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character as an unrelenting father. One fuch monster in an age, cried Ned, taking up the difcourfe, is one too many. When I overheard thefe words and noticed the effect, which they had upon him, combining it alfo with his emotion at certain times, when he examined the features of Conftantia with a fixed attention, a thought arofe in my mind of a romantic nature, which I kept to myself, that we might poffibly be then in company with the father of Mrs, Goodifon and that Ned's prophetic wishes were actually verified. When Fanny is difcovered to be a married woman at the close of the comedy, and the father in his fury cries out to her husband-Lovewell, you shall leave my houfe directly, and you shall follow him, Madam-Ned could not refrain himself from exclaiming, Oh, the hardened monster!-but whilft the words were on his lips, 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 applaufe, and Conftantia, whilft the tear of fenfibility and gratitude ftarted in her eye, taking advantage of the general noife to addrefs herfelf to Ned without being overheard, remarked to him-That this was an effufion of generofity fhe could not fcruple to applaud, 10 fince

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fince fhe had an example in her eye, which convinced her it was in nature.-Pardon me, replied Ned, I find nothing in the fentiment to call for my applaufe; every man would act as Lora Ogleby does, but there is only one father living, who would play the part of that brute Sterling, and I wifh old Goodifon was here at my elbow to fee the copy of his own hateful features. was evident that the ftranger, who fat next to Ned, overheard this reply, for he gave a fudden ftart, which fhook his frame, and darting an angry glance fuddenly exclaimed-Sir !-and then as fuddenly recollecting himself, checked his fpeech and bit his lips in fudden filence. This had passed without being observed by Ned, who turning round at the word, which he conceived was addreffed to him, faid 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 foon as the comedy was over, our box began to empty itfelf into the lobby, when the ftranger feeing the bench unoccupied behind me, left his place and planted himself at my back. I was now more than ever poffeffed with the idea of his being old Goodison, and wifhed to afcertain if poffible the certainty of my guess; I therefore made a pretence to the

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ladies of giving them more room and stept back to the bench on which he was fitting. 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 feemed prepared to expect it: He afked me if her mother was a widow; I told him he was Where was fhe at prefent and in what condition? She was at prefent in the houfe of a molt benevolent creature, who had rescued her from the deepest distress-Might he ask the name of the perfon, 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 fituation he had found her and Conftantia in, spoke briefly, but warmly, of his character, and omitted not to give him as many particulars of my friend Ned as I thought neceffary; in conclufion I made myself also known to him, and explained what my fmall part had been in the tranfaction. He made his acknowledgments for these communications in very handfome terms, and then after a fhort pause, in which he seemed under difficulty how to proceed, he spoke to this effect:

I am aware that I fhall introduce myself to you under fome difadvantages, when I tell you I

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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 further comment! I have now determined to see my daughter, and I hope I may avail myfelf of your good offices in preparing her for the interview; I wish it to take place to-morrow, and, if you forefee no objection, let our meeting be at the houfe of her benefactor Mr. Abrahams; for to that worthy perfon, as you defcribe him to be, I have many neceffary apologies to make, and more thanks than I fhall know how to repay; for the prefent I muft beg you will fay nothing about me in this place.

To all these points I gave him fatisfactory affurances, and fettled the hour of twelve next day for the meeting; he then drew a fhagreen cafe out of his pocket, which he put into my hand, faying, that if I would compare that face with Conftantia's I could not wonder at the agitation, which fo ftrong a family-refemblance had given him; it was a portrait of his deceased wife at Conftantia's age; the first glance he had of her features had ftruck him to the heart; he could not keep his eyes from her; fhe 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 fight of it will give a pang of fenfibility to my poor discarded child, but I think it will give her joy alfo, if you tender it as a pledge of my reconciliation and returning love.

Here his voice fhook, his eyes fwam in tears, and clasping my hand eagerly between his, he conjured me to remember what I had promifed, and haftened out of the house.

N° CXXII.

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