Molly came to the door. She silently led me into a parlour. The poor girl was in tears. My questions as to the cause of her distress drew from her a very indistinct and sobbing confession that Mrs. Fielder had been made uneasy by Molly's going out so early in the morning; had taken her daughter to task; and, by employing entreaties and remonstrances in turn, had drawn from her the contents of her letter to me and of my answer. A strange, affecting scene had followed: indignation and grief on the mother's part; obstinacy, irresolution, sorrowful, reluctant penitence and acquiescence on the side of the daughter; a determination, tacitly concurred in by Jane, of leaving the city immediately. Orders were already issued for that purpose. "Is Mrs. Fielder at home?" "Yes." "Tell her a gentleman would see her." "She will ask, perhaps--Shall I tell her _who_?" "No--Yes. Tell her _I_ wish to see her." The poor girl looked very mournfully:--"She has seen your answer which talks of your intention to visit her. She vows she will not see you if you come." "Go, then, to Jane, and tell her I would see her for five minutes. Tell her openly; before her mother." This message, as I expected, brought down Mrs. Fielder alone. I never saw this lady before. There was a struggle in her countenance between anger and patience; an awful and severe solemnity; a slight and tacit notice of me as she entered. We both took chairs without speaking. After a moment's pause,-- "Mr. Colden, I presume." "Yes, madam." "You wish to see my daughter?" "I was anxious, madam, to see you. My business here chiefly lies with _you_,--not _her_." "With me, sir? And pray, what have you to propose to me?'7 "I have nothing to solicit, madam, but your patient attention." (I saw the rising vehemence could scarcely be restrained.) "I dare not hope for your favourable ear: all I ask is an audience from you of a few minutes." "This preface, sir," (her motions less and less controllable,) "is needless. I have very few minutes to spare at present. This roof is hateful to me while you are under it. Say what you will, sir, and briefly as possible." "No, madam; _thus_ received, I have not fortitude enough to say what I came to say. I merely entreat you to peruse this letter." "'Tis well, sir," (taking it, with some reluctance, and, after eyeing the direction, putting it aside.) "And this is all your business?" "Let me entreat you, madam, to read it in my presence. Its contents nearly concern your happiness, and will not leave mine unaffected." She did not seem, at first, disposed to compliance, but at length opened and read. What noble features has this lady! I watched them, as she read, with great solicitude, but discovered in them nothing that could cherish my hope. All was stern and inflexible. No wonder at the ascendency this spirit possesses over the tender and flexible Jane!