nineteenth of October, it was apparent that she preferred suffering and

death to any in her eyes degrading application for the pity and assistance

of her lover. Her subsequent conduct did not diminish this interest. At

first, relieved from famine and the grave, watched over by Raymond with the

tenderest assiduity, with that feeling of repose peculiar to convalescence,

Evadne gave herself up to rapturous gratitude and love. But reflection

returned with health. She questioned him with regard to the motives which

had occasioned his critical absence. She framed her enquiries with Greek

subtlety; she formed her conclusions with the decision and firmness

peculiar to her disposition. She could not divine, that the breach which

she had occasioned between Raymond and Perdita was already irreparable: but

she knew, that under the present system it would be widened each day, and

that its result must be to destroy her lover's happiness, and to implant

the fangs of remorse in his heart. From the moment that she perceived the

right line of conduct, she resolved to adopt it, and to part from Raymond

for ever. Conflicting passions, long-cherished love, and self-inflicted

disappointment, made her regard death alone as sufficient refuge for her

woe. But the same feelings and opinions which had before restrained her,

acted with redoubled force; for she knew that the reflection that he had

occasioned her death, would pursue Raymond through life, poisoning every

enjoyment, clouding every prospect. Besides, though the violence of her

anguish made life hateful, it had not yet produced that monotonous,

lethargic sense of changeless misery which for the most part produces

suicide. Her energy of character induced her still to combat with the ills

of life; even those attendant on hopeless love presented themselves, rather

in the shape of an adversary to be overcome, than of a victor to whom she

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The Last Man