,,No, Sír," replied fhè, „I have been deceived, bafely deceived, élfe nothing could háve ever made me unjúft to my promise. You know my friendship, you have long known ít; bút forget what I have done, and ás you ónce had my warmest vows of cónfancy, you fhall now have them repeated; and be affùred that if your Arabella cannot be yours, Thẻ fhall never be another's." And no other's

you fhall be," cried Sir William, „íf “I háve ány influence with your father."

This hint was fufficient fór my fón Mofes, who immediately flew to the inn where the old gentleman was, to infórm hím óf every círcumftance thát hád happened. Bút in the

'

6

mean time the 'Squire perceiving that he was ón every fide undóne, and finding that no hopes wére léft fróm fláttery or diffimulation, concluded that his wifeft way would be to túrn ánd face hís purfùers. Thus laying afide all fhame, he appeared the open hárdy villain. ,I find then, cried hè, hát I ám to ex. péct nò júftice hère; bút I am refólved it Chall be dóne me." „You fháll know, Sir, túrning to Sír William,,,I ám nò lónger à poor depen dant upon your favours. I fcórn them. Noth ing can keep Mifs Wilmot's fórtune from me, which, I thank her father's affidùity, prétty large. The articles, ánd à bónd for hér fórtune, áre figned, ánd fàfe in my pof féffion. 'It was her fortune, nót hér perfon, that induced me to wifh for this mátch; and poffeffed of the óne, lét who will take the other."

ís

This was an alarming blow: Sir William was fenfible of the juftice of his claims, fór hè hád been inftruméntal in drawing úp thé már

riage árticles himfélf. Mífs Wilmot therefore perceiving thát hér fórtune was irretrievably lóft, túrning to mỳ fón, she asked if the lófs óf fortune could léffen hér válue to him. "Though fortune," fáid fhè, ís but of my power, át leaft 'Í háve mỳ hánd to give.

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'And that, Madam," cried her real lóver, was indéed all that you ever hád to gíve; át leaft áll that I ever thought worth the accéptance. And I nów protéft, my Arabella, by all that's happy, your want of fortune this moment encréales my pleasure, ás ít férves to convince my fweet girl of my fincerity."

Hè fát

Mr. Wilmot now entering, he seemed not à little pleafed at the danger his daughter hád just escaped, and readily conféntéd tỏ à diffolution of the match. Bút finding that her fortune, which was fecùred to M'r. Thórnhill by bónd, would not be given úp, nothing could exceed his disappointment. He now faw that his money múlt, all go to enrich one whỏ hád no fortune of his own. He could bear his being à ráfcal, bút to wánt án equivalent to his daughter's fortune was wormwood. therefore fór fóme minutes employed in the moft mortifying fpeculations, till Sir William attempted to leffen his anxiety. confefs, Sír," cried hè, ,,thát your préfent difappointment does not entirely displease mè. Your immóderate páffion for wealth is nów justly púnifhed. Bút though the young lady cánnot bè rích, The hás ftill à compentence fufficient to give content. Hère you fèe án honeft young foldier, who is willing to take her without fortune; they have long loved each úther, and for the friendship I bear his father, my intereft fháll, nót be wanting in his promò

I múlt

tion. Leave then that ambition which diffap. points you, and for once admit that happiness which courts your accéptance."

,,Sir William," replied the old gentleman, ,,bè affured I never yet forced her inclinations, nór will I nów. 'If shè ftill continues to love this young gentleman, lét hér háve him with áll my heart. There is ftill, thánk heaven, fóme fortune léft, and your prómife will make ít fomething more. Only let my old friend hère (meaning me) give mè à promife of fétt ling fix thousand pounds upon my girl, if ever hè fhould come tó hís fórtune, and 'I ám ready this night to be the first to join them together."

