emplary patience. Over himself, his fervants, his houfe, and fortune, the reigned with the most defpotic authority; nor did time seem to bring any diminution to her power.

But, alas! the vigilance of the most arbitrary government cannot always ward off the ftroke of ruin; nor the completeft defpotifm be proof against the mutability of all fublunary things. The poor Signora,

"Juft when the thought, good cafy foul, full furely,
“Her greatness was a ripening,”

received a formal notice of her depofition, with an order for her immediate departure from Minden-Place to a house which was taken for her by the friend to whom the Major had committed the management of this domeftic revolution, and from whom he was informed a yearly ftipend would hereafter be received.

After a noble but ineffectual struggle, for maintaining the poffeffion of her poft, she was obliged to retire on capitulation. The throne of the Major's heart having thus become vacant, he had determined to look out for a candidate worthy of filling the important fituation in the quality of wife. He had not yet had time to make his election, when the fight of Julia fixed his refolution, which the refult of every enquiry concerning her tended to confirm.

The love of Major Minden was not of that boyish fort, which timid delicacy endeavours to conceal; he foon informed the General of the honour he intended to do Mifs Delmond, and in order to fhew a proper respect for his future father-in-law, he proposed a visit to Capt. Delmond,

to whom it was agreed the General should mention the intended overtures of his friend.

Captain Delmond was rejoicing over a pleafing billet from Julia, that feemed written in unusual fpirits, when Gen. Villers and Major Minden arrived at his house. He was still in his bed-chamber, which he had often kept for whole days fince the abfence of his daughter, but gave immediate orders for having his chair wheeled into the adjoining room, into which the gentlemen had

been fhewn.

There was fomewhat in the air and figure of Capt. Delmond fo indicative of the gentleman, that not all the difadvantages of fickness and infirmity could obliterate its traces. By the juft proportions of the time-ruined pillar, an idea may be formed of the grandeur of the ftructure which it once adorned. Politeness and cordiality marked his manner of receiving his guests. With heart-felt fatisfaction did he liften to their praises of his daughter; and while in answer to their enquiries he informed them, that in the course of ten or twelve days fhe would, it was expected, be able to come home, his once brilliant eyes fparkled with delight.

General Villers enquired for the gentleman who had accompanied Mifs Delmond.

The Captain felt a fudden repulfion of his blood at the unwelcome queftion, but, poffeffed fufficient command over his feelings to answer in an eafy way, that he heard he was nearly well.

"I am heartily glad of it," replied the General, "for the fake of his poor wife and family, who must have suffered much anxiety on his account.' Never did intelligence reach the ears of Capt. Delmond, that was half so welcome as this first account of the wife and family of Vallaton. It annihilated

annihilated every fufpicion that had preyed upon his heart; and by giving him the delightful affurance of Julia's being innocent of all clandeftine intention, restored his confidence in her unfullied integrity and truth.

After a fhort converfation on indifferent topics, Major Minden, on pretence of calling at the poft-office, took leave, and left the General to open the preliminaries of the proposed negociation.

Capt. Delmond received the notification of the honour that was intended his family with politenefs, not devoid of dignity. The esteem of Gen. Villers," he faid, "was a fufficient recommendation to his favour; but however agreeable the connection might be to him, and however advantageous, in refpect to fortune, it certainly was to his daughter, he must refer the Major entirely to her decifion. It was an affer in which he might advise, but never would dictate."

The General coldly applauded the fentiments. of Captain Delmond, but added, that he fuppofed there was very little reafon to apprehend that Mifs Delmond could be fo blind to her own intereft, as to decline the offer of fo fplendid an establishment. After a few eulogiums on his friend, and having obtained permiflion for his vifits, the General took leave, and left the anxious father not a little agitated by the fubject of his

converfation.

However firmly refolved that no confideration of felf fhould interpofe to prevent the establishment of his daughter, the idea of lofing her fociety for ever overwhelmed his foul with involuntary sadness, nor was all his fortitude fufficient to fupport his fpirits in contemplation of the event. "But for what do I live?" faid he, after fome mo

ments of bitterness, " for whom do I exift, but for this darling child? Is not her happiness far dearer to me than my own? O, yes! Let my Julia be but happy, and however forlorn I fhall be, when fhe is from me, the certainty of her happiness will still afford a cordial to her father's heart."

CHAP. XXIV.

Stiff in opinion, always in the wrong."

Port.

ON the evening of the fame day in which Capt.

Delmond had received General Villers, Henry Sydney paid a vifit to his fair patient at the farm. He had brought in his pocket a new publication, which at the defire of Julia and her lovely nurse, he read aloud, giving by his remarks an additi onal fpirit to the wit and humour of the author. He had been about half an hour thus employed, when cafting a glance out of the window, he burst into a fretful exclamation, "Heavens! here is our evil genius coming to torment us in the fhape of Mifs Botherim. I wish to goodness that poor woman had any thing to do at home !"

She is very kind,' faid Harriet; but I do not know how it is, her vifits are always I think, mal-apropos.'

"To be interrupted in the middle of fuch an interefting story is very provoking,” said Julia; "but we will make her hear it out."

Mifs

Mifs Botherim entered with an air of even more than ufual folemnity. I am come,' faid fhe, addreffing herself to Harriet, to announce the neceffity of your immediate return to your father's houfe: here is a note which will explain the cause.'

Harriet fnatched the billet, which contained an account of her aunt's having been fuddenly taken ill, for which reafon fhe was defired to leave every thing to the care of Mifs Botherim, (who had offered to fupply her place with Julia) and to come directly home. Harriet, whofe aunt had been to her as a mother, and who loved her with the fincereft affection, was equally shocked and afflicted by this intelligence; the loft not a moment in obeying the fummons, but in the midft of her grief and agitation, preferved a fufficient prefence of mind to give Mifs Botherim every neceffary inftruction refpecting her charge, and then affectionately embracing Julia, the hurried away

When Bridgetina obferved Henry preparing to accompany her,There is no neceflity for your going fo foon, Doctor, said she, making a motion for him to fit down; 'as you could not be found in time, Dr. Orwell fent for Mr. Gubbles, fo that you need not hurry yourself; Miss Orwell, I dare fay, can walk very well alone.'

Henry coldly declined her invitation, and in fpite of her remonftrances he went with Harriet, who, indeed, stood very much in need of fupport and confolation.

In anfwer to the enquiries of Julia, Bridgetiná informed her that fhe had received the information of Mrs. Martha Goodwin's illness, by happening to be with Maria Sydney when her brother was fent for; that fhe had inftantly gone to the parfonage to fee if they had found him, and had

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offered