Percival, whofe character, fave in one fatal inftance, was marked by a judgment whofe quick decifion penetrated with a glance the various operations of the human mind, faw, that the once-admired equality of Lord Belmour's temper was for ever loft. Haftily therefore he led him from the scene, where all his misfortunes had originated, and bade once more that shore adieu to which they had fo lately fteered with the triumphant prow of certain happiness and welcome. Six days of treasured grief the woe-ftruck Belmour paffed, nor breathed a lamenting word or fighPercival, faid he, on the feventh, have you not heard in early youth my long feclufion from the ways of men? Pride and indignation then bade me hide my difhonoured head: but now, O! generous youth, an infeparable blow, whofe opening wounds the lenient hand of time can never heal, rankles here in flow but certain poifón. I blush at a weakness disgraceful to the wonted firmnefs of my nature. You fhall hear no more of these womanish complaints. I fhall fee my monarch, and to his hand refign the delegated truft of royal confidence. Then, Percival, a long farewell to the delufive paths of the diffembler hope. Percival, dreading the derangement of his faculties, made many useless efforts to engage him in converfation; the noble equanimity of Lord Belmour's foul was gone for ever. Whole days did he fit rapt in bitterness of recollection, and gloomy filence, the prey of apathy, mifanthropy, and every jarring principle combined. In this ftate did they land in England, and the first tidings they received were that the long-expected death of Lady Conftantia had taken place the day before. Belmour glanced an eye at heaven, not of meek fubmiffion, but of defiance and reproach; its mute expreffion feemed to fay no farther power has thy defolating hand to vifit Belmour.. The hard task of telling Lady Catherine, who was now perfectly recovered from her late illness; the timeless fate of her fair friend, and melancholy state of her brother's mind, was left for Percival to fulfil; with caution, feeling, and delicacy, did he acquit himself: hardly was her attached and affectionate heart lefs agonized than Lord Belmour's-fhe flew to foothe his feelings, while her own, hid in the clofe receffes of her foul, could ill beftow the confoling balm of pity to another. Difgufted and weary of the world, ere the utmost speed could carry her to England, the Earl had arranged his family affairs, and fet off for his estate in Kent once more: but with a different fenfation from that which firft impelled him to become its inhabitant. A high and vindictive fpirit urged him then now, alas! a load of irreparable misfortune had fubdued that benignity and exalted fenfe that long had held him to public view as the ftandard of perfection for an approving world to imitate. Captain Percival he left to receive, and conduct his fifter, to Kent, whither he doubted not the Would immediately follow, 26sh br “GRAŠVILLE GRASVILLE ABBEY: A ROMANCE. BY G. M. [CONTINUED FROM P. 523, DECEMBER.] To wake the foul by tender strokes of art, POPE. HY was fuperior ftrength, fortitude, and courage given to man? Why does he naturally inherit thefe bleffings in a greater degree than woman? To protect the weak and defenceless from the gripe and cruelty of the wicked-to give fuccour to those who in their nature are lefs capable of bearing up againft impofition; and who confequently require that aid, which, according to the laws of chriftianity, he is bound to afford them. Who is the caufe of this horrid downfall to infamy and fhame?Man! he who in the book of nature was ordained to bear the image of the Supreme Being, and created to take on him the godlike office of protector to the female part of the world; yet doth he blunt his feelings against every trait of humanity, and dares destroy that which the Almighty intended he fhould preferve. Of this defcription there are many; but it is to be hoped they are greatly overbalanced by the more noble and generous part of mankind; who equally feel the effects, of beauty, yet fcorn to gratify their paffions by villainous and deliberate fchemes of feduction. Count d'Olifont was ftruck with Matilda's charms, the first evening he was at Sir Peter's; and, in the few minutes interval between seeing her, and being introduced, he fettled within his own mind, if poffible, to feduce her. The count was a man who experienced no disturbance from the intrufion of honour, confcience, or feeling: the milk of human kindness was not in any refpect concerned, in foftening his compofition: the tear of compaffion was never feen in his eye, nor could the most difmal tale, or even fight of woe, procure from him an accent of pity, or even a sympathetic figh. The gratification of his paffions was his whole concern, nor did he ftop at any thing to accomplish what his wifhes prompted him to poffefs. He now enjoyed the whole eitates and large fortune of count Maferini, grandfather to Alfred and Matilda; he could therefore