conscious of the alarm and disturbance she occasioned.
The reflections of De Brooke, as on the preceding night, fell upon the Baronet, and the fresh information gathered from Robert. The honest African, who, with his marked character of sobriety and civility had not found it difficult to insinuate himself with some of the jailers, had learnt, that early on the morning of the preceding day, previously to the wrong inflicted on his master by the Baronet, a gentlewoman of apparently some condition, but in deep distress, had visited him in his room; that having held a long conversation with him she departed, but soon returned with the proper securities for his enlargement, when they finally quitted the prison together. Such was the report derived from Robert, who, the next day, purposed extending his inquiries without the walls, amongst those who availed themselves of the privilege of the Rules.
Thus dubious and interrupted as were the subjects of De Brooke's thoughts, and equally so his slumbers, he frequently counted the lingering hours of darkness, whilst the little Aubrey lay by his side enjoying the sweet stillness of rest. Sometimes he beheld his wife, a pattern of maternal tenderness, devoted to her suffering child, rise, throw a
