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were necessarily impelled by laws not less irresistible than those of gravitation, there might have been no speedy stop to the eccentricity of their motions. It was not indeed one of those delightfully crowded houses which theatrical advertisers announce so rapturously to draw succeeding audiences to the comforts of succeeding crowds, there to enjoy the peals of the loudest plaudits, and most roaring bursts of laughter, bestowed upon the tricks of a harlequin or the gibberish of a buffoon; but it was a full assembly of rational beings, convened for the enjoyment of a rational entertainment, where the ears were not in danger of being insulted by ribaldry, nor the understanding libelled by the spectacle of folly.

Ned was charmed with the comedy, and soon became deeply interested for Lovewell and Fanny, on whose distressed situation he made many natural remarks to his fair neighbour, and she on her part bestowed more attention on the scene, than was strictly reconcilable to modern high-breeding.The representative of Lord Ogleby put him into some alarm at first, and he whispered in my ear, that he hoped the merry old gentleman was not really so ill as he seemed to be: for I am sure, adds he, he would be the best actor in the world, was he to recover his health, since he can make so good a stand even at death's door.' I put his heart to rest by assuring him that his sickness was all a fiction, and that the same old decrepid invalid, when he had washed the wrinkles out of his face, was as gay and as sprightly as the best; 'aye,' added I, ' and in his real character one of the best into the bargain.'-'I am glad of it, I am glad of it to my heart,' answered Ned, 'I hope he will never have one half of the complaints which he counterfeits; but 'tis surprising what some men can do.'

In the interval of the second act an aged gentle

man of a grave and senatorial appearance, in a fulldressed suit of purple ratteen and a flowing white wig, entered the box alone, and as he was looking out for a seat, it was with pleasure I observed the young idlers at the back pay respect to his age and person by making way for him, and pointing to a spare place on our bench, to which he advanced, and after some apologies, natural to a well-bred man, took his seat on our range.

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His eyes immediately paid the tribute, which even age could not withhold from the beauty of Constantia; he regarded her with more than a common degree of sensibility and attention; he watched for opportunities of speaking to her every now and then at the shifting of a scene or the exit of a performer; he asked her opinion of the actors of the comedy, and at the conclusion of the act said to her, ' I dare believe, young lady, you are no friend to the title of this comedy?' I should be no friend to it,' replied Constantia, if the author had drawn so unnatural a character as an unrelenting father.'-'One such monster in an age,' cried Ned, taking up the discourse, is one too many.' When I overheard these words, and noticed the effect which they had upon him, combining it also with his emotion at certain times, when he examined the features of Constantia with a fixed attention, a thought arose in my mind of a romantic nature, which I kept to myself, that we might possibly be then in company with the father of Mrs. Goodison, and that Ned's prophetic wishes were actually verified. When Fanny is discovered to be a married woman at the close of the comedy, and the father in his fury cries out to her husbandLovewell, you shall leave my house directly, and you shall follow him, Madam'-Ned could not refrain himself from exclaiming, Oh, the hardened monster!'-but whilst the words were on his lips,

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Lord Ogleby immediately replied to the father in the very words which benevolence would have dictated

And if they do, I will receive them into mine,' whereupon the whole theatre gave a loud applause, and Constantia, whilst the tear of sensibility and gratitude started in her eye, taking advantage of the general noise to address herself to Ned, without being overheard, remarked to him—' that this was an effusion of generosity she could not scruple to applaud, since she had an example in her eye, which convinced her it was in nature.'- - Pardon me,' replied Ned, 'I find nothing in the sentiment to call for my applause; every man would act as Lord Ogleby does; but there is only one father living, who would play the part of that brute Sterling, and I wish old Goodison was here at my elbow to see the copy of his own hateful features.' It was evident that the stranger, who sat next to Ned, overheard this reply, for he gave a sudden start, which shook his frame, and darting an angry glance, suddenly exclaimed'Sir!'-and then as suddenly recollecting himself, checked his speech, and bit his lips in sullen silence. This had passed without being observed by Ned, who turning round at the word, which he conceived was addressed to him, said in a mild tone-' Did you speak to me, Sir? To which the old gentleman making no answer, the matter passed unnoticed, except by me.

As soon as the comedy was over, our box began to empty itself into the lobby, when the stranger seeing the bench unoccupied behind me, left his place, and planted himself at my back. I was now more than ever possessed with the idea of his being old Goodison, and wished to ascertain if possible the certainty of my guess; I therefore made a pretence to the ladies of giving them more room, and stept back to the bench on which he was sitting. After a

few words in the way of apology he asked me, if he might without offence request the name of the young lady I had just quitted; with this I readily complied, and when I gave her name methought he seemed prepared to expect it: he asked me if her mother was a widow; I told him she was-where was she at present, and in what condition? She was at present in the house of a most benevolent creature, who had rescued her from the deepest distressmight he ask the name of the person who had done that good action? I told him both his name and place of abode, described in as few words as I could the situation he had found her and Constantia in, spoke briefly, but warmly of his character, and omitted not to give him as many particulars of my friend Ned as I thought necessary; in conclusion, I made myself also known to him, and explained what my small part had been in the transaction. He made his acknowledgments for these communications in very handsome terms, and then after a short pause, in which he seemed under difficulty how to proceed, he spoke to this effect:

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'I am aware that I shall introduce myself to you under some disadvantages, when I tell you I am the father of that young woman's mother; but if you are not a parent yourself, you cannot judge of a parent's feelings towards an undutiful child; and if you are one, I hope you have not had, nor ever will have, the experience of what I have felt: let that pass therefore without farther comment! I have now determined to see my daughter, and I hope I may avail myself of your good offices in preparing her for the interview; I wish it to take place to-morrow, and, if you foresee no objection, let our meeting be at the house of her benefactor Mr. Abrahams for to that worthy person, as you describe him to be, I have many necessary apologies to make, and more

289 thanks than I shall know how to repay; for the present I must beg you will say nothing about me in this place.

To all these points I gave him my satisfactory assurances, and settled the hour of twelve next day for the meeting; he then drew a shagreen case out of his pocket, which he put into my hand, saying, that if I would compare that face with Constantia's I could not wonder at the agitation which so strong a family resemblance had given him; it was a portrait of his deceased wife at Constantia's age; the first glance he had of her features had struck him to the heart; he could not keep his eyes from her; she was indeed a perfect beauty; he had never beheld any thing to compare with her, but that counterpart of her image then in my hand; he begged to leave it in my care till our meeting next morning; perhaps, added he, the sight of it will give a pang of sensibility to my poor discarded child, but I think it will give her joy also, if you tender it as a pledge of my reconciliation and returning love.'

Here his voice shook, his eyes swam in tears, and clasping my hand eagerly between his, he conjured me to remember what I had promised, and hastened out of the house.

NUMBER XLIV.

WHEN I had parted from the old gentleman, I found Mrs. Abrahams desirous to return home, being somewhat indisposed by the heat of the theatre, so that I lost no time in getting her and Constantia into the coach in our way homewards I reported the conversation I had held with Mr. Goodison; the differ

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