well afford to live in the moft fplendid and elegant manner. On riches he chiefly depended to fucceed with the ladies; as he knew his age would almost give him the title of an elderly man. He had juft planned in what manner to make his attack on the beautiful young foreigner; when Sir Peter Pevyquill (as was before related) led him up, and introduced her under the name of Maserini. The The picture of her father plainly confirmed who he was. A fudden horror overcame him; he felt a fomething ftrike his heart, which he had heard defcribed as the touch of remorfe; he, however, foon recovered, and refumed his natural gaiety and politenefs. Yet the behaviour of Alfred did not go unnoticed by him, and it feemed as if he had actually known thofe intentions, the former had been weighing in his mind, five minutes before. Reft forfook the pillow of the count that night; his ideas of feduction received a check at the mention of the name, yet every circumftance coincided with his withes, except her brother-Him he feared. Mean and daftardly in his difpofition, he was fearful even as a child, and would fhrink like a wretched reptile from the juft revenge of a man whom he had cringed to with meannefs, for the purpose of deftroying his happiness, and ruining his family. He refolved not to be too hally in the affair, but in every refpect to make himself agreeable to Matilda, and wait for an opportunity when, by fome means or other, Alfred fhould be unable to afford that protection his fifter would require. That opportunity was now arrived; the taylor who had threatened in a letter to arreft him, was the fame that made the count's clothes; it was he who first perfuaded the man to take that method; fuppofing that not being able in fo fhort a time to procure bail, he must be confined at leaft for one night, and during that time he could by force, finding that none of his perfuafive eloquence had any effect on Matilda, convey her to fome fecret spot, where he might, unmolefted, take advantage of her fituation. This diabolical fcheme was, accordingly, with the greateft deliberation, put into execution, and the taylor informed the count in the evening, that he had not received his money; the latter then ordered the man on pain of his displeasure, and entire lofs of his cuftom, not to fail to put his threats in practice. To add greater force to this requeft, he prefented him with a ten pound bank note, over and above the bill he then paid him; and received a folemn promife in return, that his wishes fhould be accomplished with the greatest exactness. Count d'Olifont then proceeded to Sir Peter Pevyquill's; he plainly perceived there had been a mifunderstanding between the ladies, but it did not in any respect alter his plan. He prefented the family with tickets for a grand mafquerade, which was to be at the Pantheon the next evening, and alfo begged Mr. Millvérne's acceptance of one, who entered the room foon after him. Matilda at firit declined going, but the count would take no refufal; the feemed particularly cool in her behaviour towards him, but this did not in any refpe&t damp his fpirits in the plot he had undertaken. In the courfe of converfation, he hinted that he should like Mr. Maferini to be of the party, and pretended he fhould likewife fend him a ticket the following morning. He gave them to understand the marager of it was patronized by himfelf, and confequently he fhould exert his intereft as much as poffible in his behalf. The count, Mr. Millverne, and Henry Pevyquill, escorted the ladies to a concert: they returned to fupper. Mr. Millverne feemed unhappy, Matilda extremely dejected. She enquired how he left he VOL. VI. E brothe brother; he did not wish to relate to her the manner in which Alfred flew from the carriage; but turned the converfation by saying, he could not perfuade him to take a dinner. She would have continued, but was interrupted by the count's afking in what characters they intended to appear: Matilda and Mr. Millverne refolved to go in dominos; Henry Pevyquill declared he fhould affume the character of Don Quixote; Sir Peter, a hermit; her ladyfhip a nun; and mifs Pevyquill, a gipfy. The count faid he did not think himself able to fupport a character, and therefore fhould follow the example of his fair coufin, (as he was pleafed to file her) and appear in no particular drefs. About one o'clock he took his leave, and promifed to be with them the next evening. Mr. Millverne likewife appointed to call in Grofvenor-fquare at the fame hour. Matilda retired to her chamber, but not to fleep; fhe disliked even the fight of count d'Olifont; yet fhe had confented to be conducted by him to a masquerade. It was an entertainment fhe had múch wifhed to fee; but had heard of its being a dangerous fcene of amufement. She however refolved, if poffible, to perfuade her brother to accompany them, and for once be the caufe of fpending a diffipated evening the fhould then confider herself fafe in his prefence, and have greater enjoyment