She strove to pray but vainly; no words of such soothing and consoling import rose to her lips.

How long she remained in this state of wretchedness she knew not, but it was the mild accents of her mother's voice that roused her from her trance.
"Are you not well, Caroline?
What is the matter, love ?" Mrs.Hamilton asked, alarmed at the icy coldness of her daughter's hand, and kissing, as she spoke, her pallid cheek.
Caroline threw her arms round her, and a violent flood of tears relieved the misery from which she was suffering so painfully.
"Do not ask me to reveal the cause of this weakness, my dearest mother," she said, when voice returned.

"I shall be better now, and never, never again shall recollections of the past, by afflicting me, cause you solicitude.

Do not fancy this apparent grief has anything to do with regret at my late decision, or for still lingering affection; oh, no, no.

Do not look at me so anxiously, mother; I have had a long, long conversation with Percy, and that has caused the weakness you perceive; but it will soon pass away, and I shall be your own happy Caroline again." Tears were still stealing from those bloodshot eyes; but she looked up in Mrs.Hamilton's face with an expression of such confiding affection, that her mother's anxious fears were calmed.