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was too deeply interested in his own pursuit, to waste one surmise about him.

He continue to ponder on the sudden and unexpected sight of Pembroke Somerset, which had conjured up ten thousand fond and distressing recollections; and with im patient anxiety determining to watch till the performance was over, he thought of inquiring his friend's address of the servants; but on looking round for that purpose, perceived that the chariot had driven away.

Thus foile 1, he returned to his post near the green door; where he soon saw it opened several times by footmen passing and repassing. Judging that the chamber within might be a lobby, in which he would be less likely to miss his object, he entered with the next person that approached; and seeing seats along the sides of the place, he sat down on the one nearest to the stairs.

His first idea was to proceed into the play-house. But on reflection, he considered the little chance of finding any individual in so vast a building, as not equal to the expense he should incur. Besides, from the dress of the gentlemen who entered the box door, he was sensible that a great coat and round hat were not admissible.

Having remained near an hour, with his eyes invaria bly fixed on the stairs; he observed that some curious person who had passed almost directly after his friend, came down the steps and walk out of the door. In two minutes he was returning again with a smirking countenance, and alert steps, when his eyes accidentally falling on the count, (who sat with his arms folded and himself almost hidden by his hat and the shadow of the wall) he appeared to falter in his walk; and stretching out his neck toward him, the gay grin left his features: and exclaiming in an impas tient voice, “confound him!" he hastened once more into the house.

The rencounter with his Hummums acquaintance, affect. ed Thaddeus as slightly as the former; and without even annexing a thought to his figure, as it flitted by him, he remained watching the passage till half after eleven. At which hour the doors being thrown open, the company began to pour forth.

The Count's hopes were again on his lips, and in his

eyes. With the first party that came down the steps, he immediately rose; and planting himself close to the bottom stair, drew his hat over his face, and narrowly examined each group as it descended. Every fresh set that he heard approach, made his breast palpitate. How often did his heart rise and fall during the long successions, which continued moving for near half an hour.

By twelve, the house was completely cleared. He saw the middle door locked; and motionless with disappointment, did not attempt to stir, till the man who held the keys told him to go, as he was about to fasten the other

doors.

This roused Thaddeus. And as he was preparing to obey, he asked the man if there were any other passage from the boxes.

"Yes," cried he, "there is one that goes into Drurylane."

"Then, by that I have lost him!" was the reply which he made to himself. And returning homewards, he arrised there a few minutes after twelve.

CHAPTER XII.

THADDEUS awoke in the morning, with his heart full of the last night's rencounter. One moment, he regretted that he had not been seen by his friend; and, in the next, when he surveyed his altered state, was almost reconciled to the disappointment: then reproaching himself for a pride so unbecoming his principles and dishonorable to friendship, he asked, if he were in Somerset's place, and Somerset in his, whether he could ever pardon that mo rose delicacy, which would prevent the knowledge of his friend's misfortunes and arrival in the same kingdom?

These reflections soon persuaded his judgment to what he was so much inclined, determining him to inquire Pem broke's address of every one likely to know a man of Si Robert Somerset's consequence; and then to venture a

Mer.

In the midst of the meditations the door opened, and Mrs. Robson appeared before him drowned in tears.

"My dear dear sir!" cried she, "my William is going; I have just taken my last look of its sweet face. Will you go down, and say farewell of the poor child you loveď so dearly."

"No, my good madam," returned Thaddeus, his staying thoughts at once gathering round this sad centre. "I will rather retain you here until the melancholy task be entirely accomplished."

With a gentle violence he forced her upon a seat, and in silence supported her head on his side, against which she unconsciously leaned and wept. He listened with a painful melancholy to the removal of the coffin; and at the closing of the street-door, which for ever shut the little William from that house in which he had been the source of pleasure. A tear trickled down the cheek of Thaddeus, and the groans of the poor grandmother were audible, The Count, incapable of speaking, squeezed her hand in his.

"O, Mr. Constantine!"' cried she "see how my supports, one after the other, are taken from me! first my son, and now his infant! To what shall I be at last reduced?" You have still, my good Mrs. Robson, a friend in heaven, that will supply the place of all that you have lost on earth."

