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Rh was sufficient to beguile away her solitude.

But with Rosilia the world and all its pleasures seemed retreating far away, as if she were for ever destined to forego its flattering sweets. In her survey of the future, as through a long perspective, she could see nought but perpetual seclusion; nought that could afford relief or zest, to chequer the passive state of her existence.

It was one day whilst thus affected, and her solitude was felt to be more dreary than ever, that in arranging some books upon a shelf, where had been amassed a heap of old newspapers of the preceding years' date, it chanced that, in removing them, a list of passengers, then about embarking for the East Indies, met her eye. Curiosity having induced her to run over the names, those of Edward Herbert, Major Lewis, and Walter Douglas, appeared amongst them, a cold tremor seized her, and her trembling limbs could scarcely support her.

The former, the beloved son of good Mrs. Herbert, she who had, during her helpless years when affected by illness, fondly cherished her. What must, thought she, be the feelings of that widowed parent, reflecting upon the probable length of time that may intervene before her son's return to