nameless
offspring of shame. Rich as I was in worldly gifts, my birth, my
character, the fair fortunes which you have blighted, and the parental
care from which you have withdrawn me, alike appeared to shelter me
from the evils which have befallen me--but wo is me! Even these were an
insufficient protection against the craftiness of mine enemy!

"But reproaches avail me not. Henceforth I will shut up my sorrow and my
complaining within the solitude of my own wounded heart--and thou, 'my
companion, my counsellor, mine own familiar friend,' the beloved of
my early youth, the father of my child, must be from this hour be as
nothing unto me!

"Hear my decision. Since one who has already trampled upon every tie,
divine and human, at the instigation of his won evil passions, would
scarcely be deterred from further wickedness by any argument of mine, I
dare not tempt the mischief contemplated by your ungovernable feelings
against your life. I will, therefore, solemnly engage to assist you by
every means in my power in the preservation of the secret on which your
very existence appears to depend. As the first measure towards this
object, I will myself undertake that attendance of Lady Greville, which
cannot be otherwise procured without peril of disclosure. Towards this
unfortunate being, my noble brother's betrothed wife, whose interests
have been sacrificed to mine, no sisterly care, no affectionate
watchfulness shall be wanting on my part, to lessen the measure of
her afflictions. I will remain with her at Greville Cross; sharing the
duties of Alice so long as she shall live, and supplying her place when
she shall be no more. I feel that God has doomed my proud spirit to the
humiliation of this trial; and I trust in his goodness that I may have
strength cheerfully and worthily to fulfil my part. From you I have one
condition to exact in return.

"Henceforward we must meet no more in this world. I can pity you--I
can even forgive you,--but I cannot yet school my heart to that
forgetfulness of the past, that indifference, with which I ought to
regard the husband of another. Greville! we must not meet no more!

"And since my son will shortly attain an age when seclusion in this
remote spot would be prejudicial to his interests and to the formation
of his character, I pray you to take him from me at once, that I may
have no further sacrifice to contemplate. Let him reside with you
at Silsea, under the tuition of proper instr