Sarah Wilkinson

“ In vain were the physicians and all their medical attendants, summoned; human skill was vain. Jane was doomed to linger out her existence a hapless maniac. She was perfectly harmless and tractable; and for whole days would wander in these places where she had been used to walk with Henry. She would sing the most plaintive airs, and converse with those who addressed her about her lover. ”

“ Though death might have been a consummation almost to be wished, that might translate the sufferer from this world to a state of eternal bliss, yet her parents could not endure the thought of parting with their dear, their youngest child; still more dear to their heart by her sufferings. Her sisters also felt a keen anguish; but not so much as the gentle Rosetta who was now the mother of two lovely infants. She never beheld Jane but she thought of Henry as her murderer ”

“ Jane did not arise till the evening. Nor would she then have left her chamber, only to keep her appointment with Henry, whom she had promised to meet at the usual spot, in the well-known grove, in vain Annette persuaded her not to leave the house: Jane persisted that a walk would be of service to her; and obtained her sister's promise, not to mention her absence to her parents; and then hastened to the place where her perfidious lover was waiting. Henry, with seeming affection, embraced her; and then imparted his intention of leaving Rosewood, and repairing to the metropolis the next day. ”

“ Next to the fair Jane, Rosetta was esteemed the handsomest girl in that part of the country. She was in her nineteenth year, and her truly amiable manners soon gained her the esteem of the surrounding families: and amongst the rest, farmer Arnold's Rosetta admired all the sisters, but particularly attached herself to Jane. Their sentiments were congenial; and their chief happiness seemed to be in each others society. Often with the permission of her parents Jane would repair to Mr Percival's, and reside with her dear Rosetta three or four days at a time. ”

“ Pleased with the society of each other, Henry and Jane proceeded on, arm in arm to Rosewood, where they were affectionately welcomed by Mr Percival and Rosetta, who had from the windows of the parlour beheld the approach of the youthful pair.
The return of Henry to his family was celebrated with he utmost festivity. The company assembled on the occasion were plentifully regaled and the young people danced on the grass-plat that adorned the front of Mr Percival's dwelling. Rosetta was Lubin's partner and Jane was Henry's. Never did four persons appear so superlative happy. ”

“ Thus, in fluctuating hope and fear, the hapless girl passed away her melancholy hours, till the first dawn of the grey-eyed morn was announced by the shrill clarion of Chanticleer. Recollection flushed on her mind: she chided herself for giving way to such sorrowful retrospections; and fearful of being discovered by any of the family, not yet undressed, she hastily divested herself of her apparel, and retired to bed.—Worn out by the fatigue of the proceeding day and the sorrows of her heart, she soon fell into a heavy slumber. ”

“ As yet her heart had been free from the enslaving power of love. Her beauty had indeed stirred many suitors; but none of them succeeded in gaining the affections of the the youthful mind. Lubin her only brother, was in his twenty-fourth year, and was as much endowed with masculine as his sister was with feminine beauty. Lucy and Annetta might be both entitled to the determination of pretty agreeable girls, but no farther.
About two miles distant from farmer Arnold, resided a Mr Percival, who, having been many years a woollen-draper in the city of London and accumulated a decent fortune. ”

“ Ah, ye fair daughters of the earth! Nature's choicest work, did you rightly consider the pre-eminence of virtue, and your own conscious dignity, how few, if any, would depart from the path pointed out by rectitude, religion, and honour!
At the next interview that took place between Henry and our unfortunate maiden; after the fatal triumph of the former, her swoln eyes, and altered countenance, declared the poignancy of her feelings, and that remorse had already taken possession of her soul. Henry exerted all his eloquence to soothe her griefs ”

“ Then, (continued Henry,) if I succeed I shall no longer be dependent on my father; and our marriage shall take place immediately on my return, which I promise, my dear Jane, shall be within the next three weeks.' Jane was affected at the thoughts of parting; yet the solemn promise of her lover eased her mind of an oppressive burden, and her tears were mingled with emotions of joy and grief. It was long ere any of them had fortitude to pronounce the small, but much importing word, Adieu.—-Henry accompanied Jane to the end of the grove, and then left her for ever. ”

“ As soon as Rosetta had imparted the contents of the letter, she entreated Mr Arnold to permit his three daughters to visit her on the day appointed for Henry's arrival, as her father intended to make it a kind of a festival. The farmers readily acquiesced; and it was agreed that the fair ones should repair to Rosewood at an early hour of the forenoon, and that Lubin should join the the gay party at the commencement of the evening to share in their pleasures, and escort his sister home. ”