with Laura; to her he expreffed the most tender concern for her mother's health, "which he dreaded was not fo good as ufual; was afraid of fome concealed anguish, either in her body or mind, and with the most infinuating folicitude begged to know whether Laura fufpected what it was; not that he prefumed to make too particular an inquiry, only in general, whether she did not suspect that her mother had fome fecret affliction, and whether it was bodily or mental."

Laura's anfwers on all fuch occafions imported, "that he hoped he was miftaken in imagining that any thing particular disturbed her mother; but even if it were so, she should be cautious of prying into what her parent judged proper to conceal."

In the mean while, Madame de Seidlits flattered herself that Laura began to view Zeluco with more favourable eyes than formerly, and entertained hopes that she would at length confent to his proposals : fhe was determined however to leave her to herself, and adhere to the promise the

had

had given, never to folicit her on the subject. But the found means, without apparent defign, of leaving them together frequently, for a confiderable space of time, in the expectation that he would gradually ftrengthen Laura's difpofition in his favour, and feize fome happy occafion of renewing his fuit, for the fuccefs of which he was more anxious than ever.

The idea that Laura, whom the juftly thought formed for adding luftre to the higheft and most brilliant rank of life, fhould undergo the mortifications of poverty, was what fhe could bear with lefs firmness, than the thought, horrid as it was, of mortifications of the fame nature occurring to herself. Here Madame de Seidlits fell into a very general error, and to which parents are peculiarly liable, in the establishing of their children in marriage. Her daughter's happiness, not her own, was what fhe had chiefly in view; but in eftimating this, her own ideas of happiness, not her daughter's, were what the chiefly confidered.

Laura

Laura had remarked some appearance of dejection in her mother's fpirits, before it was hinted to her by Zeluco; but had not made any inquiry about the cause, partly because the hoped it proceeded from no caufe of importance, and partly for the reason she had given to Zeluco.

She had remarked that her mother had lefs dejection in Zeluco's company than when he was not prefent; on this account fhe herself was pleased with his visits; she thought herself under great obligations to him, and in confequence of these fentiments, the whole of her conduct was fo much altered, that he became perfuaded not only that her former prejudices were overcome, but that she had conceived a great partiality for him. He was much less surprised at this, than he had been formerly at her having viewed him with indifference; which his vanity never permitted him to think was natural, but rather the artificial offfpring of Signora Sporza's malice. But she being now at a diftance, he fondly believed that his perfonal accomplishments began to operate

6

operate the fame effect on the heart of Laura, which, in his opinion, they ufually did on the hearts of women of fenfibility and dif

cernment.

Madame de Seidlits had for fome time expected letters from a friend at Berlin, who had engaged to write to her the real ftate of her banker's affairs, and how much he would be able to pay his creditors, as foon as the truftees appointed for that bufinefs fhould make their report. Several pofts had already arrived fince the time when the expected this account, without her having received any letter on a fubject which interefted her fo much. She was fitting one day with Laura, when the fervant returned from the poft-office, and told her there were no foreign letters for her. She could not help difcovering marks of difappointment and vexation.-" I am fure my dear mother," faid Laura, "will let me know, as foon as it is fit I fhould know, what it is which gives her uneafinefs."-" Being difappointed when I am in expectation of letters from my diftant friends

friends always vexes me, my dear," said Madame de Seidlits: "I cannot help it."

"I hope you will have agreeable accounts foon," faid Laura.

"I hope I fhall, my dear," replied Madame de Seidlits, with a figh; and directly fell into a fit of mufing, which brought tears into the eyes of Laura, who turned to the window, that they might not be obferved by her mother.

Zeluco was introduced.-The face of Madame de Seidlits brightened, and fhe received him with cheerfulness and every mark of regard. The heart of Laura, who perceived the immediate effect his presence had on her mother, throbbed with warmer gratitude and good-will towards him, than even when he delivered her from the fuppofed robbers.

A female acquaintance of Madame de Seidlits at this inftant called on her.

"You are low-fpirited of late," said she to Madame de Seidlits," and keep the houfe too much? I am come to carry you into the fresh air for a couple of hours."