A Victim to Gratitude. and sometimes the sentence of " yes, it will do well-" would escape him; then he would suddenly start at his imprudence, affect to laugh, and to wonder himself at what he meant! The house of Lancaster now began to totter. A fortunate battle for the Yorkists was fought at Northampton, where Lord Grey de Ruthin, who commanded Henry's van, deserted to the enemy. Henry was taken prisoner; and the house of York triumphed in victory. De Rosenvault then became a bankrupt in fortune; and now resolved to build one on the beauty of his wife. One evening, after repeated proofs of unmanly insult and ill humour, he said to her, "What do you imagine, Maria, could be my motive for marrying a girl like yourself, without either a crown or A Victim to Gratitude. a shilling for your portion?" "I thought your union with me proceeded from sincere affection," replied she, forcing a smile-. "You believe it," said he, with a ghastly laugh; you are mis taken, then; know that I am a ruined man! and that it is to you I look up for support. "To me? oh! chearfully De Rosenvault, will I do any thing to save you and this our beloved child from ruin; it is a dreadful word, it carries with it a terrific meaning; surely you are not serious.". "I am," said he, with a gloomy frown; "repair to your chamber, lock the door within, and there you will find an explanation to all I have said." The obedient and unsuspecting Maria hastened to her apartment, having received a repetition of the order from her wretched husband: and scarce had ! A Victim to Gratitude. she fastened the door, when from a closet rushed forth a nobleman of most licentious character, one of the partizans of the house of York, and who was possessed of scarce one good principle, except his unshaken loyalty to that cause. Famed for being the seducer of innumerable unhappy females, shunned and feared by the virtuous, and from whose ardent gaze Maria had often turned, when accompanied by her husband, she had met him in the different walks of the city and its suburbs. Fainting with terror, she sunk on a chair, and had scarce courage or strength left to ask him for what purpose he came there! "I came," said he, with an insulting smile, by the appointment of your impoverished husband! and I am also well assured, by your own consent: nay, it is confirmed by your so carefully locking the door. 66 A Victim to Gratitude. Five hundred crowns, adored Maria, I am to pay for the possession of your matchless person: tremble not thus, nor shun me with that repelling look; is it too small a gratuity? say, loveliest of women, what I shall offer?” "Oh, my lord," said the wretched and almost frantic Maria, "let me, on my knees, intreat your immediate departure: quit, I implore you, oh quit the pursuit of a devoted wretch like me; and while this heart continues to beat, it will feel fo your generous forbearance, the warmest gratitude. That I must ever despise the basest of men, whom I have the misfortune to call my husband, is beyond a doubt, but I owe too much to myself and to the education I have received to sell my person to another. Oh, my lord! prove yourself worthy of your noble race: let this heroic effort make sweet me 1 A Victim to Gratitude. mory record, as she looks back on this hour, your conquest over yourself, and your clemency and justice to an injured woman." Unused to such pleading; shocked at the pallid hue and deep despair which overspread her countenance; the native honour of his ancestors shot across his soul. He raised the trembling Maria, placed her in her chair, and, bending one knee to the ground, with awe and veneration, as he would have addressed an angel, he said, "Be all you wish! remain in your spotless purity, sweet image of unsullied honour! and oh! may he who blights it never know the blessing of a virtuous attachment!" He then hastily unlocked the door, as if fearful of trusting himself, and proceeded to the guilty husband. Rosenvault," said he, angel!" "By heaven, De thy wife is an "Ay, is she not?" replied this |