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Eleanor to be the same, though she always finished by saying but the Count will certainly die if he see me no more! he loves me so passionately, and only wishes me to hear him; he will certainly die oh if you could but see and hear him!" "To see him is impossible, but nothing can be more easy than for me to hear him, and I much wish to do so. Charles, with Henry and Julian, are going to-morrow into the country; let us take that day to receive the Count's visit"-Eleanor was enchanted with the idea, and arranged every thing with him the same evening at a party. The Count came with avidity, a conversation with a blind person for a third was almost equal to a tête à tête; but he had not reckoned upon the little Sophia, who, by chance, was seated upon her godmother's lap during the whole time of the Count's visit; and of all things a young child being with her mother is the most inimical to a lover, who has designs against that mother. But what the Count the least reckoned upon was, that this blind woman really was able to read his heart, unravel all his speeches, and warn Eleanor, even in his presence, of the dangers of giving ear to his passion. The conversation at first was upon indifferent topics the Count, who wished to please, and really was able to do so, made himself very agreeable with his eyes rivetted on Eleanor he addressed many compliments to Sophia, and caressed my little

whom he then saw for the first time. This manœuvre rarely fails of taking effect; there is no child more noticed than that of a very interesting woman, and nothing moves her heart more in favour of the man who appears fond of her child. She is charming, delightful, (said the Count,) the Very image of her lovely mother, and I love her dearly. Sophia took this opportunity to speak with frankness, which She had been all the time wishing for. You love her Count, (said he,) you think her charming, and, no doubt, you think the same thing of her mother, and yet you would be their most cruel enemy, and make them miserable. I don't understand you, madam, said he, embarrassed by the turn the conversation was taking. "When we do not wish to understand, it is easy to affect ignorance; but I will endeavor to explain myself more easily: Yes, (said Sophia with a firm and commanding accent,) you are preparing for this interesting woman, whom you say you adore, and for this innocent child whose graces charm you, the heaviest of all misfortunesthat of separation: you wish to take from this lovely child the mother, whose delight and glory she ought to be, and prevent her from being her daughter's guide in the road to

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who had thrown himself at her feet, with an air of the most despairing passion. Rise, sir, (said she to him with dignity,) my eyes are opened, and my resolution is taken-I shall see you no more; my child is nine, and mine only, I will never give her up even to the perfect friend, who, by her sensible arguments, has enlightened my hitherto dark understanding; judge then if I will sacrifice her to a man who wants to tear me from her: ob! my child! to you I swear love; to your father fidelity incorruptible.

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The Count rose, and leaning on the back of a chair, put his handkerchief to his eyes, either to hide his disconcerted countenance, or that he really was touched by what had passed, it is of no consequence which, as the result was the same, and that was all that Sophia wanted; perhaps he saw that with such a friend the conquest of Eleanor would be very difficult, and that Adelaide might not have one so clear sighted; let it be as it might, it was as well to assume the attitude of despair before two women, one of whom could not see him, and the other was too much moved to penetrate his real feelings: he took leave of them stammering out some passionate phrases about sacrifices, adoration, &c., &c., pressed their united hands to his lips, and left them. It is true that no other woman than a blind one could have held such language to a man she was a stranger to before, and in the presence of the woman he was seeking to seduce; she would have been shaken by their surprise, their confusion, their grief even; she would have, perhaps, been afraid of the ridicule of a man of the world, who could give what turn he pleased to her conversation and the scene, with an ironical smile; but Sophia, who saw nothing, dreaded nothing; and her interest for her friend placed her above those foolish and vain considerations which she might have been restrained by, had she been more acquainted with the world in general; she would then have failed in detaching Eleanor, and reducing the passion of the Count to its proper value.

As soon as he was gone, Sophia embraced her friend, and bathed her with tears: "here is your recompense my wise and courageous Eleanor, (said she giving her child to her, who gave her mamma a thousand kisses, and said to her in a sweet voice, papa and Julian will soon come back, and your little Sophy loves you so much.) Eleanor endeavored to calm herself, but could not help saying to her friend," he will die, I am certain he will." At the end of eight days she was,

* See page 141.

