus ! he did not reflect, that a title, a 
 fortune,^ and the latent hope of soon being a widow, 
 could be any inducement ; that, tinder the mask she 
 had assumed^ to hidS hct natural disposition, lay a Iovj© 
 of pleasure^ extravagance, pride, and ostentation ; and 
 he thought himself the happiest of men, when she ho- 
 ^ ' Mtoured hini with her hand, eleven months subsequent 
 ; to tfic^uhetal of her predecessor. 
 
 •. '^f Merrily, mefrily rang the bells, 
 
 '^ ^^- 'The'bel&df tbe old church tower/^ , . . 
 
 to iniioiitilse this pteposterous marriage, yet there <vere 
 many whb [ffediefed an aching heart to the bridegroom 
 
THE EVE OF ST. AGNES, 17 
 
 ere one tvrelvemonth had winged its course. Under 
 oiie pretence or other, the new lady soon contrived to 
 get rid of all the old servants, and replace them with 
 others of her own choosing ; Sir Marcus remonstrated, 
 but it was of no use ; she asured him there was neces- 
 sity for what she did. The furniture was exchanged 
 for other of a modern fashion, and Blossom Lodge un- 
 derwent so many changes, under the name of improve- 
 ments, that the baronet was heard to observe with a sigh, 
 that he scarce knew his own habitation; but this was 
 not the only complaint he was heard to make ; he knew 
 no one would pity him, that he should only meet with 
 raillery, and he bore it all in silence, and let the gaily- 
 dressed, highly-roughed Lady Conyerfe pursue her own 
 way to "midnight revels and to public shews.'* That 
 he had a wife, was painfully certain, but he had no com • 
 panion ; and the long winter evenings grew tediously 
 ixksomQ ; it is true, his lady had sometimes parties at 
 home, but they were not conducted with that comfort 
 to his feelings which had marked the hospitable enter- 
 tainments of his late wife; he had no relish for her cold 
 sandwiches and Ranelagh suppers, her waltzes, reels, 
 and fandangos. «* Am I at home, or not?' he would 
 sigh to himself, and retire to his solitary chamber.' 
 Under this dilemma, he ventured to propose the re- 
 turn of Agnes toJBlossom Lodge ; but this was peremp-; 
 tori ly refused, nor Ivould she when pressed to give a 
 reason, assign one.' 
 
 Sir Marcus was justly enraged, he could bear all but 
 this, and he mustered up courage to declare, that if 
 she persisted in denying him the company of his dar- 
 ling cKi id, one house should no longer hold them, nor 
 shoufd sh^^have one shilling more from him than what 
 
 • she h^ad. already obtained by deeds of raarriage-settle- 
 ment^ This threajf rather alarmed her, though she con- 
 cealed it under a haughty air ; and she told Sir Marcus, 
 that if «he ga^e way to bis whim, he must accommo- 
 date hVr with one of her's. He eagerly asked what she 
 desired, and she replied, a draft on tiis banker for two 
 bundred pounds, that she might buy some additional 
 trinkets ; after some expressions of surprise and anger, 
 he complied, and purchased leave to have his own way 
 
 ^ for once. 
 
■m THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 
 
 AgHes was delighted at (he thoughts of returning 
 liome ; but she so©iaf<OKnd a very different home to what 
 it forraeriy used to be. Lady Conyers harshly repressed 
 ©very advance the poor child made to renev*^ their for- 
 mer familiarity, and tlie latter, too young to be aware 
 of the deceitful blandishments of interested people, 
 wondered at the change of Lady Conyer's manner to 
 what it was when she was Miss Rivers, In short, the 
 behaviour of Lady Conyers was so repulsive both to 
 her husband and the child of his adoption, that they re-" 
 joiced at her frequent parties from home which she was 
 constantly forming to different places. About this 
 time, a very aged relation of the baronet's being re- 
 mov^ed from this world to a better, he bequeathed him 
 five thousand pounds; an unexpected legacj, as thi'y 
 bad not seen each other or corresponded for many yeara, 
 owing to a difference on some points in religion. Sir 
 Marcus was frequency hea^d to declare, that Agnes 
 should be richer for this bequest; and he turned a deaf 
 ear to every remonstrance of his lady to enlarge their 
 establishment on the account of this acquisition, a re- 
 fusal that served to embitter her mind still farther 
 against Agnes ; but she could not, though she fre- 
 quently endeavoured by every petty stratagem her brain 
 could invent, to prejudice the baronet against the lovely 
 child, as he clearly saw through her motives, and des- 
 pised them. 
 
