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first evening of their meeting, by endeavouring merely to impress them with the wisdom of seizing the present moment for religious improvement, and not putting off repentance to a future time. She then proposed, if agreeable, to repeat a short story which she thought much to the purpose of their present conversation: and the young ladies expressing their satisfaction at this proposal, the lady of the manor accordingly proceeded to relate

THE HISTORY OF THE LADY CAROLINE

"My father," said the lady of the manor, "inherited a small estate in the immediate neighbourhood of the superb mansion of the Earl of S My father's property, indeed, was so intermingled with the domains of this nobleman, that it became, like the vineyard of Naboth to the King of Samaria, a matter of great uneasiness to the earl. But, as the house and grounds had bren long in our family, my father could not bring his mind to part with them, although he indulged the taste of the Earl in the decorations of his house, and the arrangement of his grounds, in order to render his small dwelling as little of an eye-sore as possible to the nobleman and his visitors.

"Our house was very old; and, having formed part of an ancient monastery, it was allowed, when repaired by my father, to retain as much of its former character as possible. Many of the gothic windows were filled with stained glass; the grotesque figures of carved wood were still left in their ancient situations over the doors and windows; and the rude crosses were permitted to retain their places on those parts of the roof on which they had been originally fixed. The gardens also were laid out in a style corresponding with the house; and the same taste was consulted in the arrangement of the interior of the dwelling, at least as far as did not interfere with the comfort of its inhabitants.

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There was a room at the very top of the house, which extended the whole length of the building. This room was in fact only a garret, having a sloping roof, with such windows jutting out from the roof as are frequently seen in old buildings: these, however, were em

bellished with much grotesque carving, while the higher parts of them were decorated with panes of old painted glass. My father made this room his study, furnishing it with book-shelves and suitable desks, enriching the wall between the book-cases with certain old prints, bronze busts, and figures on pedestals; which, together with such samples of old chairs and tables as he was able to collect, formed an assortment of furniture which might well have suited the abbots and monks who formerly occupied the house.

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My father was as singularly attached to old books as to old furniture; in consequence of which his venerable book-cases were seldom disgraced by modern works in handsome bindings: and, as he undertook the literary part of my education, he failed not to endeavour to inspire me with the same taste.

"In this apartment, which I have thus minutely described, I always spent several hours of every day. It was in one of the above-mentioned windows, which projected from the roof, that my chair and desk were placed, and near to it my little shelf of books and workbasket.

Thus I

"I had no sister; and my brothers being much older than myself, and for the most part absent from home, either at school or at college, I was from early childhood much accustomed to be alone, and, in consequence, became extremely fond of solitude; although, I am sorry to say, that I did not often employ the opportunities afforded by this solitude to the best purposes. spent many hours in my little cell, as my father used to call it, sometimes enjoying great happiness there, and at other times enduring as much misery, in proportion as my mind was directed to proper subjects or otherwise. But I have reason to think, that my indulgent parents never suspected the cause of a certain oppression of spirits, which, nevertheless, they must have occasionally observed in me.

"There are some persons, who can specify the day, and even the hour, in which they first received religious impressions: this however is not my case; since I am unable to remember the time when I had not some sense of the importance of religion, and when my conduct and feelings were not in some degree influenced by it. But

these impressions were extremely different at different times: so that while I recollect certain periods of my youth in which I felt my heart considerably drawn towards heavenly things, I remember also many other seasons in which I was ready to sacrifice every thing to the world.

"My parents seized the earliest opportunities of giving me Christian instruction; nor did they relax their efforts of this kind, until they were separated from me by death. They also took infinite pains to give me simple Christian habits; at the same time very anxiously setting me the example of all that they wished me to be. My father was a truly pious man, and a laborious parishpriest; while my mother was self-denying, humble, and active in the performance of every Christian duty. Under such parents, it would have been strange, if I had not at least become acquainted with the leading doctrines of Christianity, and acquired some religious habits. But a real change of heart is a divine work, and cannot be effected by the most careful or laborious course of instruction. It is sometimes however very difficult to distinguish in young persons the effect of godly example and a pious education from those effectual workings of the Holy Spirit, by which a vital change is operated in the heart; more especially as, after this change, the natural corruptions still continue to work within, and sometimes with seemingly greater violence than before, being put in motion by that subtile power which worketh in the children of disobedience. On these accounts I cannot undertake to say at what period of my life I was first made really sensible of divine impressions; though, as I before said, I can remember deriving some pleasure from religious pursuits even in my early youth.

