her every day with feelings which soon heightened into absolute idolatry.

His fond anxieties soon suggested to him, that so delicate and fragile a being as his niece, supposing for a moment the existence of any real grounds of apprehension that her constitution bore an hereditary taint, could not be thrown into a directer path for her grave, than in India; that any latent, lurking tendency to consumption would be quickened and developed with fatal rapidity in the burning atmosphere she was then breathing, His mind once thoroughly suffused with alarms of this sort, could not ever afterwards be dispossessed of them; and he accordingly determined to relinquish his situation in India, the instant he should have realized, from one quarter or another, sufficient to enable him to return to England, and support an establishment suitable to his station in society. About five years had elapsed since his arrival in India, during which he had contrived to save a large portion of his very ample income-when news reached him that a considerable fortune had fallen to him, from the sudden death of a remote relation. The intelligence made him comparatively, a happy man. He instantly set on foot arrangements for returning to England, and procuring the immediate appointment of his successor.

Unknown to his niece, about a year after his arrival in India, Sir had confidentially consulted the most eminent physician on the spot. In obedience to the injunctions of the baronet, Dr. C— was in the habit of dropping in frequently, as if accidentally, to dinner, for the purpose of marking Miss Herbert's demeanour, and ascertaining whether there was, so to speak, the very faintest adumbration of any consumptive tendency. But nohis quick and practised eye detected no morbid indications; and he reiteratedly gladdened the baronet's heart, by assuring him, that, in any present evidence to the contrary, little Miss Herbert bade as fair for long and healthy life as any woman breathing, especially if she soon returned to the more salubrious climate of England. Though Dr. C

had never

spoken professionally to her, Eliza Herbert was too quick and shrewd an observer, to continue unapprized of the object of his frequent visits to her uncle's house. She had not failed to notice his searching -glances; and knew well that he watched almost every mouthful of food she eat, and scrutinized all her movements. He had .once also ventured to feel her pulse, in a half-in-earnest, half-in-joke manner, and put one or two questions to the governess about Miss Herbert's general habits,

66

which that good, easy, communicative creature unfortunately told her inquisitive little pupil. Now, there are few things more alarming and irritating to young people, even if consciously enjoying the most robust health, than suddenly to find that they have long been, and still are, the objects of anxious medical surveillance, They begin naturally to suspect that there must be very good reason for it; and especially in the case of nervous, irritable temperament-their peace of mind is thenceforward destroyed by torturing apprehensions that they are the doomed victims of some insiduous, incurable malady. I have often and often known illustrations of this. Sir also was aware of its ill consequences, and endeavoured to avert even the shadow of a suspicion from his niece's mind as to the real object of Dr. C's visits, by formally introducing him, from the first, as one of his own intimate friends. He therefore flattered himself that his niece was profoundly ignorant of the existence of his anxieties concerning her health ; and was not a little startled one morning by Miss Herbert's abruptly entering his study, and, pale with ill-disguised anxiety, inquiring if there was any thing the matter with her." Was she unconsciously fulling into a decline? she asked, almost in so many words. Her uncle was so confounded by the suddenness of the affair, that he lost his presence of mind, changed colour a little, and with a consciously embarrassed air, assured her that it was such thing," quite a mistake-a very ridiculous one,' a "childish whim," &c. &c. &c. He was so very earnest and energetic in his assurances that there was no earthly ground for apprehension—and, in short, concealed his alarm so clumsily, that his poor niece, though she left him with a kiss and a smile, and affected to be satisfied, retired to her own room, and from that melancholy moment resigned herself to her grave. Of this, she herself, three years subsequently, in England, assured me. She never afterwards recovered that gentle buoyancy and elasticity of spirits which made her burst upon her few friends and acquaintance like a little lively sunbeam of cheerfulness and gaiety. She felt perpetually haunted by gloomy, though vague suspicious that there was something radically wrong in her constitution-that it was from her birth sown with the seeds of death-aud that no earthly power could eradicate them. Though she resigned herself to the dominion of such harassing thoughts as these while alone, and even shed tears abundantly, she succeeded in banishing, to a great extent, her uncle's disquietude, by

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no

assuming greater gaiety of demeanour than before. The baronet took occasion to mention the little incident above related to Dr. C—; and was excessively agitated to see the physician assume a very serious air.

