d of wives.

"My mind, during the few past days, seemed, as it were, disengaged from
my body; but, now the struggle was over, I felt very forcibly the effect
which perturbation of spirits produces on a woman in my situation.

"The apprehension of a miscarriage, obliged me to confine myself to my
apartment near a fortnight; but I wrote to my uncle's friend for money,
promising 'to call on him, and explain my situation, when I was well
enough to go out; mean time I earnestly intreated him, not to mention
my place of abode to any one, lest my husband--such the law considered
him--should disturb the mind he could not conquer. I mentioned my
intention of setting out for Lisbon, to claim my uncle's protection, the
moment my health would permit.'

"The tranquillity however, which I was recovering, was soon interrupted.
My landlady came up to me one day, with eyes swollen with weeping,
unable to utter what she was commanded to say. She declared, 'That she
was never so miserable in her life; that she must appear an ungrateful
monster; and that she would readily go down on her knees to me, to
intreat me to forgive her, as she had done to her husband to spare her
the cruel task.' Sobs prevented her from proceeding, or answering my
impatient enquiries, to know what she meant.

"When she became a little more composed, she took a newspaper out of
her pocket, declaring, 'that her heart smote her, but what could she
do?--she must obey her husband.' I snatched the paper from her. An
advertisement quickly met my eye, purporting, that 'Maria Venables had,
without any assignable cause, absconded from her husband; and any person
harbouring her, was menaced with the utmost severity of the law.'

"Perfectly acquainted with Mr. Venables' meanness of soul, this step
did not excite my surprise, and scarcely my contempt. Resentment in my
breast, never survived love. I bade the poor woman, in a kind tone, wipe
her eyes, and request her husband to come up, and speak to me himself.

"My manner awed him. He respected a lady, though not a woman; and began
to mutter out an apology.

"'Mr. Venables was a rich gentleman; he wished to oblige me, but he had
suffered enough by the law already, to tremble at the thought; besides,
for certain, we should come together again, and then even I should not
thank him for being accessary to keeping us asunder.--A husband and wife
were, God knows, just as one,--and all would come round at last.' He
uttered a dr