all may be considered as
settled, let us shake hands, and henceforward be good friends."

Mrs Rainscourt gave her hand and sealed the new contract, but,
ill-treated as she had been,--at variance with her husband for years,--
and now convinced that she had been outraged in the tenderest point,
still her heart leaned towards the father of her child. The hand that
now was extended in earnest of future separation, reminded her of the
day when she had offered it in pledge of future fidelity and love, and
had listened with rapture to his reciprocal obligation. She covered her
face with her handkerchief, which was soon moistened with her tears.

Such is woman! To the last moment she cherishes her love, pure as an
emanation from the Deity. In the happy days of confidence and truth, it
sheds a halo round her existence;--in those of sorrow and desertion,
memory, guided by its resistless power, like the gnomon of the dial,
marks but those hours which were sunny and serene.

However, Mrs Rainscourt soon found out that an unlimited credit upon
the banker was no bad substitute for a worthless husband; and, assisted
by her pride, she enjoyed more real happiness and peace of mind than she
had done for many years. During her stay in London, Rainscourt
occasionally paid his respects, behaved with great kindness and
propriety, and appeared not a little proud of the expanding beauty of
his daughter. Mrs Rainscourt not only recovered her spirits, but her
personal attractions; and their numerous acquaintance wondered what
could possess Mr Rainscourt to be indifferent to so lively and so
charming a woman. In a few weeks the mansion was ready to receive them,
and Mrs Rainscourt, with Emily, and a numerous establishment, quitted
the metropolis, to take up their abode in it for the ensuing summer.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

_Pericles_. That's your superstition.

_Sailor_. Pardon us, sir. With us at sea it still hath been
observed, and we are strong in earnest.

SHAKESPEARE.

The weather was fine, and the water smooth, on the morning when the
_Aspasia_ arrived at the reef, which, although well known to exist, had
been very incorrectly laid down; and Captain M--- thought it advisable
to drop his anchor in preference to lying off and on so near to dangers
which might extend much farther than he was aware. The frigate was,
therefore, brought up in eighteen fathoms, about two miles from that
part of the reef which discover