s, and, taking leave of him, Maria
promised to gratify his curiosity, with respect to herself, the first
opportunity.

FOOTNOTES:

[114-A] The copy which appears to have received the author's last
corrections, ends at this place.

CHAP. VI.

ACTIVE as love was in the heart of Maria, the story she had just heard
made her thoughts take a wider range. The opening buds of hope closed, as
if they had put forth too early, and the the happiest day of her life was
overcast by the most melancholy reflections. Thinking of Jemima's
peculiar fate and her own, she was led to consider the oppressed state of
women, and to lament that she had given birth to a daughter. Sleep fled
from her eyelids, while she dwelt on the wretchedness of unprotected
infancy, till sympathy with Jemima changed to agony, when it seemed
probable that her own babe might even now be in the very state she so
forcibly described.

Maria thought, and thought again. Jemima's humanity had rather been
benumbed than killed, by the keen frost she had to brave at her entrance
into life; an appeal then to her feelings, on this tender point, surely
would not be fruitless; and Maria began to anticipate the delight it
would afford her to gain intelligence of her child. This project was now
the only subject of reflection; and she watched impatiently for the dawn
of day, with that determinate purpose which generally insures success.

At the usual hour, Jemima brought her breakfast, and a tender note from
Darnford. She ran her eye hastily over it, and her heart calmly hoarded
up the rapture a fresh assurance of affection, affection such as she
wished to inspire, gave her, without diverting her mind a moment from its
design. While Jemima waited to take away the breakfast, Maria alluded to
the reflections, that had haunted her during the night to the exclusion
of sleep. She spoke with energy of Jemima's unmerited sufferings, and of
the fate of a number of deserted females, placed within the sweep of a
whirlwind, from which it was next to impossible to escape. Perceiving the
effect her conversation produced on the countenance of her guard, she
grasped the arm of Jemima with that irresistible warmth which defies
repulse, exclaiming--"With your heart, and such dreadful experience, can
you lend your aid to deprive my babe of a mother's tenderness, a mother's
care? In the name of God, assist me to snatch her from destruction! Let
me but give her an education--let me bu