she has no longer
possession of him.'

"Alas! what a demon had taken possession of me! The letter further
said, that she was coming over directly, and that she expected to be
shortly confined. This letter was addressed to me, and not to my
father. The death of her husband did not diminish my hatred against my
sister; on the contrary, I felt as if I had her now in my power, and
that my revenge upon her was about to be accomplished. After meditating
upon what course I should pursue, I determined to write to her. I did
so, stating that my father's anger was not to be appeased; that I had
tried all I could to soften his wrath, but in vain; that he was growing
weaker every day, and I thought her rash conduct had been the cause of
it; that I did not think that he could last much longer, and I would
make another appeal to him in her favour, which the death of her husband
would probably occasion to be more successful.

"In a fortnight I had a reply, in which my poor sister invoked blessings
on my head for my supposed kindness, and told me that she was in
England, and expected every hour to be confined; that she was ill in
body and in spirits, and did not think that she could get over it. She
begged me, by the remembrance of our mother, who died giving her birth,
that I would come to her. Surely I might have forgiven my enmity after
all that the poor girl had suffered; but my heart was steeled.

"On consideration, I now thought proper to tell my father that Colonel
Dempster was dead, and my sister returned to England,--adding her
request that I would attend her in her confinement, and my willingness
so to do. My poor father was much shocked, and begged me in a tremulous
voice to set off immediately. I promised so to do, but requested that
he would not say a word to anyone as to the cause of my absence until he
heard from me, as it would occasion much talk among the servants, and
perhaps ill-natured remarks might be made. He promised, and I departed,
with a maid who had been my nurse, and upon whose secrecy I thought I
could rely. What my intentions were, I can hardly say; all I knew was,
that my revenge was not satiated, and I would leave no opportunity of
wreaking it that offered.

"I found my sister in the very pangs of labour, heartbroken at the
supposed resentment of my father, and his refusal of his forgiveness. I
did not alleviate her misery by telling her the truth, which I might
have done. I was indeed