ject of them, that he soon thought it necessary to enquire if they meant to insult him?

"Oh! by no means," replied one of them, with a cutting sneer, "we were only astonished that your lady had so soon recovered the effects of her late connection with Lord D-—.”

At this unparalleled reply Amelia was covered with deep confusion; while Henry, whose blood boiled in his veins, deigned to make them no other answer than by giving them the lie. The evening was spent by them with tumultuous, though different emotions; and next morning a challenge was sent, and accepted by both parties.

Henry possessed few of the qualities of his parents: they were timid and rather irresolute; but he, alas! was the soul of honour. Had it been the will of heaven to have rendered him, on this occasion, the victim of his own imprudence, many a bitter reflection, and many an hour of misery, would never have shaded the dark picture of our future lives; but he was reserved for other sufferings, and was then only mingling the ingredients of that cup, of which we were both afterwards so largely to partake.

The duel was fought. Henry disarmed his antagonist; and, crowned with victory, returned to rejoice with the fair one on his success, and to hail her innocent and uncontaminated as the virgin snow.

Who can fathom the artifices of woman, or penetrate into the deep cunning of her ready invention? Amelia seemed overwhelmed with gratitude, and dissolved in joy. She called him her brave man, her hero, her deliverer; to whom she owed her safety, her honour, her all: and, in the tender moment of extasy, sunk into his arms.

"Ye prudes in virtue say,

Say, ye severest, what would ye have done?"

Ill-fated interview! unhappy youth! that hour guilt took possession of thy bosom, innocence flew to her native abode, and her sister peace, with all her gentle comforts, soon followed.

Before this tumult of pleasure had time to subside, it was resolved to write to Henry's father for an ample remittance, that they might be enabled to enjoy the golden dream to the utmost extent: But when he began to reflect, conscience bestirred itself, like the rankling embers of a smothered fire; the letter was interspersed with unconnected sentences and abrupt ejaculations, so that, upon the whole, it seemed to be the production of a disordered mind. He had no sooner taken his leave, than these pangs assailed him with tenfold violence. All his injustice to the injured Maria rushed at once into his mind, and, stung with the recollection, he resolved to go to the sorceress no more. But scarcely was this resolution formed, when the picture of ruined innocence arose to his imagination, he thought he saw the gentle Amelia, with looks of softest complaints, reproaching him for his cruelty and neglect. You blasted my virgin fame," said she, "what have I done to deserve this?" A thousand times he was tempted to cut the thread of life, but as often the voice of religion stayed his uplifted hand.

This storm of contending passions, felt a momentary cessation from my arrival. By a fall from my horse I had received a fracture in my arm, and was conveyed home the remainder of the way by easy stages in a coach. Although my situation at first alarmed his apprehensions, and he afterwards carefully endeavoured to conceal his emotions from me; yet I soon perceived the distraction of his mind. That this present uneasiness, however, originated from his solicitude for my welfare, and some gloomy ideas of human nature that he had

lately imbibed, by a discovery of falsehood in a young acquaintance, who had promised better. things, was all the information which my eager enquiries could produce. My importunities ceased at that time, for a slight fever was the consequence of my imprudent continuation of my journey; to prevent the increase of which, quiet and patience were absolutely necessary.

Neither his anxiety for me, nor indeed the rules of decorum, would permit him to quit the house while I remained in this situation; but he soon dispatched a billet to Amelia, explaining the reasons of his absence, and soliciting forgiveness, till such time as my recovery should allow him to revisit her again.

But Amelia, who was well aware of the influence which the presence of beauty possesses in preserving alive the vigour of affection, flew to him upon the wings of impatience and love, to inform herself more particularly of my condition, and to condole with him upon the present misfortune.

Immersed in pleasure, and intoxicated with delight in her company, he became lost to the voice of manly vitrue, and to the nobler sallies of the soul; a pleasing delirium overpowered his senses, and the torpor of lethean oblivion benumbed the powers of his mind. It was his ambition to gratify her minutest wish, and the liberality of unlimited promises compensated in the mean time for those restrictions which the present juncture imposed upon their desires This rapturous commu→ nication of felicity continued for some time; but when my recovery enabled me again to join the company, a more tranquil kind of pleasure was substituted in its place. Still, however, when she departed, the same sullen gloom covered upon Henry's countenance, and the turbid eye bespoke the agitation of his soul. His appearance, during

her stay, resembled the lucid interval, that often precedes the paroxysms of a violent disease.

As we sat one day together in this manner, and Amelia endeavoured to amuse my confinement by repeating some agreeable stories, a knock was heard the door immediately burst open-and Maria flew into the room! She had been at Henry's father's, when his letter above alluded to was received; and as it contained a mystery which it was impossible for them to resolve, gloomy apprehensions intruded upon her imagination. They were soon after realised by the contents of a note, which she received from my servant Joseph.

In attachment to his master, this honest fellow had been seldom equalled: in prudence, alas! he had often been surpassed. Considering Henry's despondency as a certain proof of my danger, and knowing that no letter had been sent to Maria since that unhappy accident, he considered it as his duty to inform her, that her filial affection might direct to the proper measures upon such an emergency.

All the inexplicable parts of Henry's letter were now elucidated, and the full meaning was affixed to every mournful sentence. But she still hoped that expedition might enable her at least to enjoy the sad comfort, to receive my last blessing, and close my dying eyes. Without, therefore, communicating her intention to any person, she hastily drew a large sum from my banker, and hurrying into a post-chaise, with unremitted celerity advanced to the metropolis.

It is impossible to describe the varying expres sions of Maria's countenance, much more is it beyond the power of language to give but a faint sketch of that posture in which Henry's features were enhanced. Maria's looks declared an instantaneous transition from the rack of impatience to the summit of bliss; but the blank confusion of Henry's

face bespoke a sensation without a name, or rather, a chaos of undigested fermenting ideas, that laboured in his breast. His tottering knees could scarce support him to meet her warm embrace, and the welcome which he uttered was involuntary, as the movement of his pulse. He was unable to introduce her to Amelia, who abruptly took her leave, before I had time to perform that usual ceremony.

The whole truth now struck me like lightning, every circumstance flashed conviction on my mind. I now too plainly perceived the origin of Henry's uneasiness, and already began to feel sensations almost as tormenting as his; when my attention was suddenly called to my daughter. Her delicate frame was little adapted to endure the fatigue of a hasty inconvenient journey, but impatience had embraced every nerve, and the exertions of her mind had supported the deficiencies of nature. When those, however, were relaxed, the influx of joy overpow ered her wasted spirits, and she sunk into a gentle Swoon. Recovered from this, she had just satisfied my curiosity, by explaining the motives of her unexpected journey, and was making some enquiries about the lady who so suddenly retired upon her appearance, when Amelia stood before us.

Without allowing time for resolution or conjecture, she dropt upon the floor, and grasped Henry's knees, while the tears streamed plentifully from her eyes, and the heavings of her bosom proclaimed the emotions of her soul." Will you," cried she," permit an abandoned wretch, who has abused you, to relate her crimes, as the only atonement which I can now offer for them. Alas! sir, you have been grossly imposed upon you never violated my virgin fame, nor did you entice a thoughtless maid from the paths of innocence and truth-that was the task of one possessed of a less generous soul. On the contrary, I myself made