my

more. Apropos to that," added the Baronet with an encouraging fimile, "here is friend Claypole's niece coming to us this very day; Fanny is a fine girl, and, between you and me, has a hawk's eye at a handfome fellow; if you mind your hits, who knows what may come of it? She has a very pretty independency, I can promife you."-" And I am a beggar," said Henry." Not fo, not abfolutely fo," replied Sir Roger; "I have that in my hands, which will keep off beggary at leaft. I don't promife, nor wou'd I have you expect, any great matters; but I have my niece's word for faying you are remember'd in her will, and that will is in my keeping, fo you won't be beholden to a wife for the bread that you eat, as fome folks are."

Henry was high-minded enough in confcience, and there were few people from whom he would have relished this kind of difcourfe ; but he took the Baronet in his own way, and contented himself with obferving, that he was ill-qualified for a fortune hunter, for he fhould: be as fcrupulous with refpect to the good qualities of a wife, and as indifferent to her money, as if he had the fortune of a prince in poffeffion.

They were now entering the avenue that opened to the house, when Henry, suspecting that Ifabella might be upon the look-out, and alarmed with the fight of a led-horse, begged leave to ftop the chaife and get out. The measure was a confiderate one, for his prefentiment was verified by the fight of that young lady walking towards them up the avenue: he galloped onwards, and greeting her with the good tidings, that all was well, stopt his career, and leapt to the ground in an instant of time; in the fame instant joy illuminated her bright eyes, and glowed on her cheeks.

Oh! all ye Loves and Graces, what were you doing at that moment to make your favourite, already mistress of poor Henry's heart, fo irresistibly alluring, and why thus league yourselves in mighty combination against one weak fon of nature, unhappily too fenfitive for his repofe? Why meet him, lovely Isabella, with that magic fweetness, those alluring fmiles, and, to a form fo beauteous add those charms, that would have recommended homelinefs itself-the nymph-like robe tucked up above the inftep, locks loose and flowing, quick breath, and panting bofom ?-Why must every wind confpire to unveil new beauties to his

fight, and why too must that cunning painter, exercise, heighten the bright carnation of your cheeks to fuch a dazzling hue, that the admiring eye could not behold its luftre, without betraying the emotions of the heart? Is this fair dealing, tempter? Goddeffes, ye should have mercy, and remember that my hero is but a mortal.

CHAPTER III.

Our Hero is led towards a Difcovery highly

WE

interefting.

E left our hero, at the clofe of the foregoing chapter, like the fon of Tydeus in the fields of Troy, contending with the immortals: if in that encounter any lady got a wound of Henry's giving, we, who must be tried by modern rules of honour, not by ancient lore, will be the last to boast of it; certain it is, that Ifabella ftept into the carriage, and took her feat there, with an agility that argued the free use of all her limbs; neither did the fly to her father, as her fair prototype Venus did to Jupiter, to murmur and com

plain of the audacious mortal who affailed her; on the contrary, fhe parted with him in peace, careffed the favourite fteed on which he rode, and, as he mounted the chariot, accepted his affifting hand; from all which we infer, that Ifabella came heart-whole out of the fray, or, at worst, with no fuch visible injury as could impeach the manhood of our hero. He, on the other hand, whether difabled by fome fecret wound, or from whatever cause, attempted not to vault into the faddle with his ufual glee, but flowly pacing under shelter of the trees with horfe in hand, unfolded the small packet Ifabella had delivered to him, and taking out the contents, which Zachary's careleffhefs had neglected to give, read as follows

Accept this ring: it was my gift to your "father; the pledge of love and conftancy: "the perfon, who pretends to have found it, "either is Delapoer himself, or can inform 62 you of his fate."

«Tis Delapoer himfelf," cried Henry; "'tis he! How cruel is this difappointment! How perverfe, vexatious, and unpardonable the negligence of Zachary ! and what fatal confequences might have follow'd from our altercation

tercation in the cottage! Heaven and Earth! I might have been the murderer of my father! my blood chills at the reflection! Three times I have met him, and each time, fave once, have treated him with fullen difrefpect. O Nature, where were thofe fecret workings we are told of; where that fympathy of fouls, that inftinct, to impel us to each other? 'Tis plain why he difguis'd himself; he came to fpy the land, to hover round the fpot, where his first love was planted: he knew the rumour of Lord Crowbery's jealoufy; nay, he confefs'd he did, and (oh ftrange involution: of unnatural circumftances!) accufed me ins his heart of inceft with a mother. Monftrous perverfion of ideas! by what horrors have I been unknowingly encompass'd! by what providence have I efcap'd! He must be Delapoer;. he must be the unconscious author of my myfterious birth. Where fhall I feek him now? No matter! I will ranfack the whole ifland ere I renounce the fearch.. He faid he was a gentleman; 'twas truly faid! for when I rous'd him into wrath, his pale and fickly cheeks caught fire, and his eyes witnefs'd to the highborn fpirit of a noble gentleman. Thank L 6. Heaven!