Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 1).djvu/133

 he found himself placed. His expressions to Claudina were replete with tenderness, and all his anxiety arose from a separation that he knew must be equally painful to her. The only consolation he could promise to himself were her letters, and he besought her to indulge him with hearing of herself and children by every opportunity. To his brother he was grateful and affectionate; to Ernest kind and friendly, requesting him to watch over the health and peace of his beloved wife, whose tender sensibility he was apprehensive would injure her constitution.

Poor Ferdinand! little did he conceive that his little bark of happiness was wrecked upon a fatal shore that blasted all his hopes for ever; much less could he have an idea to what hand he was indebted for conducting her to the port of destruction. Ernest, when he had perused his letter, sighed heavily:—"Alas!" said he, "how one fatal action has destroyed the peace of a whole family for ever! The mole that has long laboured to undermine the happiness of Ferdinand has