But our converfttion is likely to be interrupted. Permit me to fay, that "I fhall renew it with pleasure. I am

a novice at compliment, and fhall "therefore only obferve in my abrupt r manner, that if the cause you fupport were always as ably defended "both in the pulpit and in fociety, in"fidelity would be deprived of one of "its moft powerful weapons."

Every one has his weak fide. Though the cup of undifguifed flattery would have been rejected with difdain, yet when tempered by apparent moderation, and a wish for conviction, it became tolerably palatable. Mr. Evans, indeed, ftill felt the propriety of hinting the dangerous tendency of Fitzofborne's principles to lady Monteith; but he thought it just to qualify his cenfures with many expreffions of refpect for his character,, and admiration of his

abilities.

abilities. "I grieve for his perverted talents," faid he;" and yet they encourage me to hope, that the happy time will come, when they "will be the inftruments of restoring "him to a comfortable flate of mind. "Many people are driven into infide

lity by the ftings of a burdened. "confcience; but I fhould think that " is not Mr. Fitzofborne's excufe for

fcepticism. Yet the manners of the "clergy can be no more than an often"fible realon."

Geraldine was not in a difpofition to doubt Edward's virtues. Though fhe had been that very morning the unhappy dupe of his cruel duplicity, her agonized foul clung to him as to the guardian angel who was to rescue her out of an aby is of forrow. She had difcovered a letter from Mrs. Harley to her lord. It lay open upon his dreffing-table, c 6

and

and the hated name was fo confpicu oufly placed as neceffarily to attract her eye. She could not refift her defire to perufe it, and the fatal contents foon convinced her, that the business which lord Monteith had hinted would foon recall him to London was nothing more than a wish to renew that degrading connection. The discovery feemed to be perfectly accidental. She perceived no preconcerted plan in the circumstance of her having been fent into the room by Fitzofborne to fetch a volume of Rouffeau, from which he had just mifquoted a well-known paffage. She never confidered that he had free accefs to her lord's apartments; and the could not know that he had not only purloined the letter from Monteith, but that he actually inftigated him to the propofed journey, by thofe indirect means of oppofition which he had found

to

to be the most fuitable way of governing a headstrong impetuous character.

Fitzofborne allowed her time to per ufe the letter, and then followed her to the dreffing-room. She was leaning in a kind of ftupor over a chair, her eyes fixed on the portrait of her lord which hung over the chimney, with at fort of complaining sweetness in their expreffion which language could ill describe, Edward addreffed her with rhapfodical confufion. He faid the letter was a mistake. He affured her that Monteith's affections were ftill unqueftionably hers. He execrated his conduct, and then befought her to be calm for her children's fake. At that interefting adjuration the reftrained tears. ftole in filence down her cheek; and her tears again elevated Fitzosborne's fympathizing tenderness to frenzy. He called her dear lovely excellence!

He

He wished ten thoufand plagues to overwhelm the narrow foul of the traitor who wanted difcernment to be just to her merits; and he vowed that he could not look at such a striking imperfonification of fuffering meeknefs without wishing to avenge her wrongs.

The countefs anfwered in a faint tone: My wrongs require no avenger. My "lord fhould be more careful of his "correfpondence. Let me entreat you "to conceal the weakness into which my curiofity has betrayed me." "And is that the only proof I can give you of my inviolable regard?" "What other proofs can a wife re"ceive, confiftent with her folemn " duties ?"

"The ftricteft delicacy, the most ri"gid prudence, would allow an adopted "brother to take a more active part. "Remember too, it is ftill poffible, that

"the