AS the age became more enlightened, reformation appeared to be gaining ground. Many outward absurdities in devotion began to be laid aside; and several ventured openly to profess their dissenting principles from the church of Rome.

Amongst the disciples of Wickliffe, / were a baron and his lady, of the name of De Somerville, descended from an ancient Norman family. Lady De Somerville and Lady Elizabeth Grey had been friends from their earliest youth; but, unlike the faithful Moabitess, that said to her beloved mother-in-law, ‘Your God shall be my God, &c.’ each of these ladies, though they loved each other with sisterly affection, persisted, unchanged, in their different ideas of religion.

The Baron de Somerville died of a malignant fever, but a few months before his wife, leaving her an only daughter, which Lady Elizabeth Grey loved as her own.

When Lady de Somerville was on her death bed, she presented the little charge to her friend; saying – ‘Oh, my Elizabeth! dear companion of my youth! to / you I bequeath this treasure. No one will love her like you, when I am no more. In you she will find a second mother.’

Lady Elizabeth, immediately on the death of its only surviving parent, took the child to her house; and, during the early period of childhood, the surviving relatives indulged her in the pleasure of performing the office of friendship she so maternally fulfilled, in compliance with the injunctions of her dying friend. All the remaining kindred of Lady de Somerville were, however, sincerely attached to the reformed religion; and, as the child became capable of reasoning, they did all in their power to detach her from a bigoted Catholic. But the young Lady Elwina de Somerville loved her nominal mother with sincere affection, and could / not endure the thoughts of a separation.