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be able to hold up her head--she led her to her chamber, and assisted in putting her and her infant to bed. Oh! what tears of gratitude flowed down Lucy's cheeks, while she raised her full and thankful heart to the Father of Mercies, praying for blessings on the head of her kind Benefactoress. history of Mrs F. with the { ?} from Sullast
Mrs Fairely, was a woman as the french say, of a certain age--Tho' the freshness of youth had passed, she still retained an unusual degree of beauty--She had a fine figure, rather embonpoint, but graceful and majestic. Her features possessed more the charm of expression than regularity. Long practice had made them so obedient to her will, that they could assume at pleasure, the most captivating sweetness, the most ardent passion--the most lanquishing voluptuousness--the tenderest pity--the warmest benevolence; even while revenge, hatred--malice, and disgust were raising in her bosom;-- like the flames of Etna burning in the cavities of the mountain, while its surface is cover'd with the forest snow, the brightest foliage and the gayest flowers
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Ambition was her ruling passion. Endowed by nature, with exquisite beauty, an ardent genius, and powerful mind; she could still brooke the degradation and debasement, into which she had been plunged by the perfidy of a villain. Born to affluence, she had been the darling, the indulged and spoiled child of a fond and doting mother. At the age of twelve she had lost one of the best of fathers, who had spared no care or expense to improve the gifts of nature. From masters of every kind, she received instructions in all the various accomplishments and sciences usualy taught to females--Her aptitude and improvement, amply rewarded her parents' care. What might not have been the virtue and excellence of one so richly endowed, so carefully educated? She might have been a blessing and ornament to society--But the spoiler came, and diffusing through the fair Eden of her innocent heart, the baneful influence of vice, destroyed the lovely bloom and the promised fruit and where flowers grew, briars and poisonous weeds usurped the soil.
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compassion, were these which excited the vilest exultations in the bosom of Mrs Fairly. Rustic simplicity and quick likeness, join'd to such grace and beauty, only served to enhance the value of the prize which chance had thrown in her way. But this woman, who had long trafficked in human passions, knew her business too well, not to conceal her designs from her unthinking victim. She quickly discerned that tho' frail, she was still virtuous; that she would rather return to misery, or be exposed to death, than remain with her if condemn'd to a life of vice and infamy. *In her quickly designing mind, she soon arranged the plan she meant to pursue. [To gain her affection, her confidence and gratitude by kindness to herself and infant--gradualy to corrupt her principles, to awaken her senses, excite her imagination. she was aware the only mode of bending her to her purpose, and make
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her a willing agent in her vile mercenary schemes. next 3 lines scratched out
it was the sweet and tender expressions of Lucy's speaking countenance that gave its greatest charm to her lovely face. and unless that tenderness and sweetness could be awaken'd by vicious,{ as they?} more now, by virtuous feeling, that charm would be lost.
Such were the base calculations, which gave to the manners of Mrs Fairly, all the warmth and tenderness of real benevolence. When Lucy had finished her simple narrative; her perfidious hostess, soothed her with accents of kindness--comforted her with promises of protection, and with what Lucy thought an angel's goodness, bade her look on her house, as a home, and in herself as a mother. [She immediately had an appointment, adjoining the one they sat in, prepared, and seeing that the poor wanderer was so ill, as scarcely to