of Fitzhenry. Though I entertained the highest idea of Miss Tracey's principles, friendship demanded something for the absent Wentworth. I therefore demanded of the bride-elect an audience, to which she chearfully assented. I ventured to remind her of those qualifying concessions which Mr. Wentworth had disclosed to me in confidence; and required of her some ostensible reasons, for her thus availing herself of the absence of Mr. Wentworth, to enter into an engagement so solemn. She confessed, that Ormsby had expressed himself so vehemently, as frequently to alarm her for his personal safety ;-that she had used no deception with him; on the contrary, had avowed the extent of her regards; that she shrank from all clandestine measures, and had not entered into any engagements which could hereafter cause her uneasiness. Mr. Fitzhenry was a cousin of lady Wentworth's; had sought her esteem; was a man of very moderate fortune; a soldier, and on the eve of departH 6

ing

ing for India. That the suit of him to whom she had consented to give her hand was, in every point of view, acceptable; she loved him for himself, and her guardians equally approved of her decision.

"She then, with an engaging simplicity, entreated of me to be explicit, and to say, whether I thought her conduct correct?'

"I owned no scruple on the subject, and most readily gave my assent to a determination founded upon justness of principle and undeviating gratitude. Sir Robert and lady Wentworth evinced much satisfaction at the union; in fact, her ladyship really loved Miss Tracey, and would have given her any proof of her affection, excepting that of making her her daughter.

"It was a happy termination of an inauspicious beginning, for sir Robert had, more than once, sounded his ward upon the state of her feelings for the absent Wentworth; and so persuasive was the manner of your grandfather, so implicitly did

Miss Tracey regard him, that it is more than probable his interference would have cemented an union which the passionate eloquence of Mr. Wentworth had been unable to effect.-Happily the young soldier came in the way; happily, I say, for lady Wentworth would never have been reconciled to the connexion, and Miss Tracey would have been the sacrifice. To be brief, I registered the vows of the young couple, who soon after embarked on their voyage.

"Some months had elapsed, when the return of Mr. Wentworth was announced. I read of his arrival, and had scarcely conjectured the effect of that intelligence which he must soon receive, ere he made his appearance at Adderfield. All recollection of our former friendship seemed obliterated. He accused me of conniving at his misery.

"I did not extenuate; it was incompatible with my character, and the part I had taken in the union. He allowed that Miss Tracey had apprized him of her intended marriage some time before his return; nay;

more,

more, he shewed me a letter, in which she defined the distinctness of her present with her former feelings, in a way which should have banished regret from any than an impetuous and, forgive me if I add, a vain

man.

66

My explanation had no effect. Mr. Ormsby was infatuated; he cursed the woman who had too much honour to deceive him, and take advantage of his weak, because unrequited, passion. He uttered vague threats towards myself; and left my house, resolved henceforward to avoid all intercourse with one who had hoodwinked him.

"I disdained to parley-and once more, time rolled on, unmarked by inquiries on either side. But though individually abstracted, his ceaseless course brings on the eventful casualties which lead to the final termination. Mr. Wentworth, after a sojourn at the Hall, became reconciled, in a degree, by the arguments of his parents, and, after a few months, married to a lady

of

of fortune, whose early predilection to himself flattered his vanity.

"He believed he complied because the match met the approbation of his parents; but it was well known that Miss Vavasour had long been attached to your father.The match proved a happy one; the death of sir Robert, which was soon after followed by that of his lady, placed the young people in that sphere which called forth their good qualities.-Lady Wentworth was gentle, docile, and tenderly attached to your father; and I much doubt if his own discernment would have rendered him in any degree as happy as he really was with your mother. Of a numerous family, you, Mr. Wentworth, are the only remaining child.

"For my own part, I felt a degree of lively expectation, when fate brought sir Ormsby to reside at Adderfield Hall. I was not wholly disappointed; he apprized me of his intentions, and I willingly met his reviving esteem. We have never, how

ever,