reafon for his former behaviour, and Pedro was too well pleased with his present difpofition to criticife with much feverity his late conduct. But he was fincerely forry that Laura seemed fo determined to reject a measure which, in his eyes, appeared abfolutely neceffary in the present state of her mother's circumstances.

He again spoke to Madame de Seidlits on the subject of Zeluco's addreffes to Laura, enumerating the advantages that would result to herself, as well as to her daughter, from this alliance.

Madame de Seidlits thanked him for the interest he seemed to take in her family, adding, "That perhaps the faw the advantages of fuch an alliance in the fame light that he did, and had ftronger reasons than he was acquainted with, for wishing that Laura were of the fame way of thinking. But having the most complete conviction of the good fenfe, virtuous inclina- . tions, and dutiful difpofition of her daughter, to whom her approbation of Zeluco was perfectly known; fhe was refolved to

adhere

adhere to her engagement, not to prefs her farther on that fubject. There never was one human creature, Father," continued fhe," who had a ftronger defire to oblige another, than Laura has to oblige me; fhe knows that few things could give me fo much pleasure as her confenting to marry him; yet the continues to reject him. What can this proceed from but a rooted diflike? Whether this be well or ill founded, it would equally render her miferable to be united to a perfon fhe fo diflikes; and it would be the height of cruelty in me to exert maternal influence in fuch a caufe."

Father Pedro faid, "He feared that Laura facrificed her happiness to an illgrounded prejudice."

"She fhall, at leaft, not facrifice it to my importunity," replied Madame de Seid

lits.

The efforts which Madame de Seidlits was obliged to make, to conceal the bad ftate of her affairs from Laura, to appear cheerful while in reality fhe was fad, and to adhere to her promise and refolution of giving

12

giving no hint to her daughter in favour of Zeluco, hurt her health; fhe loft her appetite, grew thin, and uncommonly pale: when any body took notice of this, by an affected cheerfulness, and by affertions which her whole appearance contradicted, the rendered her illness more vifible and more affecting.

"Alas! Madam," faid Laura, "why will you conceal the cause of your illness ?" "I am not ill,” replied fhe, with a fickly fmile.

"Let this be decided," faid Laura," by a physician."

"Indeed, my dear, a phyfician could be of no fervice to me.",

"I am certain you are not well-you are always forrowful."

"Can physicians cure forrow?"

"You have then fome fecret forrow," cried Laura, catching at her mother's laft expreffion, as if it had been an avowal."Tell me-O tell me the cause of your affliction; confide in me; - truft your Laura."

"I do confide in you, my beloved girl; -I could truft my foul with you;-but you alarm yourself without a caufe.-I am happy, my love, in your affection and goodness."

Laura could not refrain from tears at thefe expreffions of her mother, but finding that the declined to knowledge the cause of her uneafinefs, fhe preffed her no farther perceiving, however, that her mother's dejection of fpirits continued, and that he became more and more emaciated, the young lady was at laft fo greatly alarmed, that the communicated her fears to Father Pedro, intreating his counsel.

Hitherto he had abftained from the fubject, in expectation that Laura would adopt this very measure.

"I have been as uneafy as you can be, my dear daughter, at the vifible alteration in your mother's fpirits and health; and obferving that she avoided giving any reafon for it, I could not help endeavouring, by every means I could think of, to difcover whether he had received any news

to

to difturb her, or what the cause of fuch dejection could be, that every poffible method might be tried for its removal."

"And have you discovered the cause ?" cried Laura, impatiently.

Father Pedro had heard of the failure of the banker; he began by informing her of what he had learned on that head.

Laura was in fome degree relieved by this account; her imagination had figured fomething worse: fhe dreaded that fome disease of an incurable nature afflicted her mother, which, out of tenderness to her daughter, fhe concealed.

"The diftrefs which this man's miffortune brings will be temporary," faid fhe;" he will furely pay fome proportion, if not the whole, of his debts. My mother feels the present inconveniency more on my account than her own. I will fhew her how light it fits on my mind, and how cheerfully I can conform to any circumftances. The king's penfion remains-the house here, and the farm, remain-A little time will make my mother forget this lofs;

fhe