 He had the good sense to perceive, that his retain- 
 ing Agnes at home without her learning those accom- 
 plishments necessary to her sex and the fortune he in- 
 tended to bestow 6n her, would be doing her a serious 
 injury, and to part with her was a step which he could 
 not endure even in thought; he consulted Mrs. Irwin 
 what measure he should adopt, and that lady with 
 great propriety recommended to his notice a clergy- 
 man's daughter, lately left an orphan, as governeas to 
 Agnes. The proposal was soon made to Miss Manton 
 she had not then decided what means to adopt, and this 
 situation seemed to her so preferable to depending on 
 the bounty of her wealthy relations for an addition to 
 the trifling income her parents had left her, that it 
 was gratefully accepted with many thanks to Mr^. 
 Irwin for her attention to her interest. 
 
THE EVE OF ST. AGNES.. l^i 
 
 The addition of Miss Manton^s society at Blossom 
 Lodge was a great acquisition ; a small suite of apart- 
 ments was assigned her, and the once more happy 
 Agnes ; a separate table was ordered for them, and 
 Sir Marcus was very frequently theirguest. The young 
 ladies Jemima and Utrecia, visited Agnes at every op- 
 portunity, and their brother Lord Colville, who was npt 
 now at Eaton College, was frequently an inmate, to the 
 satisfaction of every party; for Lady Conyers, indue 
 deference to his title, for she was servilely fond of rank 
 and splendour, always received him with pleasure, and 
 her self-love made her blind to what was obvious to 
 every one else, that she was an object of his peculiar 
 dislike, and only treated with civility on ace Mint of Sir 
 Marcus and Agnes, and that politeness of behavioui? 
 which is inseperable from the character of a gentlemaii 
 when directed to the female sex. 
 
 Little or no alteration took place in the state of af- 
 fiiirsat Blossom Lodge till our heroine attained the 
 completion of her sixteenth year. Lord Wilmington 
 after a long absence from his native land, returned 
 home, and his son and daughters, who had now com- 
 pletely jBnished their education, formed a part of his . 
 elegant establishment in Grosvenor-square. 
 
 A splendid entertainment was given in consequeneo 
 of tire Earl's return, and his lordship, at the instance 
 of his children, to whom Agnes was deservedly dear^ 
 sent a card to invite her to grace the festivity with her 
 presence, and remain a month with his daughters. 
 
 Agnes wished to go, yet was loath to leave Sir Mar» 
 cus, and, after some debate with herself, resolved to 
 send a polite refusal ; but the good baronet would not 
 allow it, he thought the countenance of the Wilming- 
 ton family too essential to her future welfare to be dis- 
 regarded, and he good humoured ly insisted on her 
 acceptance of the honor intended her. A young cot- 
 tager named Mary to whom she had long been partial, 
 was hired as a servant to attend her ; and Sir Marcus 
 gave Agnes fifty pound, to answer any occasional 
 expenoes she might have during her absence.^ 
 
 On the day of Agnes' departure from Blossom Lodge 
 Lady Conyers was. absent j she was therefore spa*^^^ 
 
20 THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 
 
 the bumiliating scene of taking leave of that haughtj 
 lady ; but she hung round the neck of Sir Marcus and 
 mingled tears with his, for they both felt a degree of 
 anguish at parting that seemed blameable, even to them- 
 selves. 
 
 She was received with the most flattering attentions 
 in Grosvenor-square. The bail took place on the se- 
 cond day of her arrival, and she was an object of uni* 
 versal admiration; many noble youths intreated the 
 honour of her hand, but Lord Colvilie retained it the 
 whole evening; and it soon became discernable to the 
 scrutinizing eyes of bis father, that his heart was in 
 the possession of the loveley Agnes, The idea enraged 
 him; he heard every particuhir concerning the find- 
 ing of the protege of Sir Marcus, and her amiable 
 character, and when he consented to invite her to his 
 house, he had expected to see some little, plain, un- 
 assuming girl, for her beauty and elegance of dejx)rt- 
 ment had not been mentioned to him; he now blamed 
 his own folly in not making further inquiries, and ex- 
 ecrated the folly of the Irwins in exposing his only son 
 to such a dangerous temptation. 
 
