to the castle, the self-content of gratified benevolence spread a
glow over her countenance which almost dispelled the clouds of sorrow
still lingering there. All went well with us, and if I dared not
flatter myself with being passionately beloved, I felt assured that
I should in time obtain her entire confidence.

"I was beginning to look forward with the happy anxiety of affection
to the event of Lady Greville's approaching confinement, when one
morning I was surprised by the arrival of a courier with a letter
from the Duke of Buckingham. I was astonished that he should take the
trouble of renewing a correspondence with me; as a very slight degree
of friendship had originally subsisted between us; and the
displeasure publicly testified by Charles on my hasty removal from
his service, had hitherto freed me from the importunities of my
courtier acquaintance. The letter was apparently one of mere
complimentary inquiry after the health of Lady Greville, to whom
there was an enclosure, addressed to Miss Marchmont, which he begged
me to deliver with his respectful services to my much-esteemed lady.
He concluded with announcing some public news of a nature highly
gratifying to every Briton, in the detail of a great victory obtained
by our fleet over the Dutch admiral, De Ruyter. It was that, my
Helen, in which your noble brother fell, a the moment of obtaining
one of the most signal successes hitherto recorded in the naval
annals of our country. You were too young to be conscious of the
public sympathy testified towards this intrepid and unfortunate man,
but I may safely affirm with the crafty Buckingham, that his loss
dearly purchased even the splendid victory he had obtained. 'What
news from the court,' said Theresa, as I entered the apartment in
which she sat.