court upon beholding the inestimable Douglas, to whom he owed his life, reduced, for his sake, so greatly in constitution and strength as to render it doubtful whether he would reach alive the shores of his native country. With every demonstration of friendship, affection, and gratitude he accompanied him to the vessel, for a voyage in which he would fain have accompanied him.
"But a short time," said he to his friend, "and we shall meet again; in the meanwhile forget me not; send sometimes a thought of me to India, to that foreign land where Harcourt is yet doomed awhile to linger. Think also of my interests upon the happy shore to which you are going. Should you meet the object of my idolatry, speak of me to her. If, perchance—but away!—my golden dreams of happiness are vanished: she has ere this period lived most probably to bless another."
The vessel being now under weigh, Harcourt, still struggling with his feelings, after warmly embracing Douglas, left him to pursue his voyage, with Mrs. Melbourne and his child.
Upon the death of Ellina, who had in some sort supplied to her the deprivation of a daughter, Mrs. Melbourne instantly charged herself with the care of her lamented protégée's infant, but a few days old, to whom, by the permission of her father, she stood godmother, and fulfilled towards the helpless innocent, as much as lay in her power, cares amounting to the maternal. Duty and Inclination united to
