to use for many years, and which it would occasion her the most lively grief to be deprived of?"

"I do not wish to deprive her of them," replied Isabella. 66 'If she remains in this house, they shall be removed to the apartments I have destined for her."

"I repeat my determination," said Clarissa, "that I will never leave her: and as I cannot remain with her here, I would take her hence though I were to beg my bread with her from door to door."

'Fine exalted sentiments, indeed!" said Isabella; “and all uttered at my expence! But, as I before said, you are at liberty to take her hence whenever you please."

"And will you deprive her of all her little favourite possessions?" said Clarissa.

"Prove to me that these things are hers," replied Isabella, "and I will no longer oppose your taking them."

"And can it be possible that such unimportant trifles should become a question between an afflicted parent and a daughter possessing your fortune, Isabella?" ask

ed Clarissa.

"And do you not see, Clarissa," said Isabella, “that the question does not lie between me and my mother, but between you and me?"

"How so?" said Clarissa.

"You are going to take my mother from hence. You will have the advantage of her income; and yet you expect me to provide her furniture!"

"I understand you now, Isabella," said Clarissa, "which I own I did not at first. Let the goods be valued, and I will pay for them with all my heart, yea, twice the sum which you might require, rather than permit my dear mother to be deprived of a single article of furniture to which she is attached."

The young ladies being now come to an understanding, the several articles in poor Mrs. Danzy's apartment were valued, and Clarissa entered into an engagement to pay their price as soon as they should be delivered into her possession.

In the mean time, Mrs. Beauchamp signified to Clarissa, that it was hers and Mr. Egerton Beauchamp's intention to give a ball: on which occasion Isabella in

timated, that it would be necessary to throw the two apartments into one; and that, therefore, the sooner her mother could be removed, the more convenient it would be.

Clarissa received this hint from Isabella without uttering a single word; for she was even anxious to be gone, and had no other difficulty to manage, except that of breaking the matter to her mother in the best possible way. She consulted her physician on this subject; and was advised by him not to trouble her poor parent till it should become quite necessary so to do, as she would thereby be preserved from many perplexing apprehensions and terrors. Clarissa approved of this advice, and made every exertion to prepare all things which could be prepared for her mother's reception at the new house, as well as for the comfort of her uncle and the other parts of her family, which was to consist of the nurse and her husband, two female servants of lower order, a gardener, a coachman, and a young person who assisted the nurse in waiting on poor Mrs. Danzy.

On the day previous to that fixed for Mrs. Danzy's removal, every other member of the family, excepting those required to wait upon the poor lady, moved into the new house; Clarissa giving orders, that proper persons should be prepared, about the middle of the next day, to remove the furniture from the old apartments, and replace it in the new ones.

The morning fixed for the removal being a very fine one, Clarissa, as soon as her poor mother was dressed, persuaded her to go out in her little garden-chair into the paddock; and, as all the rest of her people were going to be engaged in removing and arranging the furniture, Clarissa alone attended her, with the young servant (by name Fanny) whom we have before mentioned. When they were in the paddock, Clarissa desired the little carriage might be stopped; and, while her mother sat in it, she rested at her feet, endeavouring to open to her, in the tenderest manner, the necessity there was of an immediate removal.

The old lady seemed at once astonished and angry; but, after a while, the natural sweetness of her temper prevailed. And when she was made to understand, that she must either be separated from Clarissa and her other

attendants, or consent to move with them, she did not hesitate one moment; but, bursting into tears, and throwing her arms round her daughter's neck, she declared, that she would rather forego every comfort of life, than be separated from her and her other dear attendants.

Clarissa kept the poor lady as long as she possibly could in the paddock, amusing her with an account of their new house and garden; describing how every thing was arranged there for her comfort, and who were to live in the house; particularly reminding her, that she might go into every room of that house, and all over the garden, without fear of interruption.

In this manner she entertained her mother till the usual dinner-hour, at which time they returned to the mansion; when Clarissa, with some difficulty, persuaded her poor mother, instead of going up stairs, to enter, with her, into the little study at one corner of the hall, which Mr. Barnet had lately occupied. There they found preparations for dinner; but Clarissa had considerable difficulty to induce her to eat, or to keep her in any degree composed.

Immediately after dinner, a written message was brought to Clarissa from the other house, to say that her presence was necessary there. The young lady was much distressed by this request; but, seeing no alternative, she left her mother with Fanny, promising to return as soon as possible.

