was a parting much regretted by Sir Roger"Well," cried he, " if I live to go to London, fick or well I will cultivate the acquaintance of that amiable gentleman.

CHAPTER IX.

Bold Meafures boldly avowed.

THE Reverend Mr. Claypole having duly pondered these extraordinary occurrences in his mind, found himself not the lefs attracted towards Henry on the score of his good fortune; for in that gentleman's eftimate of his character, profperity was regarded as no contemptible recommendation; and he very justly confidered, that Mr. Blachford's great property would not make him one whit the worse husband to his niece, or his niece the lefs affectionate wife to him. Still the circumftance of his hafty departure with Captain. Cary, and the wild idea of volunteering with him, as ftated in his letter to Sir Roger Manftock, seemed to augur fo ill for Fanny, that he much doubted if that good understanding 03 between

between them, of which she had fo confidently boafted, fubfifted any where but in her fanguine imagination; neither could he with all his fagacity discover more than one reason for. a young man's running away from the woman that made love to him, and that reason was not very compatible with Fanny's report aforefaid: as foon therefore as he could find a fair opportunity of drawing her into private conference, he began to open upon the subject of her attachment; he ftated to her what, upon common report, the property of Mr. Blachford was fuppofed to amount to, which, upon the most moderate calculation, he gueffed could not be lefs than twice as much as her own." I care little about that," cried Fanny, "the man is my object."-This was very candidly admitted as the firft but not the only point to be confidered in a connection for life: they could certainly, with proper discretion, live very comfortably upon their joint means, not lofing fight in the mean time of future contingencies from Lady Crowbery, whofe life, he obferved with great regret, could not but be very precarious, as change of climate was generally the last defperate refource for conftitutions, like her's, in deep decay.

Here

Here Fanny again put him by, declaring, that she looked to no profpects but the profpect of poffeffing the dear man of her heart. Mr. Claypole's candour again admitted, that all this was quite natural, and bespoke a very fincere affection; but he could not exactly fee the neceffity why it fhould be altogether fo difinterested." Becaufe," replied that gene-rous young lady, "if he was the veriest beggar upon earth I would marry him; nay, I must marry him."-"Muft," repeated Claypole inquifitively; " is there a neceffity in the cafe?" -"To be fure there is," cried Fanny, nothing abashed," after what has pafs'd between us; after all his faithful promifes, all the rapturous careffes he lavish'd upon me, when my fears and fwoonings in the storm last night threw me in his power, and expos'd me to the prying eyes of Mifs Manstock, whilft I was lock'd in his embraces. What wou'd fhe fay of me? what wou'd the world, what wou'd you yourself pronounce upon my reputation, were I not to be his wife ?"

"You alarm me," cried Mr. Claypole, "has the villain dar'd" "Villain do you call him!" exclaimed the angry fair one," he is no villain; but the moft honourable, the most 04 lovely

lovely and adorable of mankind. Do you think him capable of expofing me to the malice of this family, where I will not stay another night, though I travel hence on foot to seek a lodging?"—" Indeed, child, you terrify me," repeated he; "by this vehemence of expreffion I should almost fear that you have been betray'd into dangerous and improper conceffions, through excess of love operating on the natural weakness of your fex, and conspiring with the temptations of opportunity. Let me know the worst at once, that I may obtain that inftant reparation, which your character and my honour demand of the feducer. Your unfufpecting nature is not aware of the danger you are in; you trust to promifes often lavish'd in the heat of paffion, and as often violated in the coolness of reflection. You are yet to learn, that this young gentleman has written to Sir Roger Manstock a farewel letter, in which he tells him he is going out to fea with Captain Cary. Is that a proof of love? Is that confiftent with his promifes? Can a feceffion like this be reconcil'd to honour? And where is your hope of a speedy union with a man who is flying from you and his country?"

"Ridiculous alarm !" exclaimed the indig

nant

nant damfel; "who tells you all this idle tale? Henry is only doing what I myself fhall do; flying from this odious houfe, where Ifabella's jealous eyes wou'd look him out of countenance, as they would fain do by me; but I defy fuch feeble fpite, for I have Henry fast as vows can bind him: he fly from me and his country! No, were he not too honourable he is too wife for that, too fond, too much a friend to himfelf. As for what he writes to Sir Roger Manftock, 'tis a mere blind, a concerted matter between us; he said last night he wou'd not pass another day in Manstock house; he has fulfill'd his word, and this contrivance extricates him from an uneasy situation, and gives no offence. I understand it all, and if you'll only help to place me fomewhere within his reach and out of their's, from whofe intrufion he escapes, my life upon it I will lure him back."

A confidence fo ftrongly vouched feemed to have due effect upon the good man, whofe tender feelings for his niece had given him fuch alarm; his countenance cleared up, and having ruminated a while upon the cafe, he took a more placid tone, and faid-" Well, niece, I have turn'd it over in my thoughts, 2nd do agree with you, that 'twill be better for