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sent them to one of his estates in the north. Betsey is an excellent dairy-wo

and Robert attends the cattle: hitherto he has had a good account of them, and has every reason to believe that Robert will prove deserving of his further patronage.

Such was the character of the man under whose protection Mrs. Mortimer was to return to her husband. As particular business demanded Sir Timothy's presence in England, and as Mrs. Mortimer was impatient to return to her children, it was agreed that they should sail by the first packet. They made several applications to obtain an English vessel, but Monsieur M. was was inexorable. The inns were all crowded, consequently they prepared themselves for a disagreeable passage, as of course. they would have more companions than the packet could conveniently accommodate.

At last Mrs. Mortimer was summoned

to prepare for her departure, as a vessel would sail in a few hours. When the moment arrived that she was to bid adieu, probably for ever, to those friends from whom she had ever received even parental kindness and affection, it required all her fortitude, and indeed more than she possessed, to disguise the repugnance she felt at again visiting her native country. She was going to be separated from persons whom she sincerely loved, whose manners and pursuits suited her disposition, to return to a joyless home, to a country in which she had only known sorrow. Her children were most dear to her, she doated on them, but they were. not of an age either to participate in her pleasures, or to sympathize in her misfortunes. Her situation was such that she could never look at these objects of her affections without lamenting the past, and dreading what their fate might be in future.

When she approached the pier, Sir

Timothy was ready to receive her. As he had a great quantity of luggage, the boat which was to take them to the vessel was completely loaded: the sea looked most awful, and the foaming billows bounded and recoiled in the most violent agitation.

"God send you safe to the packet, my dear child!" exclaimed St. Victoire, crossing herself; "but indeed you had better return, and not venture till the sea is more calm. My foreboding mind prognosticates that some direful misfortune awaits you."

At this instant Mrs. Mortimer was lifted into the boat, and the nun's prognostications threatened every moment to be verified, as they were scarcely seated, before two of the oars were washed away by the fury of the waves; the rudder next followed; and that they reached the packet in safety, is among those wonderful incidents in life which weak mortals cannot fathom. Mrs. Mortimer's dangers, however, did not terminate

here; she had never been used to encounter with difficulties of any kind; she was extremely near-sighted, and in stepping from the boat to the vessel, she did not fix her foot on the right place; the consequence was that she slipped. Fortunately a sailor caught her by the gown, but she had been up to the waist in the sea, and she was brought on deck insensible to all the cares of this world. As soon as she recovered she went to bed, but her situation was truly deplorable, as she lay for ten hours in her wet cloaths, which circumstance induced her to rejoice when she landed at Dover, an event which she thought most improbable when she left Calais.

It was night when they reached England, and those who are accustomed to travelling will not be surprised to hear, that it was late the next evening before they could get their luggage from the Custom House, and pursue their journey.

Sir Timothy sent his valet by a public

conveyance, and gave Mrs. Mortimer a seat in his carriage. The travellers reached Rochester about two in the morning. Colonel Mortimer instantly arose, supper was served, and they did not separate for some hours. The colonel regretted that he had not known of Sir Timothy's honouring him with a visit, that a bed might have been prepared for his reception, which he felt himself obliged to decline offering, as himself and wife had been so long absent, he was fearful that they might not be aired, but his servant had ordered one at the Crown inn, where he would attend on the baronet; and Sir Timothy departed with the promise of breakfasting with them the next morning.

Every parent will be aware of the joy which Mrs. Mortimer felt at finding all her children in perfect health, and that they had recovered from the hoopingcough, which they had caught in her absence.

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