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True, dear sir; I am a wicked creature to speak as I have done; but it is hard to suffer: it is hard to lose. all we love in the world."

“It is,” returned the Count, greatly affected at her grief. "But you are not yet deprived of all: you have a grand-daughter."

Ah! poor little thing! what will become of her when Is die? I used often to think what a precious brother my darling William would have proved to his sister, when I should be no more." ""

This additional distress which her fancy had conjured up, augmented the affliction of the good old woman. And Thaddeus looked at her with his compassionate sou! beaming in his eyes exclaimed, "Mrs. Robson, the same Almighty Being that protected me, the last of my famil

will protect the offspring of so excellent a woman as your self."

Mrs. Robson lifted up her head for a moment. She had never before heard him utter a sentence of his own history and what he had now let drop, added to the tender solemnity of his manner, for an instant arrested her attention. He went on.

:

In me, you see a man, who within the short space of three months, has lost a grandfather that loved him as fondly as you did your William; a mother whom he saw expire before him, and whose sacred remains he was forced to leave in the hands of her murderers! Yes Mrs. Robson, I have neither parents nor a home. I was a stranger and you took me in; and Heaven will reward your family in kind. At least, I promise that, whilst live, whatever be my fate, should you be called hence, ? will protect your grand-daughter with a brother's affec tion."

"May Heaven in its mercy bless you; cried Mrs. Robson, dropping on her knees. Thaddeus raised her with gushing eyes; and having replaced her in a seat left the room for a few minutes to recover himself.

In the evening, Mrs. Watts, according to the Counts desire, called with an estimate of the expenses attending the child's interment. Fees and every thing collected the demand on his benevolence was six pounds. The sum proved rather more than he expected, but he paid it without a demur: leaving himself only a few shillings.

He considered what he had done as the fulfilment of a duty so indispensable that it must have been accomplished even by the sacrifice of his uttermost farthing. Gratitude and distress held claims upon him which he would never allow his necessities in the smallest instance to transgress. All gifts of inere generosity were beyond his power, and consequently in a short time beyond his wish; but to the cry of want and wretchedness, his hand and heart were ever open. Often has he in the street given away to a starving child that pittance which was to purchase his own hard meal; and never felt such neglect of himself a privation. To have turned his eyes and ears from the little mendicant, would have been the hardest struggle; and

the remembrance of such inhumanity would have haunted him to his pillow. This being the natural disposition. of the Count Sobieski, it had been so fostered and directed by the venerable palatine, that he now found it more diffieult to bear calamity when viewing another's poverty, whom he could not relieve than when penury assailed simself in all its shapes of desolation.

Towards night the idea of Somerset, again presented itself. When he fell asleep, his dreams repeated the scene at the play-house: again he saw him and again he eluded his grasp.

His waking thoughts were not less true to their object: and the next morning he went to a coffee-house in the ane, where he called for breakfast, and inquired of the master if he knew any thing of Sir Robert Somerset. The question was no sooner asked than it was answered to his satisfaction. The Court Guide was examined, and he found his address, "Sir Robert Somerset, Bart, Grosvenor Square-Somerset Castle, L—shire,Deerhurst, C -shire."

Gladdened by the discovery, Thaddeus hastened nome; and unwilling to affect the feelings of his friend by a sudden appearance, with an overflowing heart wrote the ollowing letter.

To PEMBROKE SOMERSET, ESQ. GROSVENO SQUARE.

"Dear Somerset !

"Will the name at the bottom of this paper surprise you? Will it give you pleasure? I cannot suffer myself to retain a doubt, although you have by the silence of two years almost convinced me that I am forgotten. Ja truth Somerset, I had resolved never to obtrude myself and my misfortunes on your knowledge, until last Wednesday night, when I saw you going into Drury-lane Theatre; the sight of you queled all my resentment, and I called af ter you but you did not hear. Pardon me my dear friend, that I speak of resentment. It is a hard lesson to learn, that of being resigned to the forget.lness of them love.

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