'As it now remained with me to make the young couple happy, I readily gave à prómif of making the fettlement hè required, whích, to one who hád fúch little expectations ás was no great favour. We háď now therefore the fatisfaction of feeing them flỳ into each óther's árms ín à tránfport. 'After áll mỳ misfortunes," cried my fon George, to be thús rewarded! Sure this is more than I could ever

háve prefumed to hope fór. To bè poffefled óf áll that's good, and áfter, fúch án ínterval of pain! My warmelt wifhes could never rìle fo high!" Yes, my George," returned hís lovely bride,,,nów lét the wretch take my fortune, fince you are happy without it, fo ám I. O what an exchange have I made from the bafeft of men to the dearest best! hím enjoy our fortune, 'I nów cán be happy even in indigence." 'And I prómife you, cried the 'Squire, with à malícious grín;,,thát I fháll be very happy with what you defpife." „, Hold, hold, Sir," cried Jenkinson,

Lét

,,thére

„there are two words to thát bárgain.

another?"

'As

for that lady's fortune, Sír, yoù fháll never toúch à fíngle ftìver of it." „Pray your honour," contínued hè to Sir William, ,,cán thé 'Squire háve this lady's fortune if he be married to ,,Hów cán you make fúch a fimple demand?" replied the Báronet,,,undoúbtedly hè cánnot.“ ‚'I ám fórry for that," cried Jenkinfon; fór ás this gentleman ánd ;,,fór I háe been old féllow fpòrters, I háve á friendship fór húm. Bút I múlt declàre, well ás 'I love him, thát hís cóntract is not worth à tobacco ftopper, fór he is márried already." ,,You lie, like à ráfcal," returned the 'Squire, who seemed róuzed by this inLult; I never was legally married to any woman." Indeed, begging your honour's párdon," replied the other,,,you wére; and I hope you will fhow à proper return of friend. Thip to your own honeft Jenkinson, who brings you a wife, and if the company restrains their curiofity à few minutes, they fháll feè hér.“ So faying he went off with his usual celerity, ánd left ús áll unable to fórm ány próbable conjecture ás tó hís defign. 'Ay lét hím go, 66 cried the 'Squìre; whatever élfe I may have done I defy hím there. I am too old nów to be frightened with fquíbs."

,,I ám furprifed," faid the Báronet,,,what the fellow cán intend by this. Some low pièce of humor, I fuppòle!" ,,Perhaps, Sir," replied I,,,hè mày háve a more fèrious meaning. For when we reflect on the various chèmes this gentleman hás laid to feduce innocence, perhaps fóme óne mòre ártful thán the reft has been found able to deceive hím. When we confider what numbers hè hás ruined,

R

hów mány parents nów feel with ánguilh the ínfamy and the contamination which he hás brought into their families, it would not furprise mè íf fóme one of thém. Amaze. ment! do I fèe my lóft daughter! Do I hold hér! It is, it is my life, my happiness. ? thought thee lóft, ny Olivia; yet ftill I hold thee ánd ftill thou fhált líve to bless me." The wȧrmest tránsports of the fóndeft lóver wère not greater thán mìne when I faw him introduce my child, and held my daughter in my arms, whofe filence only spoke her ráp tures.,,And árt thou returned to me, my dár ling." cried I, to be my comfort in age!" ,,Thát The is," cried Jenkinson, „ánd make múch of hér, fór fhe is your own hónourable child, and ás honeft a woman ás ány ú the whole room, lét the other bè who fhe wi 'And ás fór you 'Squire, ás fùre ás you stand there, this young lady is your lawful wedded wife. 'And to convince you that I fpeak nothing but truth, hère is the licence by which you wére márried together." Sò faing, he put the licence into the Báronet's hands, who réad ít, and found it perfect in every refpéc. ,,And now, gentleman," contínued hè, „I find you are furprifed át áll this; bút à few words will explain the difficulty. Thát thére 'Squire óf renówn, fór whom I have à great friendfhip, but that's between ourfélves, hás óften employed me in doing odd little things for hím. Among the réft, hè commiffioned me to procure hún à falfe licence and à false prièst; in order to deceive this young lady. But as 'I wás véry múch hís friend, what did I do bút went and gót à true licence and à true pricft, and married them both ás fást ás thi

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