not gaze upon the woman whose affections had been so partially, so
disinterestedly bestowed upon me, and whose existence I had in return
polluted by a pretended marriage.--I could not behold of my boy, the
descendant of two of the noblest houses in Britain, yet upon whom the
stain of illegitimacy might hereafter rest, without feelings of self-
accusation which filled the cup of life with the waters of
bitterness. Alas! its very springs were poisoned--and Helen, however
strong, however just thine indignation against thy betrayer, believe,
oh! believe that even in this life I have endured no trifling
measure of punishment for my deep offences against thee and thine!

"But such is the frailty of human nature that it was upon these very
victims I suffered the effects of my remorse and mental agony to all.
The ill-suppressed violence of my temper, irritated by the
dangers of my situation, has already caused you many a sorrowful
moment; and the increase of gloom you must have lately perceived, has
originated in the fresh difficulties arising to me from the death of
the husband of Alice; and the dread of her own approaching
dissolution. From these causes my present visit to this dreary abode
was determined, and to them I am indebted for the premature
disclosure which has made her life as wretched as my own. The
sickness of her surviving attendant has latterly allowed more liberty
to the unhappy Theresa than her condition renders safe either to her
or me. I could not on my arrival here collect sufficient resolution
to look upon her; and to adopt those measures of security which the
weakness of Alice has left disregarded. To this infirmity of purpose
on my part must be ascribed the dreadful shock you sustained by the
sudden appearance of the unfortunate maniac, who I conclude was
attracted to your apartment by the long-forgotten sound of music. On
that fatal evening your fall awoke me from my sleep; and I then