between them, of which fhe had fo confidently boasted, subsisted any where but in her fanguine imagination; neither could he with all his fagacity difcover more than one reafon for a young man's running away from the woman that made love to him, and that reafon 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 fubject of her attachment; he stated to her what, upon common report, the property of Mr. Blachford was fuppofed to amount to, which, upon the moft moderate calculation, he gueffed could not be less 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 first but not the only point to be confidered in a connection for life: they could certainly, with proper difcretion, 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 desperate refource for conftitutions, like her's, in deep decay.

Here

Here Fanny again put him by, declaring, that he 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 generous 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 abafhed," 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 Manftock, 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 molt lovely

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lovely and adorable of mankind. Do you think him capable of exposing me to the malice of this family, where I will not ftay 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 shall 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 Manstock, '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 whose intrusion 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, and do agree with you, that 'twill be better for

you to remove from hence, efpecially as the Lady Crowbery is expected, with whom you have little or no acquaintance, and therefore the best plea in the world for civilly stepping out of the way from a family meeting of fo interefting and melancholy a fort. I, who have ont the fame excufe, will remain where I am, and you fhall have my parfonage house to yourself in the meanwhile; there are servants in it, and all things ready to receive you. You know, my dear, how greatly it concerns me to avoid any chance of a mifunderstanding with my worthy friend Sir Roger, therefore you must be content to let me ftate matters to him in fuch a light as may make a merit of your going; and this correfponds not only with my regard to him, but also with my views as to myself, for I am not out of hope, through his intereft with the Lady Patronefs, to obtain the nomination to Ratcliffe's valuable living, which is yet undifpos'd of."

"I know nothing about that," replied Fanny, with a careless air; "but if I can have the parfonage to myfelf, with no jealous Mifs to overlook me, I defire nothing more; I will be anfwerable for all the reft."-" It shall be fo then," faid this compliant uncle; "the houfe