onated, as the
fatal cause became gradually, and at last strongly suspected. Some
attempts were made by myself and others to invite the confidence of Mr
Devereux; but from all allusion to that mysterious influence so visibly
exercised over him, he shrank with a morbid sensitiveness which made it
impossible to proceed, without seriously offending; and when I last
conferred on the subject with Mrs Eleanor, she requested me, with tears,
to desist from all farther interposition, "for, alas!" said the dear
lady, "all such attempts are, I am convinced, hopeless, and only inflict
additional pain on my beloved brother, even exciting in him a degree of
irritability, of which his mild spirit was till lately unsusceptible."
My late observations of the change in Mr Devereux's once equable
temper, but too well corroborated the qualified and reluctant hint thus
drawn from his devoted sister; and to me it was obvious, likewise, that
the mental powers of my venerable friend, always more characterised by
kindliness of nature, than by admixture of the "sterner stuff," which
goes to the composition of moral strength, had been for some time
yielding to the weight of some intolerable burden, and that as years and
infirmities grew upon him, his natural timidity became almost shyness,
and so helped to preclude him from the benefit of good offices which
many were ready to render him, had the least opening on his part
encouraged them to solicit greater confidence.

But the days drew near when our poor friend was to be bereaved of his
last earthly comfort--the companionship of this tender sister, who had
said truly, "That no evil influence could ever estrange their hearts
from each other, however it might have robbed her of her brother's
confidence." As they had grown up together in love and unity, so was her
life devoted to him to the last, and her faithfulness perfected in the
manner of her death. For though he never knew it (thank God! that drop
of bitterness was spared), her life was sacrificed to her anxiety for
his comfort, and her reluctance to cause him a moment's distress, or
even impatience, which it was in her power to avert.

For many years Mrs Eleanor Devereux, as well as her brother, had
been subject to periodical fits of gout, their hereditary malady. Mr
Devereux's attacks had always been most obstinate and painful, though
never alarming, as affecting only the hands and feet. His sister's
were still slighter, though more frequent