 He kept his suspicions to himself, but narrowly 
 watched the young people ; he perceived the fervour of 
 his son's attachment, and it was obvious he had not 
 fixed his affections on an object insensible to his merit. 
 in truth, Agnes was not aware of the nature of her 
 own sentiments ; she had certainly loved Lord Celville 
 from early childhood, yet such was the innocent purity 
 of her heart, she thought of it only as the love of a 
 sister for an excellent brother. 
 
 But her senses were soon painfully awakened; one 
 morning. Lady Jemima entered her dressing room, 
 and with many tears informed her of the sentiments of 
 fcer father the Earl of Wilmington, that it was by his 
 command she had thus acted, and with much reluctance 
 acquainted the weeping girl, that his lordship's post 
 chariot would be at the door at twelve, to convey her 
 to Blossom Lodge. 
 
 Utrecia entered with the intel!igence that she had 
 obtained leave for herself and sister to breakfast with 
 
THE EVE OF ST. ^GNES. 2i 
 
 Aa^nes, but they were then to take a final ledve, as no 
 t^ort of correspondence would afterwards be allowedo 
 ** Why exclairaed Agnes, with an agonizing* eraotioji 
 i:^be could not suppress, " why am I thus treated like a 
 worthless creature? was it not for Gonscious rectitude 
 I should faint under this degradation/' The sisters^ 
 endeavoured to console her by ikssurcinoes that her 
 father considered her truly amiable, and hernumberless 
 attractions founded the biisis of his alarm, for nothing 
 a,jpeared more dreadful to him than the idea of his son 
 making a disproportionate alliance in point of birth, 
 for in that respect he only regarded fortune as a secon- 
 dary consideration. 
 
 The young ladies parted with many tears, yet Agnes 
 cDuId not avjaid imbibing the idea that Lady Jemima 
 inherited a great portion of her father's disposition 
 and sentiments in regard to the topic in question ; ft;? 
 adieus of Utrecia evidently appeared more frank, un- 
 studied, and sincere. 
 
 The journey home was melancholy, she longed to 
 arrive there and impart her sorrows to the good Sir 
 Marcus, whom she was apprehensive to find indisposed, 
 for the three last letters she had addressed to him re- 
 mained unanswered. At length the chariot stopped in 
 front of Blossom Lodge; but what a shock awaited 
 her ! the closed shutters announced the death of soma 
 one of its inhabitants; the dreadful truth instantly 
 darted across her brain, it was Sir Marcus! and the 
 wretched Agnes »ank senseless on the bosom of the 
 VTeeping Mary- 
 
 On her recovery, she found herself reclined on a sofa . 
 in the breakfast parlour ; Giarges, the waiting woman 
 to Lady Cony ers, was in the room ; she was an artful 
 creature, and a great favourite of her mistress, in 
 whose designs, let them be of what nature they would, 
 she was ever a willing and an active agent, and gene- 
 rally turned her compliances to a good account on the 
 score of interest. 
 
 She now, with an air of impertinent fr^edoni, ad- 
 dressed Agnes, " Miss St. Eustace, my lady desires me 
 to t«U yoU; that ugw Sir Marcus is na more, for, pooc 
 
 da 
 
22 THE EYE OF ST. AGNES. 
 
 dear gentleman, he expired suddenly of an apoplexj 
 three days since, you have no longer a residence here; 
 the small fortune which you derive from the benevo- 
 lence of the late lady cofiyei» will, with the interest 
 annexed to it, be paid immediately on your coming 
 of age ; you are, however, welcome to remain at the 
 lodge till the funeral is over, and then my lady expectss 
 you to remove from hence, and take your wardrobe 
 with you?' "Can I not see you*- mistress?" said the 
 agitated, ill-treated fair one. * No, 1 am sure yoti 
 cannot," replied Clarges ; '* ray lady pos^itively told me 
 she would not see you ; but 1 must entreat you to tell 
 me on what you determine." Agnes's first impulse 
 was to quit the lodge immediately, but, on second 
 thoughts, she reflected that such a step would imply 
 a disrespect to the remains of Sir Marcus, and she re- 
 solved to stay till the funeral had taken place. 
 