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however, assured of the contrary, as she saw the Count full of life and spirits, attached to the young Adelaide's chain, who triumphed in having taken him from Eleanor, saying to those who would listen to her, we see nothing now of Me. P, she is killing herself because the Count de Launai prefers younger women-what folly to think he ever could admire she deserves to be undeceived." Sophia, by pouring the balm of friendship and sensibility upon Eleanor's heart, or rather upon her wounded vanity, profited by her mortification to detain her at home, and to make her in love with domestic happiness. Every hour she became more se rene, more gay, more tranquil, more tender to her child and myself; she corrected all her little errors, of which no trace remained. After she had passed some months with the adorable being who spread her sweet influence upon every thing which surrounded her, Eleanor had too much feeling to boast of the goodness of her sight before a blind woman, and to be incessantly saying, "I have seen, to one who saw nothing, so she insensibly lost the habit of saying it; without speaking of it, she employed her own excellent sight in supplying that of her friend, and to soften to her the pains and privations of blindness. "You have cleared my soul, (said she,) it is but just that in my turn I should see for you." She attached herself so much to this incomparable Being, that she could not bear the idea of parting from her; and when she was going to rejoin her mother and daughter, Eleanor recalled to her mind that she was to aid her in educating the latter. She begged me to remove from the town we inhabited, and reside near, our friends. I was too happy, from this desire of my wife, to refuse any thing; I therefore sold all my property there, and took Charles's house, who gave it up to me readily, as he lived in his mother-in-law's. In short the garden, where I had first seen Sophia, became common to both our families; and the arbour, the temple of love and friendship: we met there every fine day, while our children played in the garden together. Eleanor's eyes are still beautiful, but they see no farther than they ought; those of Sophia always closed, are supplied by her excellent understandingshe is at once our tutelary angel, and the charm of our happy society, load smoo nooz fliw asilul bas sqegio -15ud sales or brows bus rousel Com o megavol vdgo sin lite sábit of quite glad ton nincs toda ow ada aych wpis to fit A w ad gist is ms I

A PAGE OR TWO"

OF HUMAN LIFE, AND HUMAN CHARACTER,

FROM

The Diary of a Religious Man of Business. Written by:
Himself, at **
County, North America.

in

Between the bigot and enthusiast led,
Thou hast a world of miseries to dread.

(Continued from page 129.)

EXTRACT II.

CRABBE.

Nov. 3rd. Our family busy in preparing for quarterly meeting; Nancy and Mrs. Trewit went to setting things in order; we killed a small hog, weight about 60lbs. 4th. I went over Risdon Downey's and took two bills of sale on their property; sent Jim an austering (oystering) he got about 7 bushels, and cleaned them; the people getting wood. 5th. I was at home; friends Joshua Sylvester, Miss Sally, Rachel, and Polly Brown, and Joshua Kinnaird supped and lodged here; Joshua had taken a drop.

6th. Went to quarter meeting; Nancy said nobody came to dine but old Mrs. Sylvester; Nancy seemed tried. I asked about 15 persons.

7th. We went to the love-feast; had a tolerable good one, bless God, and friend Boyer preached a good sermon; and he, and wife, and Mrs. Emery, and Miss Hammond, and two Miss Harringtons, all dined and lodged here;

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and my cawsway broke a fourth time with the tide.

15th. Nancy went to her pappy's, and Miss Mary Thompson came here; staid all night.

24th. Friend Ridgaway and Carter, and Miss Mary Thompson, and Hesse Carter, all went away:-we have been near nine weeks, and have scarce seen the days without company being here.

Dec. 1st. My intended vendue day; there was a great fall of rain last night and to-day; did no business, only partially; sold Mike, (a negro) for 50%.

3rd. Much tried with my overseer and people for their suffering the stock to destroy my fodder.

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