he kissed the rod. All that she now wished was to find
out her husband, and by her future conduct to make reparation for the
past. One of the gaolers, at her request, made every inquiry as to the
part of England Nicholas had removed; but it was without success. All
trace was lost, and Mrs Forster accepted the situation of nurse, until
she might be enabled to prosecute her search, or obtain the intelligence
which she desired.

For nine months Mrs Forster remained on the establishment, during which
time she had saved a sum of money sufficient for her support and
travelling expenses. She then resolved to search after her husband,
whose pardon for her previous conduct seemed to be the _sine qua non_
for which she continued to exist. She took leave of the doctor; and,
strange to say, it was with feelings of regret that she quitted an
abode, once the source of horror and disgust: but time reconciles us to
every thing, and she made a half promise to Dr Beddington, that if she
could not hear any tidings of her husband, or should discover that he
was no more, that she would return to the situation.

Mrs Forster directed her course to London; why, or wherefore, she
hardly knew; but she had imbibed the idea that the metropolis was the
most likely place to meet with him. Her first inquiries were about any
families of the name of Forster; but the Directory gave such an enormous
list of Forsters, of all trades and callings, and in every situation in
life, that she closed it with despair. She had a faint recollection
that her husband (who was not very communicative, and least of all to
her), had stated that he had a brother alive somewhere; but this was all
that she knew. Nevertheless, she set about her task in good earnest,
and called upon every one of the name in the middling classes of life,
to ascertain if they were relations of her husband. There were many in
high life whose names and addresses she had obtained from the Red-book;
but to them she dared not apply. All she could do was to question the
servants; but every answer was unsatisfactory; and Mrs Forster, whose
money was nearly expended, had serious thoughts of returning to the
lunatic establishment, when the advertisement in the newspapers of Mr
Scratton, for a housekeeper, which Mr John Forster had desired him to
procure, met her, eye. Unwilling to leave London, she applied for, and
obtained the situation, having received an excellent character from
Doctor Bed