 Her heart throbbed, even to the" peril of bursting, as 
 she gazed on the venerable remains of him whom she 
 had so much cause to love and esteem, and bitterly 
 did she arraign the conduct of Lady Conyers in with- 
 holding from her knowledge this fatal event, and thus 
 letting it suddenly overwhelm her. When she was 
 undressing for the night, Mary told her, that she had 
 heard from the butler, who was sincerely sorry for his 
 young mistress, for such he always esteemed Miss St. 
 Eustace, that, on the sudden decease of his master, 
 Mr. Irwin came attended by the rector, and produced 
 a will, in which Sir Marcus had bequeathed five hun- 
 dred a year to Agnes till she came of age, and twenty- 
 thousand pounds to be paid to her within three months 
 from that period, in addition to what his late wife had 
 bequeathed her, and one half of the plate, he also or- 
 dered several memorials for his friends, liberal moiirn- 
 ing and legacies for the servants, and a hundred pounds 
 to be distributed at the discretion of the clergyman 
 among the surrounding poor ; the remainder of his pro- 
 perty devolved to his widow, but, at her decease the 
 principal was to revert to Agnes or her heirs. Lady 
 Conyers treated the will with the utmost contempt ; 
 she said, she had no doubt but the instrument was 
 perfectly legal at the time of its execution, for the sig- 
 nature was certainly the writing of her late husband, 
 tmt happily for ker^ he hpd recprered frofB the ij^^tua; 
 
THE EVE OE ST- AGNES ^^ 
 
 ti«n be then laboured under, and repented the injus- 
 tice of his intended bequests, in thus limiting the for- 
 tune of an amiable wife; then rising up with great 
 dignity, she opened a cabinet, and took from it a sealed 
 picket, which she requested the rector to open, inform- 
 ing him it was a will duly executed only three days 
 previous to the decease of Sir Marcus; it was drawn 
 up by a notary of the name of Longford, and signed 
 by Captain ShufHetpn and his friend Ensign Lack ian.", 
 who were frequent visitors at Blossom Lodge, and both 
 these gentlemen belonged to a regiment then on duty 
 at Windsor: in this wilL it was discovered, that Sir 
 Marcus had4eft every shilling of his vast property to 
 his v^idow, and had barely recommended the servante 
 and dependant^ on his bounty to her protection; to 
 Agnes he bequeathed but fifty pounds for mourniiig, 
 expressing in terms that implied regret for his former 
 generosity, that enough of his fortune had already 
 been lavished on one who had no further claims on th« 
 bounty of himself or his late wife, than what arose 
 from charitable emotions for her *late of deserted in- 
 fancy, which liberality had been too much presumed ok» 
 
 Agnes past anight of heartfelt agitation and sorrow ; 
 the long period that must elapse before she came of 
 age to receive her little fortune (which would not then 
 amount to twelve hundred pounds) alarmed her, for 
 she only possessed in money the fifty pounds that 
 Sir Marcus had given her at their late fatal parting, 
 cmd she saw the necessity there would be for her ob- 
 taining some means of subsistence, but so young, un- 
 accustomed to the world, and unprepared for the sud- 
 den reverse of fortune that had befallen her, she knew 
 not on what to determine, or how to proceed ; she 
 pondered on the words respecting herself in the last 
 will of Sir Marcus, she compared them with his ten- 
 der expressions at parting, and she could no other- 
 wise reconcile this contradiction than by supposing, 
 that Lady Conyers had vilely, but with the success she 
 wished for, succeeded^ by false suggestions to pojson 
 the mind of the baronet against her, in the short 
 space of time that had elapsed between the day of 
 her departure from the lodge, and that of his sudden 
 dissolution, and she was agonized at the idea of his 
 leaving this woi^l^ with an impression of angei* 
 against k^r, ' 
 
?4 THE EVE OF ST. AONES. 
 
 At an early hour on the day following the faneral 
 M her dear benefactor, Agnes left the lodge, and re- 
 paired to the cottage where Mary's parents resided, 
 for those honest industrious people had, at her de- 
 sire, fitted up the only spare room their small tene- 
 ment afforded as a temporary abode for her. Her 
 first visit was to Mrs. Irwin, in order to solicit her 
 advice, but that lady received her in the most repulsive 
 manner, and indelicately upbraided her with having 
 formed designs lodraw Lord Colville from the duty 
 he owed his parent and a noble family, to aggrandise 
 herself, and she concluded her unfeeling invectives 
 by observing that had she not supposed her to be a 
 natural daughter of Sir Marcus and the first Lady 
 Conyers, (for mature age was not always a guard 
 against imprudence) she should never have shewn her 
 any countenance. 
 
