* To understand these minutes, it is necessary the reader should consider each of them as setting out from the same point in the story, viz. the point to which it is brought down in the preceding chapter. [Godwin’s note]

I.  “Trial for adultery—­Maria defends herself—­A separation from bed and board is the consequence—­Her fortune is thrown into chancery—­Darnford obtains a part of his property—­Maria goes into the country.”

II.  “A prosecution for adultery commenced—­Trial—­Darnford sets out for France—­Letters—­Once more pregnant—­He returns—­Mysterious behaviour—­Visit—­Expectation—­
;Discovery—­Interview—­Consequence.”

III.  “Sued by her husband—­Damages awarded to him—­Separation from bed and board—­Darnford goes abroad—­Maria into the country—­Provides for her father—­Is shunned—­Returns to London—­Expects to see her lover—­The rack of expectation—­Finds herself again with child—­Delighted—­A discovery—­A visit—­A miscarriage—­Conclusion.”

IV.  “Divorced by her husband—­Her lover
unfaithful—­Pregnancy—­Miscarriage—­Suicide.”

[The following passage appears in some respects to deviate from the preceding hints.  It is superscribed] “THE END.

“She swallowed the laudanum; her soul was calm—­the tempest had subsided—­and nothing remained but an eager longing to forget herself—­to fly from the anguish she endured to escape from thought—­from this hell of disappointment.

“Still her eyes closed not—­one remembrance with frightful velocity followed another—­All the incidents of her life were in arms, embodied to assail her, and prevent her sinking into the sleep of death.—­Her murdered child again appeared to her, mourning for the babe of which she was the tomb.—­’And could it have a nobler?—­Surely it is better to die with me, than to enter on life without a mother’s care!—­I cannot live!—­but could I have deserted my child the moment it was born?—­thrown it on the troubled wave of life, without a hand to support it?’—­She looked up:  ’What have I not suffered!—­may I find a father where I am going!—­Her head turned; a stupor ensued; a faintness—­’Have a little patience,’ said Maria, holding her swimming head (she thought of her mother), ’this cannot last long; and what is a little bodily pain to the pangs I have endured?’

“A new vision swam before her.  Jemima seemed to enter—­leading a little creature, that, with tottering footsteps, approached the bed.  The voice of Jemima sounding as at a distance, called her—­she tried to listen, to speak, to look!

“‘Behold your child!’ exclaimed Jemima.  Maria started off the bed, and fainted.—­Violent vomiting followed.