tremulous a Voice, that I was silent--. Struck with her Manner of
speaking I could make no reply. "I have not ridden, continued she
fixing her Eyes on my face, since I was married." I was never so
surprised--"Married, Ma'am!" I repeated. "You may well wear that
look of astonishment, said she, since what I have said must
appear improbable to you--Yet nothing is more true than that I
once was married."

"Then why are you called Miss Jane?"

"I married, my Sophia without the consent or knowledge of my
father the late Admiral Annesley. It was therefore necessary to
keep the secret from him and from every one, till some fortunate
opportunity might offer of revealing it--. Such an opportunity
alas! was but too soon given in the death of my dear Capt.
Dashwood--Pardon these tears, continued Miss Jane wiping her
Eyes, I owe them to my Husband's memory. He fell my Sophia,
while fighting for his Country in America after a most happy
Union of seven years--. My Children, two sweet Boys and a Girl,
who had constantly resided with my Father and me, passing with
him and with every one as the Children of a Brother (tho' I had
ever been an only Child) had as yet been the comforts of my Life.
But no sooner had I lossed my Henry, than these sweet Creatures
fell sick and died--. Conceive dear Sophia what my feelings must
have been when as an Aunt I attended my Children to their early
Grave--. My Father did not survive them many weeks--He died,
poor Good old man, happily ignorant to his last hour of my
Marriage.'

"But did not you own it, and assume his name at your husband's