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bleak and heathy hills which varied the
surface of that not altogether uninteresting
district； and which had； I believe； been
employed by the keen and hardy ancestors
of the O'Mara family as a convenient
temporary residence during the sporting
season。
Thither my attendance was required； in
order to administer to a deeply distressed
lady such comforts as an afflicted mind can
gather from the sublime hopes and consolations
of Christianity。
I had long suspected that the occupant
of this sequestered； I might say desolate；
dwelling…house was the poor girl whose
brief story we are following； and feeling a
keen interest in her fateas who that had
ever seen her DID NOT？I started from my
comfortable seat with more eager alacrity
than； I will confess it； I might have
evinced had my duty called me in another
direction。
In a few minutes I was trotting rapidly
onward； preceded by my guide； who urged
his horse with the remorseless rapidity of
one who seeks by the speed of his progress
to escape observation。 Over roads and
through bogs we splashed and clattered；
until at length traversing the brow of a
wild and rocky hill； whose aspect seemed
so barren and forbidding that it might
have been a lasting barrier alike to mortal
sight and step； the lonely building became
visible； lying in a kind of swampy flat；
with a broad reedy pond or lake stretching
away to its side； and backed by a farther
range of monotonous sweeping hills；
marked with irregular lines of grey rock；
which； in the distance； bore a rude and
colossal resemblance to the walls of a
fortification。
Riding with undiminished speed along
a kind of wild horse…track； we turned the
corner of a high and somewhat ruinous
wall of loose stones； and making a sudden
wheel we found ourselves in a small
quadrangle； surmounted on two sides by
dilapidated stables and kennels； on
another by a broken stone wall； and upon
the fourth by the front of the lodge itself。
The whole character of the place was that
of dreary desertion and decay； which
would of itself have predisposed the mind
for melancholy impressions。 My guide
dismounted； and with respectful attention
held my horse's bridle while I got down；
and knocking at the door with the handle
of his whip； it was speedily opened by a
neatly…dressed female domestic； and I was
admitted to the interior of the house； and
conducted into a small room； where a fire
in some degree dispelled the cheerless air；
which would otherwise have prevailed
to a painful degree throughout the
place。
I had been waiting but for a very few
minutes when another female servant；
somewhat older than the first； entered the
room。 She made some apology on the
part of the person whom I had come to
visit； for the slight delay which had already
occurred； and requested me further to wait
for a few minutes longer； intimating that
the lady's grief was so violent； that without
great effort she could not bring herself
to speak calmly at all。 As if to beguile
the time； the good dame went on in a
highly communicative strain to tell me；
amongst much that could not interest me；
a little of what I had desired to hear。 I
discovered that the grief of her whom I
had come to visit was excited by the
sudden death of a little boy； her only
child； who was then lying dead in his
mother's chamber。
'And the mother's name？' said I； inquiringly。
The woman looked at me for a moment；
smiled； and shook her head with the air of
mingled mystery and importance which
seems to say； 'I am unfathomable。' I
did not care to press the question； though
I suspected that much of her apparent
reluctance was affected； knowing that my
doubts respecting the identity of the person
whom I had come to visit must soon
be set at rest； and after a little pause the
worthy Abigail went on as fluently as
ever。 She told me that her young
mistress had been； for the time she had
been with herthat was； for about a year
and a halfin declining health and spirits；
and that she had loved her little child to a
degree beyond expressionso devotedly
that she could not； in all probability；
survive it long。
While she was running on in this way
the bell rang； and signing me to follow；
she opened the room door； but stopped in
the hall； and taking me a little aside； and
speaking in a whisper； she told me； as I
valued the life of the poor lady； not to say
one word of the death of young O'Mara。
I nodded acquiescence； and ascending a
narrow and ill…constructed staircase； she
stopped at a chamber door and knocked。
'Come in；' said a gentle voice from
within； and； preceded by my conductress；
I entered a moderately…sized； but rather
gloomy chamber。
There was but one living form within it
it was the light and graceful figure of a
young woman。 She had risen as I
entered the room； but owing to the
obscurity of the apartment； and to the
circumstance that her face； as she looked
towards the door； was turned away from
the light； which found its way in dimly
through the narrow windows； I could not
instantly recognise the features。
'You do not remember me； sir？' said the
same low； mournful voice。 'I amI WAS
Ellen Heathcote。'
'I do remember you； my poor child；'
said I； taking her hand； 'I do remember
you very well。 Speak to me frankly
speak to me as a friend。 Whatever I can
do or say for you； is yours already； only
speak。'
'You were always very kind； sir； to
thoseto those that WANTED kindness。'
The tears were almost overflowing； but
she checked them； and as if an accession
of fortitude had followed the momentary
weakness； she continued； in a subdued but
firm tone； to tell me briefly the
circumstances of her marriage with O'Mara。
When she had concluded the recital；
she paused for a moment； and I asked
again：
'Can I aid you in any wayby advice
or otherwise？'
'I wish； sir； to tell you all I have been
thinking about；' she continued。 'I am
sure； sir； that Master Richard loved me
onceI am sure he did not think to
deceive me； but there were bad； hard…
hearted people about him； and his family
were all rich and high； and I am sure he
wishes NOW that he had never； never seen
me。 Well； sir； it is not in my heart to blame
him。 What was _I_ that I should look at
him？an ignorant； poor； country girl
and he so high and great； and so beautiful。
The blame was all mineit was all my
fault； I could not think or hope he would
care for me more than a little time。 Well；
sir； I thought over and over again that
since his love was gone from me for ever；
I should not stand in his way； and hinder
whatever great thing his family wished for
him。 So I thought often and often to write
him a letter to get the marriage broken；
and to send me home； but for one reason；
I would have done it long ago： there was
a little child； h