of husband or wife: but a fond amiable pair will always go hand-in-hand in their love, respect, and honour, to the parents of each other. Marriage is a religious compact, and the rites which unite the pair, draw the friends of each into a religious relationship."

"I hope, madam," said Count Antonio, advancing respectfully towards Cassandra, "when I am blessed with the right of calling your amiable daughter mine, that our duty will ever be fully paid to our parents. I shall have five parents to love and honour, and I hope to each, I shall acquit myself as a worthy son. To the earl and countess, my first-known parents, I still feel the strongest attachment; nor will, I trust, my natural father, be offended at this declaration; for trifling and mutable must that heart be which can transfer its affections at the word of command. My love for the earl, coun

tess, and my dear Maria, will not abate one degree; but I feel the increasing affection of a child for a father, each. moment I view Prince Gareci, and contemplate his virtues and suffering. I own, in one instance, I have acted unworthy of such parents. I have disgraced the parent who gave me birth, and the parent who fostered me- but my future actions shall atone for the past:-The dear object whom most I injured, has sealed my pardon; may I implore your's and her respected father's "

"Yes, my son," said Cassandra, throwing her arms round his neck, "love Imma, and be happy."

He then bowed to Orsato, who took his hand, saying

"I do, my son, sincerely forgive you: the step was an imprudent one, and perhaps unkind, nay, cruel, for hours of sorrow and affliction it inflicted

on

I

on her Amalfian friends.

But the

respect you paid to her virtue, and your sufferings over-balance the fault, and entitle you to our daughter's love, and our esteem.”

Prince Gareci told his son that his honest frankness delighted him; that he wished only to share his love with the earl and countess. The company had so many observations to make on Cassandra's imprisonment, that Orsato declined relating his adventures until the next day.

When Imma retired to her room, she told Metella that her mother had minutely related every incident that had happened to her during the years of her absence from her family.

My dear signora," said Metella, "do tell me all. How I have longed to ask Countess Cassandra, but dared not. There, now, you are undressed, I will

D 5

I will sit on this stool by your bedside, until you tell me all.”

Imma began. "Ah! (said Metella), "I was sure Lozano was the villain. Ah, Bapta! I have often seen this, Bapta. O! If I had but known my dear mistress had been there, I would soon have released her:-I would have gone to the forest."

Imma, after many interruptions, got through the tale; and Metella went crying to bed.

CHAP.

CHAP. II.

ORSATO'S SUFFERINGS.

"I MUST begin (said Orsato, when called on by the company to favour them with an account of his adventures) at that period when I left my brother sole manager of my affairs, and guardian to my daughter.

"After sincerely mourning the absence of my Cassandra for two years, (for I could not persuade myself she was lost)-seeing Metella was a fond, faithful nurse to my Imma, and thinking my brother felt the same affection for me and my child, which I did for him; I wrote to him, requesting he would leave Messina, and reside at the palace D 6 Menzini