Page:Duty and Inclination 2.pdf/108

106 bring into notice the grand-daughters of her late husband, and form for them establishments accordant with the rank they held in society; publicly make them known, by introducing them into those distinguished circles she frequented, as the grand-daughters of the late Sir Aubrey De Brooke; and, by so doing, reap the reward of her goodness, in the peace, satisfaction, and content diffusing themselves, as a natural result, over the remnant of her days. What more remained for her on this side of Heaven than, when the last trying moments came, to close her eyes amidst the lamentations and regrets of those she left behind?

When too long delayed, how futile are all human intentions!—those of her Ladyship proved truly so, for no sooner was her purpose formed of retrieving the past and of making some signal alterations in her will in favour of the sisters, than the ability became lost—reason became absorbed in apathy, and the scenes of past existence faded for ever from her view.

On this event, the ill-fated De Brooke, having no further hope, frustrated in all he had ever allowed himself to encourage, might truly have exclaimed of the world, "'Tis a cheating sprite,"