resumed her smiles, nor was she ungrateful to the ship's company for
their sympathy.

We were ordered up to Spithead with despatches, and long before we
arrived she had made the sergeant of marines the happiest of men, under
a promise of marriage at Kingston church before we sailed on our next
cruise, which promise was most honourably performed.

A midshipman's vacancy having occurred on board the frigate, the captain
offered it to me. I gladly accepted of it; and while he was in the
humour, I asked him for a week's leave of absence; this he also granted,
adding, at the same time, "No more French leave, if you please." I need
not say that not an hour of this indulgence was intended either for my
father or even the dear Emily. No, Eugenia, the beloved, in her
interesting condition, claimed my undivided care. I flew to G---, found
the troop; but she, alas! had left it a fortnight before, and had gone
no one knew whither.

Distracted with this fatal news, I sank into a chair almost senseless,
when one of the actresses brought me a letter: I knew the hand; it was
that of Eugenia. Rushing into an empty parlour, I broke the seal, and
read as follows:--

"Believe me, my dearest Mildmay, nothing but the most urgent necessity
could induce me to cause you the affliction which I know you will feel
on reading these lines. Circumstances have occurred since we parted,
that not only render it necessary that I should quit you, but also
that we should not meet again for some time; and that you should be
kept in ignorance of my place of abode. Our separation, though long,
will not, I trust, be eternal; but years may elapse before we meet
again. The sacrifice is great to me; but your honour and prosperity
demand it. I have the same ardent love towards you that I ever had;
and for your sake will love and cherish your child. I am supported in
_this_ my trial, by a hope of our being again united. God in heaven
bless you, and prosper all your undertakings. Follow up your
profession. I shall hear and have constant intelligence of all your
motions, and I shall pray to Heaven to spare your life amidst all the
dangers that your courage will urge you to encounter. Farewell! and
forget not her who never has you one moment from her thoughts.

"EUGENIA.

"PS. You may at times be short of cash; I know you are very
thoughtless in that respect. A letter to the subjoined address will
always