"This may be attended with more mischief than you are aware of, Sir he replied. "I feel it my duty to tell you how miserably unfortunate for her it is, that Miss Herbert has at last detected your restless uneasiness about her health, and the means you have taken to watch her constitution. Henceforth she may appeur satisfied but mark her if she can forget it. You will find her fall frequently into momentary fits of absence and thoughtfulness. She will brood over it," continued Dr. C.

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Why, good God! doctor," replied the baronet," What's the use of frightening one thus? Do you think my niece is the first girl who has known that her friends are anxious about her health? If she is really as you tell her, free from disease-why the devil!-can she fancy herself into a consumption?"

"No, no, Sir -; but incessant alarm may accelerate the evil you dread, and predispose her to sink, her energies to droop, under the blow-however lightly it may at first fall-which has been so long impending, And besides, Sir -, I did not say she was free from disease, but only that I had not discerned any present symptoms of disease."

Oh, stuff, stuff, doctor! nonsense!" muttered the baronet, rising and pacing the room with excessive agitation. "Can't the girl be laughed out of her fears?"

It may be easily believed that spent every future moment of his stay in India in an agony of apprehension. His fears exaggerated the slightest indication of his niece's temporary indisposition into a symptem of consumption; any thing like a cough from her would send him to a pillow of thorns; and her occasional refusal of food at meal-times was received with undisguised trepidation on the part of her uncle. If he overtook her at a distance, walking out with her governess, he would follow unperceived, and strain his eyesight with endeavouring to detect anything like feebleness in her gait. These incessant, and very natural anxieties about the only being he loved in the world, enhanced by his efforts to conceal them, sensibly impaired his own health and spirits. He grew fretful, and irritable in his demeanour towards every member of his establishment, and could not completely fix his thoughts for the transaction of his important official business.

Eighteen years of age—within a trifle

was Miss Herbert, when she again set foot on her native land, and the eyes and heart of her idolizing uncle leaped for joy to see her augmented health and loveliness, which he fondly flattered himself might now be destined to

"Grow with her growth, and strengthen with her strength."

The voyage-though long and monotonous as usual-with its fresh breezy balminess, had given an impetus to her animated spirits; and as her slight figure stepped down the side of the gloomy colossal Indiaman which had brought her across the seas, her blue eye was bright as that of a seraph-her beauteous cheeks glowed with a soft and rich crimson, and there was a lightness, ease, and elasticity in her movements as she tripped the short distance between the vessel and the carriage, which was in waiting to convey them to town-that filled her doting uncle with feelings of almost frenzied joy.

"God Almighty bless thee, my darling!-Bless thee-bless thee for ever, my pride! my jewel !-Long and happy be thy life in merry England!" sobbed the baronet, folding her almost convulsively in his arms, as soon as they were seated in the carriage, and giving her the first kiss of welcome to her native shores. The second day, after they were established at one of the hotels, while Miss Herbert and her governess were riding the round of fashionable shopping, Sir drove alone to the late. Dr. Baillie. In a long interview (they were personal friends), he communicated all his distressing apprehensions about his niece's state of health, imploring him to say whether he had any real cause of alarm whatever-immediate or perspective-and what course and plan of life he would recommend for the future. Dr. Baillie, after many and minute inquiries, contented himself with saying, that he saw no grounds for present appre hensions. "It certainly did sometimes happen, that a delicate daughter of a consumptive parent, inherited her mother's tendencies to disease," he said. "And, as for her future life and habits, there was not the slightest occasion for medicine of any kind; she must live almost entirely in the country, take plenty of fresh dry air and exercise-especially eschew late hours and company;" and he hinted, finally, the advantages, and almost the necessity, of an early matrimonial engagement.

re

It need hardly be said, that Sir solved most religiously to follow this advice to the letter.

