his breast, was bleffed with the discovery of a mutual affection in the heart of Matilda.

In the midft of this converfation Mrs. Montague entered. Lenox placed

the vifit entirely to her account, and was preparing to depart, when the requested him to wait dinner; he confented, and attaching himself to Mifs Montague for the remainder of the evening, fcarcely spoke to Matilda. She, with gratitude, beheld the delicacy of his behaviour, and a fenfation of unusual delight filled her bofom, on reflecting, that fhe was bleffed with the affections of one

whom alone fhe eftemed above all other earthly beings.

Henry,

Henry, at an early hour, rofe to depart; a flight bow was all the notice he apparently took of Matilda, and Mrs. Montague having made an appointment to meet a party at the opera, immediately followed,

CHAP. IX.

Oh! when this tyrant doubt seizes our breasts,

Our thoughts, like birds when frighted from their

nefts,

Around the place where all was hush'd before,
Flutter, and hardly fettle more.

GENERAL CLEVELAND had, on his leaving India, disposed of a confiderable property to a Portuguese merchant refident at Lisbon: the fudden death of that perfon happening about this, time, rendered it neceffary that the General should

fhould be prefent to claim the difcharge of the fum owed to him; his health was, however, too indifferent to undertake fuch a journey, and Henry was obliged to make immediate preparations for his departure to Portugal. His principal fource of uneafinefs at this fudden order was the fituation in which he was obliged to leave Matilda. Whilft he remained in London fhe could never want a friend; but to leave her dependant on the capricious will of Mrs. Montague, at a time when he had difcovered that he had created an affection in her innocent heart, was a thought too painful for reflection. To relieve thofe difagreeable, doubts, he refolved to have a private interview with Matilda; and for this purpofe, muffling himself in a cloak, he, the ni ht before his departure, repaired to

Mrs..

Mrs. Montague's ;fortunately that lady and her daughter were from home, and Matilda was alone in the drawingroom. On his entering, fhe feemed furprized. "The nature of my business, "Mifs Ofmington," faid he, "will, I hope extenuate this intrufion:-To

to morrow I embark for Portugal ;— "leave you, in my prefent uncertainty "of mind, would be intolerable; promise "me, then, that until my return, you will "not be the wife of any other."

The natural delicacy of Matilda's mind fuggefted to her the impropriety of fecret promifes from a young perfon of her sex; but there was in the behaviour of Henry that chaftened affection which ever conciliates efteem; and the hefitated not to relieve his anxiety by a

promife,