of the entertainment. : Alfred Maferini arofe in the morning, more compofed than he had been for many weeks; having already refolved immediately on receiving the fum he expected from M. le Mercier, to discharge his debts, and retire with his fifter to France. He fat down to breakfast, again thanked Leonard for his care, and told him of the alterations in his fentiments; he obferved on the table a letter directed to him; having afked from whom it came, he was informed a man brought it early in the morning, and faid it required no anfwer: the contents of it were as follow. "To Mr. MASERINĮ. "Strange as an anonymous letter may feem under the prefent circumftances, yet I conjure you for the fake of your own happiness and the honour of your fifter, to obey the dictates it contains. Count d'Olifont has engaged Sir Peter Pevy quill's family to a masquerade this evening at the Pantheon; and it is his intention in the course of the night to convey mifs Maferini by treachery, to a house he has provided in the country, for his purpofe; where he will take every advantage of her fituation. He is alfo determined to deprive her of your protection, by keeping you away, which scheme he has planned with the taylor, who fent to you for money yefterday. The man will call this morning and arreft you if the bill is not difcharged; be not of fended at feeing the enclosed hundred pound bank note, as you may not immediately be able to procure the fum: pay him, and, if poffible, perfuade him to keep the knowledge of it from the count. I have alfo fent you a ticket for the mafquerade; fail not to be there; but by no means difcover yourfelf to the party, whom you will recognise in the characters of a hermit, a nun, a gipfy, and Don Quixote. Among them will be three dominos, which are the difguifes of your fifter, Mr. Millverne, and the count; watch diligently the latter, whom whom you will obferve draw the young lady to a private room, and then, by force, take her to a carriage, that is to wait at the back-door of the building. I leave the rest to you; fail not to follow minutely this letter, as you value your peace of mind for ever. A FRIEND. Alfred's astonishment at reading this extraordinary epiftle may well be conceived. He fhewed it to Leonard, and asked his advice; the old man begged him to attend to its contents: No one, fir, (faid he,) could have an interest in writing fuch a letter, and the bank note fully confirms it to be no idle frolick. His ideas were the fame as his mafter's, and they determined to execute implicitly the directions given. The receiving of the money hurt him, but it was abfolutely necessary to discharge the debt as he had none of his own, till that he had fent for, arrived; he however refolved to find out, if poffible, the perfon, and repay him with every acknowledgment, if his fufpicions were well grounded. Alfréd determined in the first place, not to fee his fifter, and gave Leonard orders that if any of the fervants should come from Grofvenorfquare, to fend word back he was not at home. About eleven o'clock, the taylor arrived, was introduced, and received his money. The man was aftonished. Alfred infifted on his taking a glafs of wine, and made him a prefent for the trouble he had caused. He then related to him the fcheme which he had heard was to be put in practice by the count and himself. Surprize, guilt, and confternation, ftopt the taylor's utterance; he believed it must be fome fupernatural power that had informed him of it. Alfred argued with him for fome time, explained the villainy of such proceedings, and the ruin that might have enfued. In fhort, he worked fo much on the poor fellow's feelings, that he fell at his feet, asked him a thousand pardons, and begged to know if he could in any refpect ferve him, to recompenfe the injury he had intended to commit. Alfred took him at his word, and informed him that the only way to make reparation, would be to go immediately to the count, and fay that every circumstance had fucceeded to his wifhes, for that Mr. Maferini was in clofe confinement. The man promised to be punctual in the meffage, and, after again thanking him for his generofity, departed.. As it was expected, a fervant called from Sir Peter's, to say that mifs Maferini wifhed much to fee her brother. Leonard told him he was just gone out. Alfred then fent to procure his dress with as much fecrecy as poffible: it was a plain domino that he might not be observed. In the courfe of the afternoon, the fervant from Grofvenor-fquare arrived a fecond time; but was anfwered as before that Mr. Maferini was not yet returned; he left a note from his fifter, and defired it might be given him as foon as he came home. Alfred opened it, Matilda informed him how much against her inclination it was to accompany the count to a masquerade; yet fhe could not decline the invitation without abfolute rudeness. She requested her brother would be there, and concluded with faying, fhe fuppofed he had also received a ticket. He |