turn, as
she dreaded a repetition of the Earl's visit if she remained in
Piccadilly. A few days after she had been in these lodgings she saw the
Earl pass by on the other side of the street, accidentally he has since
assured me it was. The idea instantly seized her that he was searching
for her, and, not knowing what might be the consequences should he
discover her retreat, she determined to leave England and come over to
Holland to me. She wrote a few lines to my sister, telling her of her
fears and determination, and that she intended to take her passage in a
packet from H----. That very day a post-chaise was sent for. She would
not allow Sally to accompany her; but, taking you for her only
companion, and a few clothes in a small trunk, she set out on her
melancholy journey. No letter has since been received from her, and my
sister had hoped and believed she was with me in Holland.

'On the receipt of this distressing intelligence, I made every possible
inquiry to ascertain the fate of my beloved wife and child; and, after
some days, had the misery to hear that the hull of a packet had been
found floating at sea keel upwards. Its name and port were legibly
painted upon it, and on inquiry it was found that this very packet had
left H---- two days after your mother's departure from London, and, none
having sailed for some days before, no doubt could be entertained but
that your mother and you had been lost at sea. What misery was mine! How
often did I wish that I had been with you, and that we had all been
buried in the same watery grave! When the campaign was ended I returned
to England, and resigned my commission. My grief was so great that I
believed I should have lost my senses had it not been for the kindness
of my sister and Sir Henry, who obliged me almost by force to reside
with them. My father, too late repenting of his cruelty, and shocked at
the dreadful calamity it had occasioned, sought a reconciliation with
his wretched son. I shall not dwell upon the particulars of the
distressing interview that passed between us; we were reconciled, but my
father could never forgive himself for the misery his ambition had
occasioned. Our firm belief that your mother and you had been lost at
sea prevented our making any inquiries by land, and we were too much
absorbed by grief to read the newspapers, so that we never saw the
advertisements that you say were inserted. Since that time, my dear
child. I have passed a very un