T
" Her mother, who loved her with extriime tenderness (having lost her husband
soon after the birth of her child), distressed at seeing her miserable, and desirous of
anticipating every wish that could give her happiness, immediately gained her neighbour's
consent to take their daughter entirely under her protection; saying, that she
should not only reside with hers, but that she meant herself to superintend their
education, and they should both be her children; that of course they ought not to
have any further anxiety concerning their child's future welfere, but rejoice at seeing
her so happily and so amply provided for. Elated at the proposal, these honest
parents the more readily consented, as, being in straitened circumstances, and finding
their work decreasing daily, they were scarcely able to maintain their family.
Thus did Justine, at five years of age, quit the parental roof, to reside with her young
friend.
" Rosina's mother being in an extensive mercantile line at Lyons, by no means
deemed it a proper situation for the young folks; but giving them to the care of a wellinformed
female, and an old trusty domestic, she sent them to her country residence, a
most beautiful spot at about three miles distance; where, free from the unavoidable
bustle and confusion of a large city, she determined on having them educated, reserving
to herself the pleasing satisfaction of visiting them frequently, in order to witness
the progress they made in their education.
" In this delightful spot did these amiable young friends pass their time in innocent
retirement and rational amusements, improving their minds, and enriching their understandings
daily, by every species of elegant accomplishments.
" With what pleasing emotions did Rosina's mother perceive, that as their judgement
and ideas imperceptibly expanded, the tie of friendship became still stronger, and their
solicitude for each other increased in the same proportion ! Seldom were they tempted
to go to Lyons, except when attracted by the desire of seeing their parents, who could
not always so conveniently visit them : so that these young folks might be said to have
g l i d e d through the greatest part of their youth exempted from those fatal trials which
are but too often the cause of our misfortunes: and surely the innocent and virtuous
simplicity which reigned in their hearts, and had hitherto guided every action of their
lives, seemed to insure them a continuance of tranquil and undisturbed serenity. But,
alas ! how concealed and inexplicable are the ways of Heaven ! Who can discern those
fine and slender threads that often compose the web of our fate?
" The lovely and interesting Rosina, in the bloom of youth and beauty (having just
entered her eighteenth year), added to an elegant form and pleasing manners a great
share of sensibility, and a soul fraught with extreme tenderness, which had too unfortunately
been enervated by the. reading of novels; and though she had hitherto at
times experienced only a slight and transient symptom of that baneful and fatal
languor, the forerunner of strong and dangerous passions, yet was she on the brink of
f e e l i n g its most direful effects.
" This charming giri having, in one of her excursions to Lyons , seen an Italian youth,
a few years older than herself, who had been introduced at her mother's, and whose
name, to the best of my recollection, was SERVIETTI,—struck with his nobie and
manly appearance, and a countenance which bespoke wit and sensibility, the toosusceptible
Rosina found it impossible to regard the young stranger with a look of indifference.
" This partiality, on further acquaintance, daily increased; and finding that he
not only realised the favourable opinion she had already formed, and possessed a general
k n o w l e d g e of the arts she most admired, but was beloved and countenanced by the
first families in Lyons, it is surely not to be wondered that she did not sufficiently
guard her unsuspecting heart against the alluring voice of love ; a passion which soon
after became reciprocal. For the youth, who had frequent opportunities of conversing
w i t h this amiable young woman, no longer able to witness such intrinsic merit without
f e e l i n g similar emotions of partiality, soon formed an attachment, which, to all appearance,
might have insured their future happiness, had not Rosina, from a dread of
displeasing her mother (who, she suspected, might be averse to their union), concealed
the fatal flame whi c h preyed on her vitals, and which finally induced this unfortunate
pair to hurl themselves together into eternity:—an act which the heart pities, while the
j u d g e m e n t condemns.
" I cannot follow these unfortunate lovers in the various events which preceded that
fatal moment 5 suffice it to say, that Rosina' s visits to her mother became more frequent;
till, finding that the country, and its innocent amusements, had lost their wonted
charms, and that ennui and disgust succeeded, she requested her mother to allow her
to remove to Lyons; a request which was immediately complied with by the unsuspecting
parent, who, seeing her darling and only child gradually declining, fjattered
herself that a change of scene might be of service.