 This was, indeed, literally true; the warm afl^ection 
 maniiested by Sir Marcus and Mrs. Susanna Sedgely 
 lo/ the infant, and their subsequent marriage gave 
 Mis. Irwin the illiberal idea, and she regarded the 
 child's being brought to her house on the night that 
 the parties were both present, as a refinement of arti- 
 fice to give them an opportunity, under the mask of 
 charity, to personally foster their own illegitimate 
 oifspring. 
 
 The last will as produced by Lady Conyers ile- 
 strojed this illusion, and probably from the severity 
 of her manner to the unhappy Agnes, Mr. Irwin was 
 Oftce more The object of her suspicions and injustice, 
 
 M iss St. Eustace repaired to her bumble home de- 
 pressed and languid 5 alas I she had no one else to ap- 
 ply to; the rector's wife was dead, and her amiable 
 relict no longer able to perform his clerical duties 
 from the weight of declining years, had retired to a 
 remote part of Wales, among his kindred 5 Miss Man- 
 ton had married about six months since to an officer 
 whoai she accompanied abroad, and poor Agnes felt 
 herself an isolated being, and trembled for her fate. 
 
 Her amiable manners had gained her many adroirer^^ 
 ^mon^ the neighbottring ladies, J^nd she wouW witk* 
 
THE ETE OF ST. AGNES. 2^ 
 
 out doubt have received the most beneficial effects from 
 it, had not Lady Conyers and Mrs. Irwin industriously 
 circulated reportiS concerning^ Lord Colviile and the 
 supposed displeasure of Sir Marcus, to her disadvantage 
 and then she received the most unmerited neglect. 
 
 To remain any longer at Old Windsor was repug- 
 nant io her feelings ; she, therefore, removed to Lon- 
 don, accompanied by the faithful Mary ; her finances 
 did not admit of the idea of her even retaining a ser- 
 vant, but she shuddered at the thought of being alone 
 in a strange place, and in her present unsettled condi- 
 tion ; and she resolved to submit to any sacrifice of 
 what property fale lad lefi her, rather than part with 
 the excellent girl, till ahe had procured an eligible asy- 
 lum for herself. 
 
 A small lodgiiig in Vine-street, Piccadilly, was 
 taken by this araiable suffiirer, and the first month ex- 
 pired in unavailing attempts to procure a situation as 
 governess to sooae yaung ladies, or a companian to an 
 elder one. Notwithstanding the most rigid care to 
 avoid all unnecessary expenditure, Agnes was alarmed 
 at the dimiuntion of her money, and resolved to part 
 occasionally with some of her trinkets in preference to 
 spending any more of her fifty pounds, as she knew not 
 what occasiiou she might have for it.. 
 
 With this view, she took a small set of pearl orna- 
 me^rts, and repaired to a jeweller's in Oxford-street ; 
 the bargain was soon made, and she consented to take 
 eight pounds for what had originally cost five times 
 that sum ; such is the ^difference between purchase and 
 sale. 
 
 While the man was counting out the notes, Agnes 
 was surprised at hearing her name pronounced hj a 
 well-known voice ; it was Lord Colviile, who had thus 
 unpiopitiously entered. Agnes felt overwhelmed with 
 confusion ; what a contrast presented itself between her 
 present and former prospects ! She tenderly esteemed 
 Lord Colviile, but inauspicious fate too plainly argued 
 she never could be the partner of his days, and, yield- 
 ing only to the painful impulse of the moment, sh^ 
 took the notes from the hands of the jeweller, and 
 rushed out of the shop. 
 
26 THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 
 
 Her pallid countenance and trembling frame alarmed 
 Alary, and several hours elapsed ere her gentle mistress 
 could regain her usual composure. The next morning, 
 as they were sitting at breakfast, the mistress of the 
 house delivered a parcel into the hands of Miss St. 
 Eustace ; she eagerly opened it, wondering from whom 
 it could be sent, when, to her great surprise, she found 
 it to be her own pearls returned, accompanied by a 
 note from Lord Colville, in which he expressed his 
 pleasure at having discovered her retreat, after a search 
 which had hitherto been attended with nothing but 
 excruciating disappointments; he expatiated largely 
 on the shock he had received on his return from 
 Framlington (where the earl had purposely sent him 
 on some message of pretended importance), to find 
 bis loved Agnes gone, and to hear of his father's con- 
 duct on that occasion ; he concluded his note by in- 
 treating permission to have an interview with her, 
 and observed, that he should call for that purpose at 
 h?r lodgings on the following morning. Agnes felt 
 much perplexed how to act ; her heart pleaded for an 
 interview whh Lord Colville, but cooler reason con 
 demned it as the height of imprudence ; she therefore 
 wrote the following reply, and attached it to the box 
 containing the pearls : — • 
 
