wife; and whensoever the gentleman, in the expression of his weariness, took it into his head to use the language of reproach, her ladyship, from the peculiarity of her situation, felt unable to return or repel it. Whether it be possible or not for a married woman who has lost the affection of her husband, ever to regain and recover that affection, we presume not to say; but notwithstanding the diffidence we feel in our own judgment, and notwithstanding our own inexperience of such matters, we will venture to give it as our firm opinion, that when the affections of a seducer are gone away from the silly one whom he has beguiled, or who has beguiled him, it is the most hopeless of all efforts to endeavour to recall them. But however hopeless the effort may be, it still must be made. So felt the unfortunate and unhappy woman, who, under the notion of liberty, had sold herself into an irretrievable slavery. If however she possessed not sufficient discernment and strength of mind to keep herself from this miserable condition, it was not very likely that she should be possessed of wit and wisdom enough to perform one of the most difficult of all difficult tasks, to recall a wandering affection. And the efforts which are used for this purpose are in their nature, or from the nature of the human mind, so exceedingly perverse, that in the same ratio as they fail of doing good, they are productive of evil. Thus it came to pass that the affections of Mr. Tippetson for the poor witless Countess of Trimmerstone grew weaker and fainter; and in proportion to her endeavours to retain him, she found that she was nearer to losing him. Not many years passed away before he absolutely left her; and from this state of humiliation she wrote to her broken-hearted father, praying that he would not let her perish for want in a strange land. That supplication was not unheeded; she was saved from absolute want; but she lived the remainder of her days in solitude, obscurity, and self-reproach. We now return to the period from whence we have digressed. CHAPTER V. “Ha!--my fears Anticipate thy words!” SMOLLETT. When Lord Trimmerstone returned from his visit to Mr. Martindale, it was with the full intention of firmly though gently insisting on preparations being forthwith made for a departure from town and a settlement in the country. When he inquired for the Countess, the domestics answered by looking at each other with manifest symptoms of confusion, as if to ask which should be the herald of evil tidings. His lordship was naturally impatient; and such a mode of meeting his inquiries was not likely to make him less so. With great impetuosity, therefore, he exclaimed, “What is the matter? Why don’t you speak? Tell me this instant where is the Countess!” Thus speaking, he laid hold of his own valet, who trembling in every limb replied, “My lady is gone…” “Gone!” exclaimed his lordship; “where, and with whom?”