families; and, I dare fay the young gentleman well knows how to profit by fuch prejudices; but you, no doubt, have weighed thefe matters well before you made an inmate of him."

Sir Roger, who was no dealer in fide fpeeches and infinuations, took little notice of this trafh, and turned the subject to his niece's illness. My Lord replied, that she was certainly much indisposed, for which, in fact, she had to thank herself; that for his own part he had done, and should continue to do, every thing in his power for her recovery; change of climate had been fuggefted to him, and by authority he was much inclined to defer to. His neighbour Blachford had called down a very eminent furgeon from London, and he had taken his advice in Lady Crowbery's cafe; it was the very Mr. L-, who had made fo wonderful a cure of Sir George Revel, after his duel with Arundel in Flanders." I confefs to you," faid the Peer, "I am charm'd with him; he talks to the understanding, and I comprehend what he means; but he will not let us decide on what he recommends without a reference to the faculty, and it seems we are to have a confultation of phyficians in London, L 2

who

who are either to pass their patient on to Lifbon, or revoke the voyage, and take other measures; fo the matter stands at prefent; but if you wish to see your niece, fhe will give you fuller information."

Sir Roger faid; it was what he much wished and notice being given to Lady Crowbery, he was inftantly and gladly admitted. To his great furprife, he was fuffered to be alone with her; the moments were precious, and fhe availed herself of them for putting a packet into his hands, containing her will, and other important papers, the feal of which he was not to break but upon the event of her death.

"You will find," she said, "that I have made provifion for this unprotected youth, whom Ratcliffe's death has thrown upon my care; and if your candour ever fhall be fhaken. by the vile reports, that have been rais'd against my fame, you'll fee fo full a confutation of them in that paper, that, however they may affect me living, dead, they cannot reft upon my memory. Whether my Lord believ'd what he took pains to propagate I'll not pretend to fay, but now at least I can no longer be an object for his jealoufy, and, to do

him

him juftice, I muft own he has relax'd much of his feverity, which happy change I am indebted for to the good offices of the gentleman, who has been call'd in upon my case: I fee that he compaffionates my fufferings, and I've reason to believe he gueffes at the cause of them; I am told, he has had long fittings with my Lord, and it is clear that he has gain'd an influence over his bad humours, of which I happily experience the effects, witnefs the prefent moments I enjoy with you; but we'll make prudent use of them, and not trefpafs on indulgence fo precarious. Farewell; if I am deftin'd to Lifbon, and my Lord allows of it, I hope that we shall meet once more."-Thus ended this affecting interview, Sir Roger parting with a heavy heart, encharged with many kind remembrances to Ifabella and to Henry.

Our hero, who had kept watch upon Sir Roger's departure, joined him as he came out of Lord Crowbery's gate, and, when he was clear of the park, at his request, got into the chaife, and gave his mare to one of the servants. Sir Roger's fpirits were fenfibly affected, and it was fome time before they were fufficiently recovered for him to enter upon a recital of what had paffed, and a description of the state, in which he found Lady Crowbery : it was not, however,

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however, his manner to paint in strong colours, fo that all which Henry collected from this defcription was, that his niece looked very ill, and was much altered fince he had feen her laft: of his interview with my Lord he fimply obferved, that it was a disagreeable job well over; he was a man, he faid, in whofe company he was never at his eafe; he dealt too much in dark hints and fide blows to please him, who had no taste for any talk but what' went right onwards to the point before it."There is no profcription, however, against you," faid the Baronet; " and if there was, perhaps I fhou'd not have regarded it, for I am too old to be dictated to in that style, and told what company I am to keep. He is pleas'd to be confiderate of my repofe, and wou'd not be forry to make me as jealous of my Isabella on your account, as he pretends to be of his own lady; but I can affure you, Henry, fuch abfurdities make no impreffion upon me, and I defire you will take no notice of it to my daughter. 'Tis true, Henry, you are a handfome fellow, and, I hope, in proper time, fome honeft girl may be of the fame opinion, and make a man of you; but if my heart never aches till Ifabella is in the fault of it, forrow and I fhall never be acquainted

more.

more. Apropos to that," added the Baronet with an encouraging fimile, " here is my friend Claypole's niece coming to us this very day; Fanny is a fine girl, and, between you and me, has a hawk's eye at a handfome fellow; if you mind your hits, who knows what may come of it? She has a very pretty independency, I can promise you."-" And I am a beggar," faid Henry." Not fo, not abfolutely fo," replied Sir Roger; "I have that in my hands, which will keep off beggary at leaft. I don't promife, nor wou'd I have you expect, any great matters; but I have my niece's word for faying you are remember'd in her will, and that will is in my keeping, fo you won't be beholden to a wife for the bread that you eat, as fome folks are."

Henry was high-minded enough in conscience, and there were few people from whom he would have relished this kind of difcourfe; but he took the Baronet in his own way, and contented himself with obferving, that he was ill-qualified for a fortune hunter, for he should be as fcrupulous with refpect to the good qualities of a wife, and as indifferent to her money, as if he had the fortune of a prince in poffeffion.