rought on by fatigue.

Lord Margrave's house, to which he had gone previous to this occasion,
was situated in the lonely part of a well-known forest, not more than
twenty miles distant from London: this was an estate he rarely visited;
and as he had but few servants here, it was a place which he supposed
would be less the object of suspicion in the present case, than any
other of his seats. To this, then, Lady Matilda was conveyed--a superb
apartment allotted her--and one of his confidential females placed to
attend upon her, with all respect, and assurances of safety.

Matilda looked in this woman's face, and seeing she bore the features of
her sex, while her own knowledge reached none of those worthless
characters of which this person was a specimen, she imagined that none
of those could look as she did, and therefore found consolation in her
seeming tenderness. She was even prevailed upon (by her promises to sit
by her side and watch) to throw herself on the bed, and suffer sleep for
a few minutes--for sleep to her was suffering; her fears giving birth to
dreams terrifying as her waking thoughts.

More wearied than refreshed with her sleep, she rose at break of day,
and refusing to admit of the change of an article in her dress, she
persisted to sit in the torn disordered habit in which she had been
dragged away; nor would she taste a morsel, of all the delicacies that
were prepared for her.

Her attendant, for some time observed the most reverential awe; but
finding this had not the effect of gaining compliance with her advice,
she varied her manners, and began by less submissive means to attempt an
influence. She said her orders were to be obedient, while she herself
was obeyed--at least in circumstances so material as the lady's health,
of which she had the charge as a physician, and expected equal
compliance from her patient--food and fresh apparel she prescribed as the
only means to prevent death; and even threatened her invalid with
something worse, a visit from Lord Margrave, if she continued obstinate.

Now loathing her for the deception she had practised, more, than had she
received her thus at first, Matilda hid her eyes from the sight of her;
and when she was obliged to look, she shuddered.

This female at length thought it her duty to wait upon her worthy
employer, and inform him the young lady in her trust would certainly
die, unless there were means employed to oblige her to take some
nourishment.