On Fanny's being left alone with Mrs. Danzy, she used her utmost exertions to amuse her, and succeeded for a short time. But the poor lady, missing her daughter with her other attendants, presently became excessively restless, and, assuming a tone of authority, insisted upon going up to her own room; and such was her cunning, that, escaping from the door of the study before Fanny was aware, and hastily running up stairs, she made her way into her old apartments. But what was her horror and amazement, on reaching those beloved rooms, to find them quite empty, and thickly scattered over with dust and fragments of the wall! For her daughter Isabella, impatient to see her drawing-room enlarged, had already employed workmen to throw down the partitionwall of the two apartments.

At the sight of these things, poor Mrs. Danzy lost all

self-command, and breaking out into vehement expressions of grief and amazement, charged all with whom she had to do with the utmost cruelty, calling upon her husband as if he were still alive and could hear her, and lamenting her infant children as secretly suffering some very cruel persecution. At length, a flood of tears coming to her relief, she suffered Fanny to lead her down stairs. And the young woman would, no doubt, have succeeded in bringing her again into the study, had they not encountered Isabella and Mrs. Burton in the hall.

At sight of the latter, whom she had not seen for a long time, Mrs. Danzy shrieked with agony, looking wildly around her as one that would fly, yet not knowing whither to go. "You see, Madam," said Mrs. Burton, addressing Mrs. Beauchamp, while her eyes flamed with rage, "you see, Madam, how they have held me up as an object of abhorrence to the afflicted lady. Is not this hard to a faithful old servant, who has devoted the best of her days to the service of her mistress?"

"Be silent, Burton," said Isabella: "what avail such complaints as these? If Mrs. Danzy fears and dreads you; has she not precisely the same feelings for me, her own daughter? Thanks be to those who have inspired her with them, and who are building up their own character of filial piety upon the ruin of mine." Then turning to her mother, whose irresolution had kept her in one place for the last few minutes, she asked her, with forced but cold civility, whom or what she was seeking, and whether she would choose to walk into her parlour.

"I am seeking," said the poor lady, "all that I love, and all that once formed the happiness of my life-my husband, my children, my faithful servants. But they are all gone! gone! gone!-and that sweet young lady, whom they call Clarissa, she, too, is gone!—and I am left here alone, without a friend!" Here the poor lady burst into an agony of tears.

66

'Without a friend!" said Isabella, "what words are these, Madam? Let the world bear witness, that I am ready to be your friend, and this faithful woman to be your attendant."

Mrs. Danzy shuddered as she looked at Mrs. Burton, and whispered to Fanny, "Take me away from this house."

The whisper, though not intended to be heard, reached the ears of Isabella: on which she broke out with a vehemence of passion exceedingly indecent towards an afflicted parent. She charged her with an entire want of affection towards herself, as well as with excessive ingratitude to Mrs. Burton; pouring out the most vehement invectives against Clarissa and all of her favourite attendants.

The poor lady wept and trembled, and, moving with a stealing step towards the hall-door, seemed evidently to be meditating a flight, though she knew not whither.

Isabella perceived what she was about: whereupon, her indignation rising higher, she said, "Well, if it is your pleasure to go, you are at liberty so to do. I have offered you my protection and assistance; but since you reject both, it were better for you to depart, and seek refuge among those who may prove more agreeable to

you.

The old lady turned tremblingly towards her daughter, as she uttered these ungracious and undutiful expressions; and then, casting one look back on the large old hall in which she had in happier days reigned the supreme mistress, she stepped out upon the flight of steps before the door, where she was unexpectedly received into the arms of Clarissa, who happened to arrive at that very moment.

Clarissa threw a glance of high indignation at Isabella, who stood just within the great door-way; and, ordering Fanny to follow with her mother's hood and cloak, and any other little article belonging to her which might be left, she led her towards a neat plain carriage with which she had provided herself, and which was then waiting at the door.

When poor Mrs. Danzy was placed in the carriage beside her beloved daughter, she burst into an agony of tears, reclining her afflicted head on the bosom of that child in whom she had always found comfort. They waited only till Fanny had taken her place by their side, and then drove off. During their drive, which was short, Clarissa found means so effectually to soothe her mother, that the old lady was prepared to see, with pleasure, all that had been done and provided for her.

The carriage stopped at the neat dwelling which Cla