be pacified. Why do I raise laughter by my cry? It is my niece, my favourite child, who has been taken from me." "Pray explain to me seriously, Sir," said Lady Augusta, approaching the doctor, with much appearance of interest, "how came your family to fall into the unfortunate situation to which you allude?" "How came they," said the Count? "can you ask, when you see Sir Everard at the head of it?" "Madam," said the Doctor with equal solemnity, "this momentous crisis has been approaching some time. St. Clara, as we called her, my most lovely and interesting Elinor's affections have long been seduced. We all knew, lamented and concealed the circumstance. The old lady's conduct, however, was quite an unexpected blow. But since they took to their nocturnal rambles to St. Mary's, St. Alvin's, and all the saints around, their sanctity has not been much mended that I see, and their wits are fairly overset.
