it, the balm that softens its endurance, imparted to her soul a
fortitude to bear, and a wisdom to extricate herself from the perils
by which she was assailed. The following letter acquainted Lord
Greville with her final determination:


"Greville,--I was about, in the inadvertence of my bewildered mind,
to address you once more by the title of husband; but that holy name
must hereafter perish on my lips, and be banished like a withering
curse from my heart. Yet it was that alone which, holding a sacred
charter over my bosom, bound me to the cheerful endurance of many a
bitter hour, ere I knew that through him who bore it, a descendant of
the house of Percy would be banded as an adulteress; and her child as
the nameless offspring of shame. Rich as I was in worldly gifts, my
birth, my character, the fair fortunes which you have blighted, and
the parental care from which you have withdrawn me, alike appeared to
shelter me from the evils which have befallen me--but wo is me! Even
these were an insufficient protection against the craftiness of mine
enemy!

"But reproaches avail me not. Henceforth I will shut up my sorrow
and my complaining within the solitude of my own wounded heart--and
thou, 'my companion, my counsellor, mine own familiar friend,' the
beloved of my early youth, the father of my child, must be from this
hour be as nothing unto me!

"Hear my decision. Since one who has already trampled upon every tie,
divine and human, at the instigation of his won evil passions, would
scarcely be deterred from further wickedness by any argument of
mine, I dare not tempt the mischief contemplated by your ungovernable