therefore could not reprove the other, yet both were awakened to reflection at the fame moment, both fympathized in the fame effect, and both were overfpread with blushes. There was a thrilling nerve that ran to Isabella's heart, through which her fenfibility conveyed a voice that whispered to her-" She had faid too much:"-a fecond notice intimated to her "That 'twas no crime to love:"-a third, and that was followed by a throng of foft infinuating ideas, fuggested to her pity a regret, that one fo brave, fo young, fo generous, fo engaging, fhould languifh in defpair, and deprecate her ftern decree in vain.-" He'll die," thefe tempters faid, "if this your cruel refolution should take place: why tell him he must never hope? 'twou'd be but charity to leave him that delufion for his temporary comfort."To all these arguments her heart in gentleness. accorded, and as language was not needful, and probably not present for the purpose, in that inftant he felt, or fancied that he felt, a gentletrembling preffure of his hand by her's: a blush of fenfibility glowed on his cheeks: it was health to his fick hope, light to his dark despair, oil to that dying fpark, which reafon scarce permitted to languish in his defponding bofom: VOL. II. I ftill still he reprefs'd all rapture; tenderly, but yet respectfully, he ftoop'd his lips upon her hand "You are all excellence," he cried; " 'tis fo I fhould expect the friend of my protectress, and the daughter of the best of men, to console the mourner: I have been witness to your filial love and piety, Heaven grant I never may be witness to your forrows; for Heaven can teftify how gladly I would meet my death to rescue and preserve that facred life, so dear to you, and keep affliction from the tendereft heart that ever animated the most lovely form." CHAPTER VIII. He is the true Hero, that can conquer himself. ΤΗ fick, ६ fick, when I am difmifs'd: that pettyfogging. peer has put me out of his houfe, when the: fituation of his lady fhould have kept me in it."-" No matter for that," eagerly refum'd `the other; "tell me how that lady is." "How fhould fhe be," again quoth Zachary, "when I am not allow'd to come near her? And do you say no matter for that? Marry, but there is a great deal of matter, and matter of a very ugly nature, and a very rapid pulse, let me tell you; and I should think no man, who has ever been within the found of my peftle, wou'd have the hardiness to say, no matter for that." "Pardon me, my good Doctor," replied Henry; "mine were the words of impatience, not of contempt: I am very seriously alarm'd for Lady Crowbery."-" Enough said,” quoth the Doctor; " 'tis natural you should be alarm'd for one fo near to you, and your impatience is excufable. As we have here no lifteners within reach of us, I fhall let you know that I am made privy to what has pafs'd between you and your mother, and that I bear you the bleffing of that beft of ladies; fhe is indeed a faint, a fuffering faint and martyr to the meereft perfecutor in creation."— The filial heart of Henry fwelled with indignation, his eyes fparkled, and his cheeks flushed, as he broke forth into vehement denunciations against Lord Crowbery, and it was with fome difficulty Zachary could preach him into patience; the storm, however, fubfided by degrees; and when Zachary told him, that he came over at his mother's defire, to confult with Sir Roger Manstock, he became perfectly calm, and declared that he would refign himself to what that worthy perfon fhould advise: at the fame time he faid, that he could not but lament the peculiarity of his fituation, which invested him with a character, that he was not permitted to avow; and as the relation in which he stood with regard to Lady Crowbery was not known to Sir Roger Manstock, he could not expect, that fuch part any would be affigned to him in that lady's vindication, as his interest in her wrongs would otherwife intitle him to demand. The refult of the conference, however, was an appeal to Sir Roger in the first place, and for this purpofe Zachary proceeded onwards towards the house, whilst our hero ftruck into the grove adjoining, which, by a more circuitous path, led to the fame point. Upon entering this fcene of meditation and retirement, retirement, Henry found himself unexpectedly encountered by a fair nymph, whom fortune feemed to feize every occafion of throwing in his way, when folitude and fecrecy confpired to put his virtue to the teft. Susan May was on her return from the village, where he had been to welcome her mother to her new habitation, which she had that morning taken poffeffion of. Though certain events had now parted these friends into separate spheres of life, Henry accofted her in the fame ftile and manner as when they lived together upon the level their converfation began began by her recounting the kindneffes of Mifs Manstock to her mother, and the comforts fhe had provided for that good woman in her new abode: Ezekiel Daw had ftaid behind to attend the calls of Juftice Blachford, who, in his lucid intervals (if fuch they might be termed) was visited by certain fits of terror and compunction, which made the fpiritual affiftance of that pious creature not unwelcome to him, and it is needlefs to remark, that from duties like this Ezekiel was, by no intereft or allurement, to be detached. Henry's mind was, just now, too much occu-. pied to be in the beft of all poffible difpofiI 3 tions |