"ftanding; you have nothing to do but to "fhake off an indolent habit, and, having youth "at your command, to employ the one and cul"tivate the other: the means of doing this it "would be prefumption in me to prescribe, but "as my grandfather is a man well acquainted "with the world and fully qualified to give "advice, I should earnestly recommend to you "not to take a hafty departure before you have "confulted him, and I may venture to promise

you will never repent of any confidence you "may repofe in his friendship and difcretion."

Here Conftantia put an end to the conference and turned towards the houfe; Ned ftood fixt in deep reflection, his mind fometimes brightening with hope, sometimes relapfing into defpair his final determination, however, was to obey Conftantia's advice and feek an interview with Mr. Somerville.

:

THE

́N° CXXVIII.

HE next morning, as foon as Ned and Mr. Somerville met, the old gentleman took him into his library, and when he was feated,

"Sir," faid he, "I fhall fave you some embar"raffment if I begin our conference by telling

you that I am well apprised of your sentiments "towards my Conftantia; I fhall make the fame "hafte to put you out of suspense by affuring you that I am not unfriendly to your wishes." This was an opening of fuch unexpected joy to Ned, that his spirits had nearly funk under the furprize; he ftared wildly without power of ut terance, scarce venturing to credit what he had heard; the blood rushed into his cheeks, and Somerville, feeing his diforder, proceeded: "When I have said this on my own part, un"derstand, young gentleman, that I only engage "not to obstruct your fuccefs, I do not, nay [

cannot, undertake to ensure it: that muft de"pend upon Conftantia; permit me to add, it "muft depend upon yourself." Here Ned, unable to fupprefs his transports, eagerly demanded what there could be in his power to do, that might advance him in the good opinion and esteem of Conftantia; such was his gratitude to the old gentleman for his kindness, that he could fcarce refrain from throwing himself at his feet, and he implored him inftantly to point out the happy means, which he would implicitly embrace, were they every so difficult, ever fo dangerous. "There

C 2

"There will be neither hardfhip nor hazard," replied Mr. Somerville, " in what I fhall advife. "Great things may be accomplished in a fhort "time, where the difpofition is good and the "understanding apt: though your father neg"lected your education, it is no reafon you should "neglect yourself; you must shake off your indo"lence; and as the firft ftep neceflary towards

your future comfort is to put yourself at ease "in point of fortune, you must make yourself "mafter of your own eftate; that I suspect can "only be done by extricating your affairs from "the hands they are in; but as this is a business, "that will require the affiftance of an honeft

and able agent, I fhall recommend to you my (6 own lawyer, on whofe integrity you may se"curely rely; he will foon reduce your affairs "to fuch a fyftem of regularity, that you will "find it an eafy bufinefs, and when you discover "how many fources of future happiness it opens to you, you will purfue it as an employment "of no lefs pleasure than advantage."

To this good advice Ned promifed the fulleft and most unreferved obedience; Mr. Somerville refumed his fubject and proceeded: "When you have thus laid the foundation in œco"nomy, what remains to be done will be a task

་་

"of

"of pleasure this will confift in furnishing

your mind and enlarging your experience, in "fhort, Sir, rubbing off the ruft of indolence "and the prejudices of a narrow education: "now for this important undertaking I have a "friend in my eye, whose understanding, temsc per, morals and manners qualify him to ren"der you moft effential fervices: with this ami"able and inftructive companion I should in "the first place recommend you to take a "tour through the most interefting parts of <c your own country, and hereafter, as occafion "shall serve, you may, or you may not, extend travels into other countries: this is the "best counsel I have to give you, and I tender "it with all poffible good wishes for your "fuccefs."

your

A plan, propofed with fo much cordiality and holding forth fuch a reward for the accomplishment of its conditions, could not fail to be embraced with ardour by the late defpairing lover of Conftantia. The worthy lawyer was prepared for the undertaking, and Ned was all impatience to convince Mr. Somerville, that indolence was no longer his ruling defect. He gave inftant orders for his journey, and then Aew to Conftantia, at whofe feet he poured

forth the humble, yet ardent, acknowledgments of a heart overflowing with gratitude and love: it feemed as if love's arrow, like Ithuriel's fpear, poffeffed the magic powers of transformation with a touch: there was a spirit in his eyes, an energy in his motions, an illumination over his whole perfon, that gave his form and features a new cast: Conftantia faw the fudden transformation with furprize, and as it evinced the flexibility of his nature and the influence of her own charms, fhe faw it also with delight: "So foon!" was her only reply, when he announced his immediate departure, but those words were uttered with such a cadence and accompanied by fuch a look, as to the eye and ear of love conveyed more meaning than volumes would contain, unaided by fuch expreffion-"Yes, adorable Conftantia," he exclaimed, "I am now fetting forth to give the earliest "proof in my power of a ready and alert obedi<c ence to the dictates of my best adviser; these "few moments, which your condefcenfion in❝dulges me with, are the only moments I shall

not rigidly devote to the immediate duties of r my task: infpired with the hope of returning "le's unworthy of your attention, I chearfully "fubmit to banish myself from your fight for a "time, content to cherish in my heart the lovely