Charles perceiving, he endeavoured to prevail on Ellinor to return to Hope Street; and Catherine, joining her entreaties to his, she at length consented.

Sefton, who saw how unfit Catherine was to encounter alone the scene, which would inevitably await her when Amy was restored to a recollection of her loss, proposed that they should take advantage of her present state to convey her to Duddingstone; by which means she would be spared many demands which must otherwise be made on her fortitude; and Charles, having given his entire approval of the measure, Spencer and Dr Maitland were called to the conference. Spencer readily consented to the proposal, and it having received the concurrence of Dr Maitland, a carriage was quickly obtained, in which Amy was placed; Catherine and the Doctor followed, and Sefton rode on before to apprise his wife of the melancholy occurrence, and prepare her to receive her guests; while Charles and Ashley remained with Spencer. With the deepest

sympathy did Mrs Sefton gaze on the heartstruck Amy, as she was borne along the hall; with difficulty she dispersed the tears which rushed to her eyes as she contemplated her lifeless countenance; but stifling her feelings, she hastened to receive her, and in a few moments Amy was placed in bed, and every means resorted to for the purpose of restoring animation.

As the doctor was extremely apprehensive of the consequences of this sudden shock, he agreed to remain all night; and with benevolent interest watched the symptoms of animation which now appeared; but his hopes of amendment were soon dispelled, and for many hours every partial return to consciousness was quickly followed by insensibility. In this manner did this terrible night pass away; but about day-break, perceiving that she slept, he declared his hope that the worst was passed, and begged the most profound silence might be ved.

preser

Her repose, however, was of short dura

tion; she moaned heavily, and then awoke with a sudden start, and looked wildly round. In another moment, the horrors of the past scene rushed on her mind, and she gave way to the most dreadful paroxysms of grief and despair. Who shall venture to describe the agonies suffered by a youthful heart on the first touch of affliction? Who shall dare to count its agonizing throbs, or presume to fathom the depths of woe? Words cannot express the cry of anguish— language in vain attempts to echo the sound of despairing accents.

Catherine did not speak of comfort and consolation, but she pressed the poor sufferer in her arms, and shed over her tears of mingled sympathy and grief. Amy's anxious attendants hoped that when the first burst of sorrow was past, she would become more composed; but these expectations proved fallacious. The image of her brother, covered with blood, and expiring in her arms, was constantly before her. Sleep totally forsook her; she refused all suste

nance; violent fever came on, and at the close of the third day her life was pronounced to be in imminent danger.

While Spencer, assisted by Charles, was engaged in the melancholy duties which so unexpectedly he had been called on to perform, Sir Pelham's valet brought him three letters, which he had found on Sir Pelham's dressing-table. Of these, one was addressed to Amy, one to Catherine, the third was to Spencer, who hastily broke the seal. It contained only a few hurried lines, entreating him to fill a brother's place to Amy, till she was restored to her friends in England; and expressing his wish to be interred in Scotland, should it be his fate to fall in the approaching encounter, and concluded with affecting wishes for his happiness.

Spencer was deeply moved on reading this billet, but he had no leisure for the indulgence of his feelings. His first occupation was to write Lord Granton of the sad catastrophe, and to acquaint him with the wishes of the deceased; and inform him

that he had fixed the day of the funeral at such interval as would allow his lordship to arrive in time to see the last duties performed; and knowing the anxiety he and Lady Granton would necessarily feel regarding Amy, he assured them she was surrounded by attached friends, who spared no effort to support and console her under this trying dispensation.

Every instant that Spencer could spare from his painful occupations, was passed in making personal inquiries for Amy; and his concern was excessive on learning the danger of her situation. With the approbation of Dr Maitland, he immediately called in the assistance of two eminent physicians from Edinburgh, but they gave little consolation, and conceived it their duty to prepare her friends for the worst. There remained, however, a ray of hope that her youth might yet save her, and to that hope did her friends anxiously cling.

No one was more keenly shocked by the death of Sir Pelham than Willoughby, who