 ** The heart of Agnes St. Eustace will ever duly 
 appreciate the kind intentions of Lord Colville towards 
 an unfriended, unprotected girl, but the very circum- 
 stances of her being friendless and unprotected, render 
 it necessary for her to decline receiving his lordship's 
 visit, or profit by his intended restoration of her trinkets 
 lest she should seem, in fact, to deserve the reproaches 
 that have hitherto been unjustlj levelled at her. That 
 his lordship traced her from the jeweller's shop, is evi- 
 dent ; she intreats he will never act in a similar man- 
 ner as such conduct will give pain to her, and can 
 only be attended with trouble and disappointment to 
 himself, and the painful consciousness of disobedience 
 to the wishes and commands of a parent. 
 
 Having carefully sealed it, she delivered the packet 
 to Mary, who repiiredwith it to the house of the earl 
 The conflict was over, and Agnes received the approba- 
 tion of her own conscience; she could not avoid a 
 
THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 27 
 
 tear ; but before the time of Mary's return, she had 
 required sufficientserenity to busy herself about some 
 iancy ornaments of which she meant to dispose. 
 
 Three days elapsing without any message from Lord 
 Colville or his attempting to see^her, Agnes eoncluded 
 that her letter had been productive of its intended ef- 
 fect, and she rejoiced at her stability, but the fourth 
 morning presented her wilh a subject of alarm, she 
 overheard the mistress of the house disputing with 
 some one, w hose voice struck her as that of Lord 
 Colville's, she opened the door, and heard in breath- 
 less agony over the bannisters, " You must not, you 
 shall not go up sir,'* said the woman; "1 promised 
 my young lodger not to admit any one." '" Pshaw ! 
 nonsense I'^ was the reply, and it was evident from the 
 slight bustle that ensued, that the efforts of the good 
 landlady were unavailing, and his lordship was ac- 
 tually ascending. Agnes felt much incensed at this 
 conduct, but her anger gave way to surpri:^e and tro| 
 mulous agitation, when in the person of her visitor, 
 she discovered not Lord Colville, but his father, Earl 
 Wilmington I she thought he came to upbraid her with 
 some fancied wrong, but the manner in which he pre- 
 sented his hand to her, dissipated h< r fear. He informed 
 her, that he was in ppssession of every circumstance 
 relative to the pearls; for he had intercepted the par- 
 cel sent by Agnes, which led him to pursue the suL- 
 ject closely with his son, who candidly avowed 
 every particular. The earl wished him to give a so- 
 lemn promise never to marry Agnes St. Eustace ; 
 but to this the young lord would not unconditionally 
 agree; but he at length protested, he would never 
 marry her during the life of the earl without his 
 ©nt ire approbation. 
 
 The earl approved of the conduct of Agne?, but 
 fearful the poverty of her situation might cast her 
 more in the way of temptation than was consiate :t 
 with his views, he resolved to visit the interesting 
 girl, and impart to her a plan he had in contemplation 
 for her future support. The earl had a sioter residing 
 in Glamorganshire, the tenant of an abbey, moulder- 
 ing under the hand of time and want of repair. 
 The lady's early history was more pathetic than sin* 
 
2S THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 
 
 gular ; in her sixteenth year it was her fate to owe 
 her life to Mr. Darlington the son of a Baronet who 
 was a distant relation to the Wilmington family, 
 who, at the risk of his own life, prevented her 
 from being precipitated down a fathomless abyss, by 
 her horse taking fright, and proceeding with her to 
 the very verge of threatened destruction. His provi- 
 dential interference gained the heart of the youthful 
 Almeria; their love was mutual; but their parents 
 were obdurate, former feuds had rendered them deadly 
 enemies to each other. 
 
