neath my level, and infenfible of foul to merit in an humble ftate of fortune. When I have faid this in juftification of myself, we will leave the fubject where it is, obferving only, that if you, being your own mistress in all refpects, are ferious in this attachment, and can engage the heart of a man fo truly amiable and fo ftrictly honourable, you will be the happiest of women; and if fome few may condemn you for your difinterestedness, there will be many more to envy you for your good fortune." "Well then, my dear Ifabella," faid Fanny, in conclufion, " if I was refolutely to marry this young unknown, you wou'd not think me quite run mad?"-" Upon my word," re plied fhe, " I will not flatter you so far as to fay I fhou'd."-" Then I will go and confult my pillow on the matter," faid Fanny, and fo good night to you !"

CHAPTER

CHAPTER VI.

Love is a fubtle Arguer.

WE who are hiftorians of fiction have a

privilege that hiftorians of fact do nos

enjoy, which, like the ring of Gyges, gives us the power of invifibility, by which we infinuate ourselves most completely into the secrets of our heroes and heroines, and instead of arguing, as our unendowed brethren do, from records and authorities, up to the thoughts and characters of our actors, which at best is but an uncertain kind of guefs-work, we can go point-blank, to their hearts, in spite of all the obliquities of words and actions, and give to our readers the idea in embryo before it has been brought to the birth, or ever mounted to the lips. In virtue of this privilege I fhall let Fanny Claypole go, as her meditations. may eafily be gueffed at, and remain with the lovely Ifabella, whofe thoughts are probably more deep, and undoubtedly more interefting.

As foon as she was alone, she began to take a ftrict review of what had been her state of

mind and temper during the foregoing scene: the firft reflection that occurred to her was of the felf-accufing fort; fhe had acted with duplicity. Have I not permitted Fanny to conclude that Henry is indifferent to me? and is he?"-To this her heart replied that he was not. Her next reproach was for the coldness and referve with which he had met the warmth of Fanny's friendly confidence :--"I hate myself for that," fhe faid; "it looks fo like what I deteft and difavow, pride and difdain."--Here the paused, and began to call over, as near as memory enabled her, the very words fhe had ufed in her paft difcourfe with her friend. Her faults did not appear fo glaring upon this review; her filence with respect to Henry did not ftrike her as fo direct a breach of that frank fincerity which was her nature; fhe did not fee the obligation fhe was under to make difcovery of impreffions, the reality of which fhe was not yet affured of: why fhould Fanny's levity, who faid every thing at random that was uppermoft in her thoughts, draw her into the like idle vein of talking?"If the will pronounce upon my infenfibility; it is not I that lead her into the mistake, nor am I fure it was my business to lead her out

of

of it."- She now commenced a stricter examination of her heart, infpected it with a feverer eye, and found, or thought the found, fome cause to fufpect it of jealousy, a baneful paffion." Oh horrible !" fhe cried, "what's this that I difcover? this pang I never felt before this difpofition to repine and murmur at another's happiness! Hateful propensity! I'll banish it at once; it makes me mean and loathfome to myself. Why cou'd not I be well content when fhe was pleased? why figh and vex myself, and love her less than ever I did before, because the fat with Henry, and engrofs'd him to herself? I'll call her back, and tell her I admire her generous, her difinterefted paffion; nay, I'll do more, I'll go and be her advocate with him fhe loves; that will be noble, that will be a gallant conqueft over myself; and she deferves him, she will marry him; he has the happy privilege of chufing for herself; I am-Alas! I know not what I am; but this I know, I am not quite fo def perate and romantic as to facrifice myself, and be officious in her cause, and fo, perhaps, givė Henry juft offence, and yet do her no fervice: no, that won't do; I am not bound to go fo far as that, nay, I am fenfible I cannot: alas! alas!

alas! I but deceive myfelf; the more I look into myself the more diffatisfied I am with what I fee: I find my heart incapable of generofity; it is not what it was. I will not injure Fanny, or betray her, but I perceive I cannot be her friend.”

Ah Isabella! dear ingenuous girl, you fee the point which honour fain would reach, but do not fee the interpofing paffion that diverts it from his courfe. This night you must wear out in fleepless meditations; within the region of your heart there's one at work, whofe innovating spirit never refts till it has perplexed the reafon, overturned the peace, tampered with the loyalty, and fhook the bofom's lord upon his throne. Love is that fubtle dark incendiary, which unexperienced candour has no guard against: he wears a foft alluring fmile, flatters in gentle whispers, wooes you to pleafure, vexes you with no complaint, is focial, gay, familiar, void of care; charmed by his artful approaches you admit him of your parties, make him your inmate, and lodge him in your bofom; then the turmoil begins, then all his fpecious qualities are feen no more; unfocial, murmuring, difcontented, he begins to brood' upon his fchemes, fhunning the face of man