Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/99

 to open it, saw a man at a distance, running very fast and a bundle at the gate; the man was soon out of sight; she took up the parcel, and found the child, wrapped in a dimity petticoat, and two or three cambric handkerchiefs, but no clothes, and apparently just born; a bit of paper was pinned to the petticoat, on which was wrote, with a pencil, "Look on this child as committed to your care by the hand of Providence; be careful of it, and you will not repent it." I was very much struck (continued Mr. Weimar) by such an extraordinary circumstance, but resolved to do my duty: a nurse was provided in the house; I had it baptized and named it Matilda. I said it was my niece; having then no other servant but Agatha, and she being faithful to my wishes, as my niece the beloved adopted child was brought up, and had masters of every kind to instruct her. Years rolled away, no enquiry was ever made, and I began to see a thousand graces in this young creature, which insensibly warmed bymy [sic] heart, and taught it what it was to love, a lesson I had never learnt till then. When I returned from France my protegée was improved in beauty and stature; she knew little of men, and she was less known by them; I determined to acquaint her with the secret I have related, and to offer her my hand. I deliberated some time in what manner to disclose it, and was consulting with Agatha how to make the discovery when you overheard the conversation, mistook the purport of it and in consequence of that mistake gave me inexpressible misery."

Here Mr. Weimar stopt. Matilda, who sat almost breathless and stupified, fetched a deep sigh. "Then I am an outcast, a forsaken orphan, without friends or protectors! Gracious heaven! the offspring of guilt, perhaps, for who but guilty wretches would give up their child to strangers?" A friendly burst of tears relieved her beating heart.

"Take comfort, my dearest Matilda; permit me to offer you my hand, my heart, I will be your protector through life; I consent that you shall consult the