I have passed a wretched night,-falling asleep, and then waking in a fright. My mind was too uneasy to suffer me to sleep. Now, I will answer your question, Mamma. If Mr. Percy was in Scotland, I should like to go there; but I would rather hear him than any other thing now, Oh, Mamma, Gertrude is more in the right than I am!—I am sure she is.

Mrs. ABER. Anna, we must examine this matter more closely. Gertrude tells me your brother has gone to Scotland, for the single purpose of enjoying solitude and leisure, that he may read the Scriptures. I wish also to have some quiet time for the same purpose. As to your two objections, the quadrille party and Mr. Percy, I think you must try to get over the first, and Gertrude says the clergyman at Arnavoir is of the same sentiments with Mr. Percy.

ANNA. Is he so? Then I shall easily reconcile myself to the idea of Mrs. Anson's displeasure. But only think of Edward! Well, I have thought him very odd of late. Do you wish to go to Scotland, Gertrude?

GER. I do very much, indeed.

Mrs. ABER. Well, then, I shall write this day to Edward; and, in the mean time, we shall make arrangements for leaving town. If your brother answers, as we hope he will, then we shall

go to Scotland; if not, we shall all be glad to go for a time to Calmly Lodge.

END OF PART FIRST.

THE DECISION.

PART II

INTRODUCTORY SKETCH.

AFTER the last conversation mentioned in the preceding pages, Mrs. Aberley wrote to her son, and prepared to follow him immediately to Scotland, should his answer confirm Gertrude's information respecting the motives which induced him so unexpectedly to leave London. Before Mrs. Aberley received his answer, however, she was called upon to witness a scene which powerfully convinced her of the insufficiency of her own religious principles to support an immortal soul in the prospect of death and eternity. Her sister-in-law, Mrs. Ashton, was taken alarmingly ill; and when, at her own request, informed by her physicians of the truth, which was, that though they did not consider her danger immediate, they had no hope of her recovery, the appalling effect on her mind of this certain and near approach of death was too powerful to be concealed. The thought of entering, perhaps unprepared, into the presence of God, and into a

state of being which must endure to eternity, whatever was her doom, overcame all those other most painful thoughts attendant on the death-bed of a mother leaving a family of orphans. Mrs. Ashton's religious opinions, and those of Mrs. Aberley, had been nearly the same. Charles Ashton had indeed succeeded in leading his mother to adopt some opinions more scriptural than those she formerly had entertained: yet she had not really abandoned that system of religion on which she placed her hopes of heaven; and, though she rejoiced in her son's reformation, and attended whatever church he wished, yet this proceeded more from a desire to indulge him in any way which tended to cherish those principles which produced such effects, than from any conviction of the superior efficacy of those principles.

Mrs. Aberley now attempted to give that comfort to her sister which she herself supposed would arise on a death-bed, from the recollection of a life of amiableness and respectability; but she saw that Mrs. Ashton listened without receiving a ray of consolation or pleasure from any thing she said. On the contrary, if Gertrude ventured to make a remark, her aunt seemed to feel it deeply, as undeniable truth. Mrs. Ashton indeed clung to Gertrude, whose humble and simple views and expressions on religious subjects were more effectual in overcoming the