They all joined in a kind of melancholy chorus, and each accused him and
herself, and some of them one another. But the eyes of all, in turn,
were cast upon my cousin James, as the person who had kept up the general
resentment against so sweet a creature. While he was hardly able to bear
his own remorse: nor Miss Harlowe her's; she breaking out into words, How
tauntingly did I write to her! How barbarously did I insult her! Yet
how patiently did she take it!--Who would have thought that she had been
so near her end!--O Brother, Brother! but for you!--But for you!--Double
not upon me, said he, my own woes! I have every thing before me that has
passed! I thought only to reclaim a dear creature that had erred! I
intended not to break her tender heart! But it was the villanous
Lovelace who did that--not any of us!--Yet, Cousin, did she not attribute
all to me?--I fear she did!--Tell me only, did she name me, did she speak
of me, in her last hours? I hope she, who could forgive the greatest
villain on earth, and plead that he may be safe from our vengeance, I
hope she could forgive me.

She died blessing you all; and justified rather than condemned your
severity to her.

Then they set up another general lamentation. We see, said her father,
enough we see, in her heart-piercing letters to us, what a happy frame
she was in a few days before her death--But did it hold to the last? Had
she no repinings? Had the dear child no heart burnings?

None at all!--I never saw, and never shall see, so blessed a departure:
and no wonder; for I never heard of such a preparation. Every hour, for
weeks together, were taken up in it. Let this be our comfort: we need
only to wish for so happy an end for ourselves, and for those who are
nearest to our hearts. We may any of us be grieved for acts of
unkindness to her: but had all happened that once she wished for, she
could not have made a happier, perhaps not so happy an end.

Dear soul! and Dear sweet soul! the father, uncles, sister, my cousin
Hervey, cried out all at once, in accents of anguish inexpressibly
affecting.

We must for every be disturbed for those acts of unkindness to so sweet a
child, cried the unhappy mother!--Indeed! indeed! [softly to her sister
Hervey,] I have been too passive, much too passive in this case!--The
temporary quiet I have been so studious all my life to preserve, has cost
me everlasting disquiet!----There she stopt.

Dear Sister! was al