Page 195 (1/1)

These and other regulations eued as she went to bed, she could not close her eyes: fearful so was left undone, she robbed herself of the short time she had allowed to rest, by incessant meditation upon what yet remained to be executed She could recollect, however, one only thing that had escaped her vigilance, which was acquainting the pew-opener, and two or three other poor women who had weekly pensions from her, that they er upon her assistance

Nothing indeed could bethem such information, yet not to be speedy with it would double the barbarity of their disappointment She even felt for these poor women, whose loss in her she kneould be irreparable, a compassion that drove from her mind almost every other subject, and determined her, in order to soften to theht prevent the them with hopes of her future assistance

She had ordered at seven o'clock in thean hired chaise at the door, and she did not suffer it long to wait for her She quitted her house with a heart full of care and anxiety, grieving at the necessity ofsuch a sacrifice, uncertain hoould turn out, and labouring under a thousand perplexities with respect to the ht immediately to take She passed, when she reached the hall, through a roeeping domestics, not one of ith dry eyes could see the house bereft of such a mistress She spoke to them all with kindness, and as much as was in her poith chearfulness: but the tone of her voice gave them little reason to think the concern at this journey was all their own

She ordered her chaise to drive round to the pew-opener's and thence to the rest of her iretted that she had given herself this task; the affliction of these poor pensioners was cla; they could live, they said, no longer, they were ruined for ever; they should soon be without bread to eat, and they enerous, their only benefactress was far away!

Cecilia e theed, she would remember them all, visit them herself, and contribute to their relief, with all the power she should have left Nothing, however, could console the about her, almost took the horses from the chaise, and conjured her not to desert those ere solely cherished by her bounty!