ABSTRACT
Early the next morning Ethelinde attendinga at the bed side of Mrs. Montgomery, related to her the circumstances by which Mr. Harcourt became deprived of his children, and sought in Victorine and Montgomery heirs to his immense possessions. The tears which the distress of her brother drew from her, were mingled with those of the deepest regret for the departure of her son; which she now accused herself of having rashly precipitated. She attempted with her usual firmness of mind to check the excessive pain this idea gave her; but Ethelinde saw it through all her endeavours to stifle it; she saw with astonishment that it took every moment stronger possession of her mind, and that something like a presentiment of evil hung heavily on her spirits, which neither her reason, nor her reliance on heaven, could enable her to shake off. She said indeed but little; and sought to excuse her tears and her dejection by the part she took in the deep concern and declining health of her brother: but Ethelinde, who from the fears that possessed her own heart was too well enabled to judge of those that corroded the heart of Mrs. Montgomery, found that the strength of mind which had in so many trials supported her, sunk entirely before the fearful idea of having sent her son from her to return no more; and that the affluence which was now assured to her, far from giving her any satisfaction, was rendered not only tasteless but painful, since it had arrived too late to save her from a sacrifice which she now perpetually accused herself of having needlessly made.
