?" After musing again for
some time, she dropped on her knees in one of those rapid transitions of
feeling peculiar to persons of her unhappy class; and joining her
hands, looked up to Agnes with a countenance utterly and indescribably
mournful, exclaiming as she did it, in the same words as before:--

"Oh Agnes, Agnes, but my heart is heavy!"

She then laid down her head on her sister's knees, and for a long time
mused and murmured to herself, as if her mind was busily engaged on some
topic full of grief and misery. This was evident by the depth of
her sighs, which shook her whole frame, and heaved with convulsive
quiverings through her bosom. Having remained in this posture about ten
minutes, she arose, and without speaking, or noticing any of the family,
went out and sauntered with slow and melancholy steps about the place
where she loved to walk.

Mr. Sinclair's family at this period, and indeed, for a considerable
time past were placed, with reference to their unhappy daughter in
circumstances of peculiar distress. Their utter ignorance of Osborne's
designs put it out of their power to adopt any particular mode of
treatment in Jane's case. They could neither give her hope, nor prepare
her mind for disappointment; but were forced to look passively on,
though with hearts wrung into agony, whilst her miserable malady every
day gained new strength in its progress of desolation. The crisis was
near at hand, however, that was to terminate their suspense. A letter
from Mr. Osborne arrived, in which he informed them that Charles had
left Bath, for London, in company with a family of rank, a few days
before he reached it. He mentioned the name of the baronet, whose
beautiful daughter, possessing an ample fortune, at her own disposal,
fame reported to have been smitten with his son's singular beauty and
accomplishments. It was also said, he added, that the lady had prevailed
on her father to sanction young Osborne's addresses to her, and that
the baronet, who was a strong political partizan, calculating upon his
preeminent talents, intended to bring him into parliament, in order to
strengthen his party. He added that he himself was then starting for
London, to pursue his son, and rescue him from an act which would stamp
his name with utter baseness and dishonor.

This communication, so terrible in its import to a family of such
worth and virtue, was read to them by Mr. Sinclair, during one of those
solitary rambles which