"I was very early taught to find satisfaction in visiting the poor, in working for them, and reading to them. My Bible was represented to me as an inexhaustible source of sweet meditation, affording endless prospects of peace and glory. My father also took great pains in leading me to admire the beautiful works of creation, and to consider them as so many earnests of what the Father of all good has promised to provide for those who love him, in the world to come: so that every tree

and every flower, the murmuring brooks and shady woods, the star-light nights and sunny days, in my young imagination were made to abound with sweet promises and pleasant prospects of everlasting bliss; the door to which was already opened by a dear and suffering Saviour. The effect of these cheering and pious instructions, particularly during the first ten or eleven years of my life, was at times so powerful as to maintain a prevailing influence upon my mind; under which I was accustomed to enjoy so sweet a peace, that my little cell appeared to me no other than a paradise, of which I could truly say, Lord, it is good for me to be here. (Matt. xvii. 4.) And thus it will ever be found, in every situation of life-when we live near to God, and conform ourselves in all things to the divine will, we shall be happy: but, whenever our will rises in opposition to the sovereign pleasure of the Almighty, our peace will depart from us.

"I mentioned before, that my father's little estate bordered closely upon the domains of the Earl of SThe two houses were in such near neighbourhood, that when occupying my usual place in my father's study, which was, as I before described it, in the roof of our house, I could from thence observe any one standing at the door or windows of the mansion-house, distinctly enough to discern in what manner such persons might be employed.

"There was nothing intervening between the two houses except a little grass-plot in the front of my father's habitation, a narrow lane or coach-way, and a very small part of the earl's pleasure-ground. Moreover, exactly opposite to my window there stood an iron gate of slight construction, which formed so considerable an opening among the trees as to leave my view entirely unobstructed.

"That part of the mansion-house which faced my window was not the grand front of the house, but that which contained some of the more private apartments; and among the rest, those occupied by Lady Caroline, the only daughter of the earl, her governess, and her maid. On this side was also a portico, supporting a large balcony, into which the young lady's rooms opened, and upon which she often came out, when the

weather would admit, to read, to play upon her harp, or to study her lesson.

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Lady Caroline was a few years older than myself, and, having a fine person, appeared to my young and foolish mind the model of all human perfection; though there was, perhaps, very little in her that was truly admirable for it has since occurred to me, that her manners, which I then thought so charming, were sometimes haughty, cold, and distant, and at other times superciliously condescending. Self was mingled, or rather predominant in every action; and she perhaps never moved or spoke in public, without studying effect. Neither could any thing better have been expected in the common course of things from this unhappy young lady, whose education was of the most superficial kind, and who was constantly surrounded by flatterers. She was, however, handsome; was possessed of many showy accomplishments; was richly and fashionably clothed; was never addressed but with the utmost respect; rode in a coach; and lived in a superb house-she was, therefore, to me not only an object of admiration, but, at length, of the most vehement envy: which last sinful feeling at times gained so much upon me, as very materially to interrupt my peace. Nevertheless, although I knew this feeling to be wrong, I did not resist it; or, rather, I did not use the means appointed by God for the mortification of it, but allowed it to remain as a thorn in my flesh, to the total destruction of my comfort.

"Whenever the earl's family were absent from this seat, which often happened, then, by employing my thoughts less about Lady Caroline, I in a great measure recovered my happiness, becoming, as I fancied, content with my humble situation. On her return, however, my supposed humility constantly disappeared: I became dissatisfied with myself and all about me; thinking of little else than this envied object, and even going so far as sometimes to wish I could change places with her.

"Had the Almighty granted my wish," continued the lady of the manor, "how dreadful to me would have been the consequences of my vain desire! My heavenly Father however dealt not with me according to my deserts; but, while he made me feel my sin, he spared me

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