 Every precaution was taken to seperate the young 
 people ; but their love surmounted all difficulties, and 
 an elopement was the consequence ; they had winged 
 their flight to Gretna green, but were overtaken within 
 a mile of^ that renowned place, and forced back to 
 their respective homes ; the consequence was, young 
 Darlington was sent abroad, and Almeria consigned 
 to the care of a female relation residing near Kensing- 
 ton, whose very name was proverbial for ill-nature, 
 and a dislike to the young and beautiful of her own 
 sex; here she remained two years, and during that 
 period they separately tried to move the hearts of 
 their obdurate parents by repeated letters, but the 
 only answer they could obtain was, a curse on their 
 disobedience if Ihey ever married; or even presumed 
 to correspond with each other. 
 
 Earl Wilmington, to prevent a union so dreaded from 
 taking place, for bethought it not impossible that on 
 the return of young Darlington the lovers might 
 elude the vigilance of their respective families re- 
 solved to unite Almeria to a gentleman far advanced 
 in life> but conspicuous for his wealth ; this mea- 
 sure was, however, frustrated by the ill state of 
 health of the intended, victim. She kept her room 
 several months, and for some time her life was 
 despaired of; youth, however, triumphed, and the 
 roses of health once more adorned her cheek. Her 
 father pressed for her immediate marriage with his 
 friend, but she was firm against both threats and 
 intreaties. While the earl was meditating what course 
 to pursue, news arrived of the death of young Diir* 
 lington on board the ship which was conveying h m 
 
THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 29 
 
 1t> Eagland, of a sudden fever that attacked several 
 of tbe crew. This mournful intelligence did not give 
 pain to Almeria's father, on the contrary, he thougfht 
 he shujid now be able to bring his favourite marrinpf^ 
 to bi ar ; but in this he was mistaken ; Almeria was ^ 
 maniac, and in this state was conveyed to Jrvy Caiitl^^ 
 Glan'^rganshire, there to spend the reiuainder of ht?r 
 day^^^ i:i cheerless solitude. Her father survived. this 
 moi 'ochofy event five years, and her brother, ine 
 present earl of Wilmington, who had always a warm 
 aUeclioii for his sister, though he retained the heredi- 
 tary hatred against her late lover, went to visit hfs 
 sister; be found her perfectly in possession of her 
 . sensi^-^ but the very semblance of liielaneholy. Hi^ 
 wished her to leave this seclusion, but she would not 
 eonscnt ; she. however, gratefully acceded lo a prrpo- 
 sal he ^D ide of sending at his own charge some amiable 
 young woman, whose want of fortune might render 
 hor happy to accept such an eligible asylum to cb^ti 
 the solitude cf Ivy Castle; the person who acceptod 
 this situLtion had been a faithful, consoling companion 
 to Lady Almeria, but her death had now left the fair 
 mourner in her former isolated condition, and sh^ 
 wrote to the earl to request that he would seek out 
 anoiher person to supply this much f>ilt vacancy, and it 
 v^as Miss St. Eustace that he now resolved to propose, 
 a^d kt^p her place of retreat secret from his son. He 
 was happy to find her so willing to be guided by him, 
 f^r she expressed the highest satisfaction at the pr< s " 
 pect his plan afforded her. When the earl returned 
 home, he wrote to his sister, and, with a view of 
 creating an interest in the favour ot Agnes, who had 
 in reality become a great favourite vvith him, he mi- 
 nutely related every circumstance concerning her, 
 from the memorable eve of St. Agnes, when she was 
 left a sleeping infant in the j^ariour of Mt/ Irwin's 
 house* 
 
 Lord Colville, to disssipate a part of the cbagrin 
 arising from his late disappointment, was gone on an 
 excursion to the lake cf Killarney, and Lord Wil- 
 oaington seized the opportunity to invite Miss St. 
 Eustace to pass a couple cf days with his daugters 
 
30 THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 
 
 previous to her departing on ber journey to Wales. 
 She was received by Utrecia with a warmth that con- 
 veyed a charm of pleasure to her heart, but the air 
 of Jemima seemed to say, I hope my brother will 
 never degrade his family by giving us a portionless 
 sister* 
 
