ect
which has weighed upon my spirits--this is providentially removed, and I
trust that I shall not disgrace the mother who has so kindly
acknowledged me, or the dear girl who has honoured this faulty person
with her attachment.

My mother and Clara thanked me when I had concluded my narrative, and we
remained unto a late hour entering upon family affairs, and planning for
the future. My mother informed me that upon the estates she had only a
life interest, as they were entailed, and would revert to a cousin; but
that she had laid by a considerable sum of money, intending it as a
dowry for my Clara, and that she hoped to increase it before she died.
As I was anxious to quit Seville, where I feared daily discovery, I
proposed that we should retire to the estate near Carthagena, by which
not only a considerable expense would be saved, but I should feel more
happy in the company of Clara and herself. My mother and my intended
gladly consented to the proposal, not only for the above reasons, but
because she was aware that the questions which might be asked about me
would tend to the injury of her character. In less than a fortnight the
establishment at Seville was broken up, and we retired to the country,
where I was made happy by the possession of my Clara. I now considered
myself as secure from any discovery, and although I had led a life of
duplicity, meant by future good conduct to atone for the past. Whether
Donna Celia was my mother or not, I felt towards her as if she was, and
after some time from habit considered it an established fact. My Clara
was as kind and endearing as I could desire; and for five years I was as
happy as I could wish. But it was not to last: I was to be punished for
my deceit. My marriage with Clara, and the mystery attached to my
birth, which was kept secret, had irritated the heir of the estate, who
had been in hopes, by marrying Clara himself, to secure the personal as
well as the real property. We occasionally met, but we met with rancour
in our hearts, for I resented his behaviour towards me. Fearful of
discovery, I had never paid any attention to music since my marriage; I
had always pretended that I could not sing. Even my wife was not aware
of my talent; and although latterly I had no fear of the kind, yet as I
had always stated my inability, I did not choose to bring forth a
talent, the reason for concealing which I could not explain even to my
wife and mother, without ackno