I'll come and dine with you in Dover

Street, at seven to day," said Dr. Baillie, “and make my own observations." "Thank you, doctor-but-but we dine out to-day," muttered the baronet, rather faintly, adding, inwardly, no, no!-no more medical espionage-no, no!"

Sir

purchased a very beautiful mansion, which then happened to be for sale, situated within ten or twelve miles of London; and thither he removed, as soon as ever the preliminary arrangements could be completed. The shrine, and its divinity, were worthy of each other. Hall was one of the most charming picturesque residences in the county. It was a fine antique semi-gothic structure, almost obscured from sight in the profound gloom of forest shade. The delicious velvet greens ward, spread immediately in front of the house, seemed formed for the gentle foot-steps of Miss Herbert. When you went there, if you looked carefully abont, you might discover a little white tuft glistening on some part or other of the "smooth soft-shaven lawn:" it was her pet-lamb, cropping the crisp and rich herbage. Little ! it would scarce of submit to be for, by any hand but that day of her ind mistress. She, also,

might, lydually, be seen there, wandering thoughtfully along, with a book in her hand-Tasso, probably, or Dante and her loose light hair straying from beneath a gipsy bonnet, commingling in pleasant contact with a saffron-coloured riband. Her uncle would sit for an hour together, at a corner of his study-window, overlooking the lawn, and never remove his eyes from the figure of his fair niece.

Miss Herbert was now talked of every where in the neighbourhood, as the pride of the place the star of the county, She budded forth almost visibly; and though her exquisite form was developing daily, till her matured womanly proportions seemed to have been cast in the mould of the Venus de Medici, though on a scale of more slenderness and delicacy-it was, nevertheless, outstripped by the preco cious expanding of her intellect. And then she was the most amiable and charitable creature that sure ever trod the earth! How many colds, slight, to be sure, and evanescent, had she caught, and how many rebukes from the alarmed fondness of her uncle had she suffered in con sequence, through her frequent visits, in all weathers, to the cottages of the poor and sick!

The latter part of Dr. Baillie's advice was anxiously kept in view by Sir and soon after Miss Herbert had completed her twentieth year, he had the satisfaction of seeing her encourage the attentions of a Captain the third son of

,

a neighbouring nobleman. He was a remarkably fine and handsome young man, of a very superior spirit, and fully capable of appreciating the value of her whose hand he sought. Sir was delighted, almost to ecstacy, when he extracted from the trembling, blushing girl, a confession that Captain 's company was any thing but disagreeable to her. The young military hero was, of course, soon recognised as her suitor; and a handsome couple, people said, they would make. Miss Herbert's health seemed more robust, and her spirits more buoyant, than ever. How, indeed, could it be otherwise, when she was daily riding in an open carriage, or on horseback, over a fine, breezy, champaign country, by the side of the gay, handsome, fascinating Captain

?

his

The baronet was sitting one morning in his study, having the day before returned from a month's visit to some friends in Ireland, and engaged with some important letters from India, when Miss B, niece's governess, sent a message, requesting to speak in private with him. When she entered, her embarrassed, and somewhat flurried manner, not a little surprised Sir

"How is Eliza?-How is Eliza, Miss B?" he inquired hastily, laying aside his reading glasses. "Very well," she replied, “very ;" and after a little fencing about the necessity of making allowance for the exaggeration of alarm and anxiety, she proceeded to inform him, that Miss Herbert had latterly passed restless nights -that her sleep was not unfrequently broken by a cough-a sort of faint churchyard cough, she said, it seemed—which had not been noticed for some time, till it was accompanied by other symptoms." Graṇ cious God! madam, how was this not told me before?-Why-why did you not write to me in Ireland about it?" inquired Sir

with excessive trepidation. He could scarcely sit in his chair, and grew very pale; while Miss B-—, herself equally agitated, went on to mention profuse night-sweats s-a disinclination for food-exhaustion from the slightest exer cise-a feverishness every evening-—and a faint hectic flush

"Oh, plague-spot !" groaned the baronet, almost choked, letting fall his readingglasses. He tottered towards the bell, and the valet was directed to order the carriage for town immediately. "What -what possible excuse can I devise for bringing Dr. Baillie here?" said he to the governess, as he was drawing on his gloves.