 Agnes arrived safe at Ivy Castle, after a cold and 
 fatiguing journey; the hour was late, and nothing 
 could equal her astonishment when she entered the 
 gothichallto perceive a number of domestics assem- 
 bled, and being clasped in the arms of a beautiful lady, 
 who exclaimed "My daughter, dear recovered child! 
 blessed be providence for the joy 1 now experience I" . 
 An idea of such a mysterious nature darted through 
 the brain of Agnes, and she fell senseless on the 
 floor ; she recovered from the swoon, but a danger- 
 ous fever seized ber, and three weeks elapsed before 
 the physicians declared her out of danger. The first 
 day she was able to sit up, Agnes was much surprised 
 to behold Lord Colville led in by his Either, and 
 Lady Almeria, for as such she recognised the lovei^ 
 being who had received her on the night of her arri- 
 val ; the attentions which she met with overwhelmed 
 ber with confusion, for they were so very pointed 
 that she could not reconcile them to her former ne- 
 glected sU»teon leaving Blossom Lodge, and the re- 
 pugnance of the earl to her having any interviews 
 with Lord Colville, but the whole was briefly and 
 most pleasingly explained ; Lady Almeria eluding the 
 vigilenceof her aged relation, by means of a female 
 servant was privately, but with every legal form 
 married to Mr. Darlington previous to his departure 
 abroad, which he contrived to procrastinate some 
 weeks beyond the given poriod ; on finding herself 
 pregnant she feigned an indisposition that confined 
 her to her chamber ; this she could not have done 
 without the aid of the medical gentleman who at- 
 tended her ; but he was secured to their interest 
 by Darlington. On the birth of the infant, he con- 
 veyed it away to his own dwelling, where it was se- 
 cretly fostered by his wife, till Almeria had gained 
 sufficient strength to carry her first plan into execu- 
 
THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. 31 
 
 lion of comroitting the infant to the care of Mrs. 
 Irwin, at whose house she had passed many of her 
 youthful days ; but through the caprice of her fa- 
 ther had not for some time visited ; she was ac- 
 companied by her medical friend in this expedition ; 
 they so exerted themselves, that a few hours sufficed 
 for A lraeria*s absence, and aided by the female servant, 
 it was not known but she still lay confined to her bed. 
 She trusted all to future changes in her favour; but 
 thedeathof Mr. Darlington annihilated all prospects, 
 and she became as formerly stated a maniac. Dur- 
 ing this unhappy period, the earl by taking possession 
 of her papers, gained proofs of her marriage, and its 
 consequences, and in order to take vengeance on her 
 for this disobedience, he informed her, when she be- 
 came convalescent of the death of her child, having 
 bribed the female servant who had formerly befriended 
 her, to that purpose* Sunk into apathy and disregard 
 to the world, she remained the victim of sorrow, and 
 never took any pains to prove her marriage or claims 
 on the Darlington fami I}. The letter of her brother, 
 aroused ail her feelings ; in Agnes she beheld her child 
 and immediately imparted the history of her sufferings 
 to her brother. 
 
 Proofs were found without difficulty ; Almeria was 
 declared the wife, and her child the daughter, of the 
 late Edward Darlington, and put into immediate pos- 
 session of a magnificent fortune ; and three r^onths 
 after this event, L#ord Colville received the hand of 
 his fair cousin at the Hymenial altar ; the two bride- 
 maids were the earl's daughters, for now fortune 
 seemed to smile upon Agnes Lady Jemima no longer 
 objected Agnes as a sister. To complete the general 
 rejoicing Lady Conyers, who lay seriously ill con- 
 fessed the crime of forging a new will, and declayed 
 that Sir Marcus's affections were never in the least de- 
 gree estranged from Agnes ; she died three days after 
 this disclosure, and left an instrument by which Lady 
 Colvjlle was reinstated in her rights. 
 
 Mrs. Irwin would fain have apologised for her harsh 
 conduct, but her sophistry met with deserved conteoif^ 
 
32 THE EVE OF ST. AC^ES.- 
 
 and she repenled, too late, of her unjfistifiable crn^l^y to 
 A gn es when enires t'lug her pro (ec lutn. The fa i t h fu 1 
 Alary w4s rewarded for her services; and the Uively 
 heroine oC this Ljstory ill the iiocieiy of a la^^ther ^3 
 deservedly dear, and the arms of an ndoriiig liu^band, 
 pass<*d the remainder of hsr days in felicity' eiiJ culin 
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFOR3 
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 Return to desk from which 
 This book is DUE on the last date 
 
 
 
 2lNov'51KUA 
 
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 " 8Nov'5Tt." 
 
 MAYl 1962 
 
 ■_ 260ct'54fii 
 
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 OCT 2 8 1954^8 
 
 LI) 21-100m-ll,'49(B7146sl6)470 
 
YA niPR^ 
 
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