fupporting her; but the interval was momentary, and my Lord at hand.

It was fo unusual a thing with him to walk at this hour of day, and in this place, that nothing could be more unlooked for than this meeting: he had now feen with his own eyes a confirmation of what had already been reported to him by Blachford. That gentleman, enraged at feeing all his defighs upon Sufan May traverfed by the interference of Henry, and her refignation of Jemima's fervice, had paid a vifit to that disconfolate dame within a a very few minutes after our hero had left her in a ftate of mind little fhort of abfolute phrenzy inflamed as fhe was to the heighth with rage, indignation, and revenge, the flattering attentions of that infidious vifitor, whofe grofs appetites could batten on a moor, gained thereby the knowledge of an important difcovery, and the the gratification of a revengeful paffion, well knowing to what malicious pur poses he would apply the fecret fhe had imparted to him.

The meeting between the Viscount and his lady, from which fo many dreadful reproaches were expected, went off without any; a few words in paffing, and thofe addreffed to mifs VOL. II. Manftock,

D

Manstock, were all that occurred; but Lady Crowbery discovered enough in the fullennefs of his look to awaken all her apprehenfions, nor was the deceived in her observations: My Lord purfued his way towards: Justice Blachford's, and the ladies held on their walk and their difcourfe till they arrived at the caftle.

As foon as Henry had paffed the plantationgate that opened upon the village-green, he was again accofted by the stranger in the horseman's coat, who told him he had just picked up a ring in the foot-path, which he conceived had been dropt there by Lady Crowbery as fhe paffed, and begged him to take the charge of returning it to her, as he himself, was upon the wing, and could not undertake the delivery of it in perfon.

Henry took the ring, examined it, was convinced that it belonged to Lady Crowbery; and recollecting that his former treatment of this perfon, when he broke in upon his meditations, had been none of the moft courteous, he was the more defirous to make up for it by his civility. on this occafion: the man feemed in that ftyle of life as might be complimented on

4

his honefty without an affront to his dignity.

The

The ring was of value, for it consisted of a ta→ ble diamond fet in the fhape of a heart, under which was a plait of hair, with the words Cecilia Adamant, neatly engraved upon the back of the fetting. This, Henry obferved, being the maiden-name of Lady Crowbery, was a proof of it's belonging to her, and he therefore fuggefted it to him as proper to be delivered by his own hands, the meanness of his appearance warranting to add, that he was perfuaded that generous lady would wish to make a fuitable return to the finder." I underftand your kind hint," replied the man," and am thankful to you for it; if her Ladyship should be pleased in her bounty to take any confideration for the finder of this trinket, be fo good to tell her, it is a poor man lately returned from transportation, who will thankfully receive her favours through your hands; but as I don't think it fafe to put myself in the way of Lord Crowbery, circumftanced as I am, so I do moft earnestly conjure you not to give the ring to my Lady in his prefence, nor to let any intimation reach him that may expose me to be traced as the finder of it: for the prefent, it will not be prudent for me to tarry here any longer; fometime hence I may call upon you again."

D 2

again."" Sometime hence," replied 'Henry, "I may chance not to be found here; but call at that cottage, and whatever is there depofited will be honestly delivered to you by the good people of the house: you know your own danger beft, but if returning from transportation conftitutes any part of it, I fhould think you had better have been filent on that head; however, you may depend upon it I fhall not betray your trust either in one cafe or the other."

"Sir," rejoined the ftranger, "permit me to fay, there is fomething in your countenance that aflures me I might repofe greater trufts than this in your keeping without hazard; the good woman of the cottage you pointed to has made me acquainted with your adventures in this place, and you must allow me to fay that I honour you from my foul: though I have been a guilty man in my time (which you will readily believe, having told you I am newly return'd from. transportation) yet I love virtue, and reverence brave, humane and virtuous perfons like you: I have been alfo told of Lady Crowbery's generofity to you, and I applaud her for it; charity is a lovely quality, but frailty is of the very effence of woman;

and

and I beseech you to recollect that Lady Crowbery is a wife."

This faid, he haftily turned away, and before our hero could recover the furprize which a fpeech fo unexpected had 'thrown him into, the stranger was out of fight.

CHAPTER VI.

A figurative Style is apt to puzzle a plain Understanding.

WHEN Henry returned to the cottage, he found Ezekiel fitting with old Weevil, the

miller, who had come to report the convalefcence of his fon; and as he really bore a grateful mind towards our hero, it was with great pleasure he congratulated him on the happy change in his fortune and appearance: he then began to found forth the praifes of Lady Crowbery for her charities; and when he had run on in this ftrain for fome time, frequently appealing to Henry, who made no reply, he looked at him with a degree of furprize, and faid," How is this, friend Henry? You fay nothing all this while."-Our hero now anfwered, that if he was filent on the fubjects it

D 3

*

was