When Louisa found herself alone, she freely yielded to the sorrow that oppressed her heart, which the presence of Mr. Howard had restrained her from indulging before. Having wept for some time, she felt the weight that had pressed on her breast, so as nearly to occasion suffocation, considerably relieved. ‘Then our fate is inevitably decided,’/ said she; ‘Sir Walter's imprudence has ruined his family, and his amiable son must be sacrificed to atone for his folly. He loves me too, with a passion pure and disinterested as my own for him; yet I must, by his cruel father's command, resign him: I must not even let him know that he has not bestowed the valuable treasure of such a heart as his on a being insensible of its value: yet, were he to know it, his distress would only be augmented; for now we can never be any thing more to each other than strangers. Oh! that I was still ignorant of his love! how much easier I should find it to regain my lost peace of mind!’

She, however, somewhat consoled herself that she had not been heard by her lover, when he visited her window the night before. ‘It was surely Providence,’ said she, ‘that restrained my tongue till it was too late for him to hear/ me, or he would have had the additional pain of knowing we were mutually unhappy. Enable me, Oh my God!’ said she, raising her hands and eyes to heaven, ‘enable me to bear this trial with fortitude; support my weakness, and forgive my grief.’

Thus did poor Louisa implore divine aid, in order to strengthen her mind with sufficient resolution to overcome a passion which she had imperceptibly suffered to grow on her, at a time when she little thought what would be its fatal consequence.