Well-well-I'll leave it to you-do what you can. For God's sake, madam, prepare her to see him somehow or other,

for the doctor and I shall certainly be here together this evening. Oh! say I'm called up to town on sudden business, and thought I might as well bring him on with me, as he is visiting a patient in the neighbourhood-Ob, any thing, madam-any thing!" He hardly knew what he was saying.

Dr. Baillie, however, could not come, being himself at Brighton, an invalid, and the baronet was therefore pleased, though with ill-disguised chagrin, to summon me to supply his. place. On my way down, he put me in possession of most of the facts above narrated. He implored me, in tenderness to his agitated feelings, to sumnion all the tact I had ever acquired, and alarm the object of my visit as little as possible. I was especially to guard against appear ing to know too much; I was to beat about the bush-to extract her symptoms gradually, &c. &c. I never saw the foudest, the most doting father or mother, more agitated about an only child, than was Sir about his niece. He protested that he could not survive her death -that she was the only prop and pride of his declining years, and that he must fall, if he lost her and made use of many similar expressions. It was in vain that I besought him not to allow himself to be carried so much away with his fears. He must let me see her, and have an opportunity of judging whether there were any real cause of alarm, I said; and he might rely on my honour as a gentleman, that I would be frank and candid with him, to the very utmost-I would tell him the worst. I reminded him of the possibility that the symptoms he mentioned might not really exist; that they might have been seen by Miss B through the distorting and magnifying medium of apprehension; and that, even if they did really exist-why, that-that-they were not always the precursors of consumption, I stammered, against my own convictions. It is impossible to describe the emotions excited in the baronet, by my simple uttering the word "consumption." He said it stabbed him through the heart!

On arriving at Hall, the baronet and I instantly repaired to the drawingroom, where Miss Herbert and her goveruess were sitting at tea. The pensive sunlight of September shone through the gothic window near which they were sitting. Miss Herbert was dressed in white, and looked really dazzlingly beautiful; but the first transient glance warned me that the worst might be apprehended. I had that very morning been at the bedside of a dying young lady, a martyr to that very disease which commenced by inyesting its victim with a tenfold splendour

She

as

She was evidently apprized of my coming, as well as of the occasion of my visit. Indeed, there was a visible embarrassment abont all four of us, which I felt I was expected to dissipate, by introducing indifferent topics of conversation. This I attempted, but with little success. Miss Herbert's tea was before her on a little ebony stand, untouched; and it was evidently a violent effort only that enabled her to continue in the room. looked repeatedly at Miss B though she wished to be gone. After about half an hour's time, I alluded conplimentarily to whass had heard of her performance on the ongo; she smiled coldly, and rather ud!" stuously, as though she saw the part onvulsilaying. Nothing daunted, however, I gged her to favour me with one of Haydn's sonatas; and she went immediately to the piano, and played what I asked-I need hardly say, very exquisitely. Her uncle then withdrew, for the alleged purpose of answering a letter, as had been arranged between us; and I was then left alone, with the two ladies. I need not fatigue the reader with a minute description of all that passed. I introduced the object of my visit as casually and gently as I could, and succeeded more easily than I had anticipated in quieting her alarms. The answers she gave to my questions amply corroborated the truth of the account given by Miss B-to the baronet. Her feverish accelerated pulse, also, told of the hot blighting breathings of the destroying angel, who was already hovering close around his victim! I was compelled to smile with an assumed air of gaiety and nonchalance, while listening to the poor girl's unconscious disclosures of various little matters, which amounted to infallible evidence that she was already beyond the reach of medicine. I bade her adieu, complimenting her on her charming looks, and expressing my de light at finding so little occasion for my professional services! She looked at me with a half-incredulous, half-confiding eye, and with much girlish simplicity and frankness put her hand into mine, thanking me for dispersing her fears, and begging me

to do the same for her uncle. I after wards learned, that as soon as I left the room, she burst into a flood of tears, and sobbed all the rest of the evening.

