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204 far from abating, seemed rather to increase its violence. In a complete state of inanition he lay stretched on his hammock, to all appearance as insensible to pain as to existence, and perfectly unconscious of the distress and alarm he caused his fair attendants. The eleventh day had passed, and the physician pronounced the disorder at its crisis; every moment might terminate the life of his patient, unless some more favourable symptoms were immediately perceptible.

Herbert, being informed of Douglas's danger, no longer felt the spirit of rivalry or competition. "Unhappy fatality!" exclaimed he, "if he perish, 'tis a victim to Rosilia's cruelty!" The miniature, which in boyish pride he had suspended from his neck, was withdrawn, carefully enfolded, and deposited in a place of safety.

In such near proximity with the invalid, though all had been emulous of showing him attention, perhaps none were more truly affected by the critical situation of the unhappy Douglas than Miss Airey. She stood motionless, scarcely breathing, her eyes fixed upon his pallid countenance, his almost lifeless features still strikingly exhibiting the contour of manly beauty, mingled with an expression of patient woe, most touching to a mind of sensibility. The stern hand of death, she doubted