th which to provide the strange lady
with proper and respectable clothing in the morning. The next day I
had occasion to go away at an early hour, and did not return until
late in the afternoon, and on entering my little parlor, I was
surprised at beholding a lady, handsomely dressed, who advanced
towards me with an air of dignified politeness. Her rich hair was most
tastefully arranged; her neat dress closely fitted a slender but
elegant shape, and I was struck with the dazzling fairness and purity
of her complexion, and the patrician cast of her features. A second
glance told me it was the female whom I had relieved the previous
night; and I became aware of the fact that the strange lady was no
other than Lady Adelaide Hawley!

"She did not recognize me, for I was much changed, in consequence of
having removed the huge beard which I had worn, while in her husband's
service. You may imagine my triumph at finding the proud lady an
inmate of my house and a dependent on my bounty, under circumstances
so humiliating to her and so gratifying to me; and you may well
believe that I lost no time in giving her to understand the nature of
the reward I expected in return for my hospitality. Would you believe
it? She actually repulsed me with scorn, and began to talk of her
birth, and the superiority of her rank to mine! Her confounded pride
had now become altogether ridiculous; and somewhat enraged, I told her
who I was. She started, regarded me for a moment with a scrutinizing
look, and burst into tears, saying--'It is so, indeed! My punishment
is just; I am humbled and degraded before the very menial I despised.
Take, me, Simpson; do with me as you will; crime levels all ranks. Yet
stay; I am still feeble; delay the consummation of your triumph for
one week. During that period I shall regain the strength I have lost,
and the beauty that has faded; then shall I be a fitting partner for
your bed.' I consented; two or three days passed, and I was rejoiced
to perceive that she daily grew in strength and beauty, and was fast
regaining that voluptuousness of person which had formerly
distinguished her. She related to me, at my request, the particulars
of her downfall. She had been cast off by her husband and rejected by
her relations with scorn and curses, when the fact of her adultery
with St. Clair was discovered.--Entirely friendless and without
resources, she