With Sir I felt it my duty to be candid. Why should I conceal the worst from him, when I felt as certain as I was of my own existence, that his beautiful niece was already beginning to whither away from before his eyes? Convinced that hope deferred maketh sick the heart," I have always, in such cases, warned the patient's friends, long beforehand, of the inevitable fate awaiting the object of their anxious hopes and fears, in order that resignation might gradually steal thoroughly into their broken hearts. To return. I was conducted to the baronet's study, where he was standing with his hat and gloves on, ready to accompany me as far as the high-road, in order that I might wait the arrival of a London coach. I told him, in short, that feared I had seen and heard too much to allow a doubt that his niece's present symptoms were those of the commencing stage of pulmo pary consumption; and that thoughi medicine and change of climate might possibly avert the evil day for a time, it was my melancholy duty to assure him, that no earthly power could save her.

"Merciful God!" he gasped, loosing his arm from mine, and leaning against the park gate, at which we had arrived. I implored him to be calm. He continued speechless for some time, with his hands clasped.

"Oh, doctor, doctor!" he exclaimed, as if a gleam of hope had suddenly flashed across his mind, "we've forgot to tell you a most material thing, which perhaps will alter the whole case-ob, how could we have forgotten it!" he continued, growing heated with the thought; 66 my niece eats very heartily-nay, more heartily than any of us, and seems to relish her food more.' Alas, I was obliged, as I have hundreds of times before been obliged, to dash the cup from his lips, by assuring him that an almost ravenous appetite was as invariably a forerunner of consumption, as the pilot-fish of the shark! "Oh, great God, what will become of me! What shall I do?" he exclaimed, almost frantic, and wringing his hands in despair. He had lost every vestige of 'self-control. "Then my sweet angel must die! Damuing thought! Oh, let me die too: I cannot I will not survive her! Doctor, doctor, you must give up your London practice, and come and live in my house you must! By G-, I'll fling my whole fortune at your feet! Only save her, and you and yours shall wallow in wealth, if I go back to India to procure VOL. VI.

H

it!-Ob, whither-whither shall I go with` my darling? To Italy - France? - My God! What shall I do when she is gone— for ever!" he exclaimed, like one distracted. I entreated him to recollect himself, and endeavour to regain his selfpossession before returning to the presence of his niece. He started. "Oh, mockery, doctor, mockery! How can I ever look on the dear girl again? She is no longer mine; she is in her grave— she is!"

Remonstrance and expostulation, I saw, were utterly useless, and worse, for they served only to irritate. The coachshortly afterwards drew up; and wringing my hands, Sir extorted a promise that I would see his niece the next day,' and bring Dr. Baillie with me, if he should have returned to town. I was as good as my word, except that Dr. Bajilie could not accompany me, being still at Brighton. My second interview with Miss Herbert was long and painfully interesting. She and I were alone. wept bitterly, and recounted the incident mentioned above, which occurred in India; and occasioned her first serious alarm. She felt convinced, she told me, that her case was hopeless; she saw too that her uncle possessed a similar conviction, and sobbed agonizingly when she alluded to his altered looks. She had felt a pre

She

She

sentiment, she said, for some months past, which, however, she had never mentioned, and attributed too truly, her accelerated illuess to the noxious clime of India. described her sensations to be that of a constant void within, as if there were a something wanting—an unnatural hollowness-a dull deep aching in the left sidea frequent inclination to relieve herself by spitting, which, when she did, alas! alas! she observed more than once to be streaked with blood.

"How long do you think I have to live, doctor?" she inquired faintly.

"Oh, my dear madam, do not, for Heaven's sake, ask such useless questions! -How can I possibly presume to answer them, giving you credit for a spark of common sense?" She grew very pale, and wiped her forehead.

"Is it likely that I shall have to endure much pain?" she asked with increasing trepidation. I could reply only, that I hoped not-that there was no ground for immediate apprehension—and I faltered, that possibly a milder climate, and the skill of medicine, might yet carry her through. The poor girl shook her head hopelessly, and trembled violently from head to foot. "Oh, poor uncle!-Poor, poor EdShe faltered, and fell fainting into my arms; for the latter allusion to

. W