hat the lady is
very beautiful--and amiable as she is beautiful--and that their passion
for each other amounts to idolatry;--but neither her beauty, nor her
wealth, nor her goodness could justify my son in an act of such cruel
and abandoned perfidy to a creature who seems to be more nearly related
to the angelic nature than the human."

"You see, my children," observed Mr. Sinclair, "that the worst, as far
as relates to Osborne, is before us. I have nothing now to add to what I
have already said on the receipt of the letter from Bath. You know
your duty, and with God's assistance I trust you will act up to it.
At present it might be fatal to our child were she to know what has
happened; nor, indeed, are we qualified to break the matter to her,
without the advice of some medical man, eminent in cases similar to that
which afflicts her."

These observations were scarcely concluded when Jane entered the room,
and as usual, cast a calm but searching glance around her. She saw that
they had been in tears, and that they tried in vain to force their faces
I into a hurried composure, that seemed strangely at variance with what
they felt.

After a slight pause she sat down, and putting her hand to her temple,
mused for some minutes. They observed that a sorrow more deep and
settled than usual, was expressed on her countenance. Her eyes were
filled, although tears did not come, and the muscles of her lips
quivered excessively; yet she did not speak; and such was the solemnity
of the moment to them, who knew all, that none of them could find voice
sufficiently firm to address her.

"Papa," said she, at length, "this has been a day of busy thought with
me. I think I see, and I am sure I feel my own situation. The only
danger is, that I may feel it too much. I fear I have felt it--(she
put her hand to her forehead as she spoke)--I fear I have felt it too
deeply already. Pauses--lapses, or perhaps want of memory for a certain
space, occasioned by--by------" she hesitated. "Bear with me, papa,
and mamma; bear with me; for this is a great effort; let me recollect
myself, and do not question me or--speak to me until I------. It is, it
is woeful to see me reduced to this; but nothing is seriously wrong with
me yet--nothing. Let me see; yes, yes, papa, here it is. Let us not be
reduced to the miserable necessity of watching each other, as we have
been. Let me know the worst. You have nearly broken me down by suspense.
Let me know the