Excursions to France. for ever lost to me, and may Hastings alone be the victim of disappointed love, a willing sacrifice to the glory and happiness of his royal master!" In a few days after this interview with Hastings, Edward sent for Jane to his apartment." My dear Jane," said he, we must part." "Alas! my Lord," said she, bursting into tears. "Be as "Hear me," said Edward. sured, I shall ever regard you; but I am married; and I have vowed, before God, that to my wife alone will I devote myself." This was undoubtedly an equivoque on the part of Edward, and might be taken either as applicable to his present engagement with Lady Elizabeth, or the ties that bound him to the Princess of Savoy. Excursions to France. Take this "he is the best and truest of subjects, and the worthiest among men. ring-wear it for my sake. Jane, my finances are very low; I can do nothing for you; but Hastings is wealthy and generous, and will protect you as you deserve. Farewell;-believe me ever your friend.", It was contrived, on her departure, that Hastings should throw himself in her way. Dangerous situation! when the heart, softened by grief, experiences a kindling attachment. Bitter were the tears she shed, it is true; but they fell on the bosom of Hastings. Dried by the hand of tenderness and benevolence, they soon ceased to flow. Her munificent lover prevented every wish ere she had well formed it; he gave her opportunities and the means of relieving the indigent and oppressed,the greatest pleasure he could 1 Excursions to France. afford her generous heart; and remained the fond and honourable protector of this misguided but amiable female; till his premature and tragical death left her to endure many succeeding years of penury, and to close her life under all the horrors of complicated distress. A short Peace with a treacherous Enemy. CHAP. XII. A SHORT PEACE WITH A TREACHEROUS ENEMY. Every man's conscience is a thousand swords, SHAKESPEARE. THE beautiful wife of the Parisian financier hastened to perform her promise of paying a visit to England; and, soon after the departure of the belles of nobibility from Paris, this celebrated lady arrived at the court of London. While her soft and attractive charms influenced Englishmen in her favour, they A short Peace with a treacherous Enemy. most of them gave the palm of superiority to the native beauties of their own island. Whatever innovations fashion may produce, yet modesty ever will be the peculiar charm of Britannia's daughters. They know not how to divest themselves entirely of this endearing quality; the faint relics of it will appear in those who have professionally laid it aside; and, however the gay female, who lives in reputation, may throw off the outward garment, in compliance with ridiculous custom, an overspreading blush and a downcast eye shew, that the mind of an English woman is incapable of casting off its inward veil of purity. Whatever the dissipation of a depraved court may allow, or whatever free ideas the fashionable and high-born women of quality may adopt, which, in teaching her to cast off vulgar prejudices, too often |