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for me?- -Indeed you have acted ftrangely. Can I believe the paffion you have profeffed to me to be fincere? or, if I can, what happinefs can I affure myself of with a man capable of fo much inconftancy 'O! my Sophia,' cries he, do not doubt the fincerity of the purest paffion that ever inflamed a human breast. Think moft adorable creature, of my unhappy fituation, of my defpair.- -Could I, my Sophia, have flattered myself with the moft diftant hopes of being ever permitted to throw myself at your feet, in the manner I do now, it would not have been in the power of any other woman to have inspired a thought which the fe vereft chastity could have condemned. Inconftancy to you! O Sophia! if you can have goodness enough to pardon what is paft, do not let cruel future apprehenfions fhut your mercy against me.- -No repent• ance was ever more fincere. O let it reconcile me to my heaven in this dear bofom.' Sincere repentance, Mr Jones,' anfwered fhe, will obtain the pardon of a finner, but it is from one who is a perfect judge. of that fincerity. A human mind may be impofed on; nor is there any infallibe method to prevent it. You muft expect however, that if I can be prevailed on by < your repentance to pardon you, I will at least infift on the ftrongeft proof of its fincerity.' • Name any

.

any

proof in my power,' anfwered Jones eagerly. Time,' replied the; Time alone, Mr Jones, can convince me that you are a true penitent, and have refolved to abandon thefe vicious courfes, which I fhould deteft you for, if I imagined you capable of perfevering in them." Do not imagine it,' cries Jones. On my knees I intreat, I implore your confidence: a confidence; which it fhall be the bufinefs of my life to deferve.' Let it then,' faid fhe, be the bufinefs of fome part of your life to fhew · me you deferve it. I think I have been explicit enough in affuring you, that when I fee you merit my confidence, will obtain it. After what is paft, Sir, can you ex· pect I should take you upon your word?

'

you

He replied, 'Don't believe me upon my word; I have a better fecurity, a pledge for my conftancy, which it is impoffible to fee and to doubt. What is that

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faid Sophia, a little furprifed. I will fhew you, my charming angel,' cried Jones, feizing her hand, and carrying her to the glafs. There, behold it there in that lovely figure, in that face, that fhape, thofe eyes, that mind which fhines through thefe eyes: can the man who shall be in poffeffion of these be inconftant? Impoffible! my Sophia, they would fix a Dorimant, a Lord Rochefter. You could not doubt it, if you could fee yourself with any eyes but your own. Sophia blushed, and half fmiled; but forcing again her brow into a frown, If I am to judge,' faid fhe, of the future by the past, my image will no more remain in your heart when I am out of your fight, than it will in this glafs when I am out of the room. By Heaven, by all that is facred,' faid Jones, it never was out of my heart. The delicacy of your fex cannot conceive the groffnefs of ours, nor how little one fort of amour has to do with the heart.' I will never marry a man,' replied Sophia, very gravely, who fhall not learn refinement enough to be as incapable as I am myself of making fucha diftinction.' I will learn it,' faid Jones. 1 have learned it already. The firft moment of hope that my Sophia might be my wife, taught it me at once; and all the rest of her fex, from that moment, ⚫ became as little the objects of defire to my fenfe, as of paffion to my heart.' Well, faid Sophia, the proof of this must be from time. Your fituation, Mr Jones, is now altered, and I affure you I have great fatisfaction in the alteration. You will now want no opportunity of being near me, and convincing me that your mind is altered too." O my angel,' cries Jones, • how fhall I thank thy goodne fs? And are you fo good to own, that fatisfaction in my profperity? - Believe me, believe me, Madam, it is you alone have given me a relish to that profperity, fince I owe it to the dear hope-O! my Sophia, let it not be a diftant one. -I will be all obedience to your commands. will not dare to prefs any thing farther than you permit me. Yet let me intreat you to appoint a fhort trial. O tell me, when I may expect you will be 'convinced of what is moft folemnly true.' • When I have gone voluntarily thus far, Mr Jones, faid fhe, L

you

have a

2

I

expect not to be preffed. look unkindly thus, my I dare not prefs you.

Nay, I will not.'' O don't Sophia,' cries he. I do not, Yet permit me at least once more to beg you would fix the period. O! confider the impatience of love. A twelvemonth, perhaps,' fays fhe. O my Sophia,' cries he, you have named an eternity. Perhaps it may be fomething fooner,' faid fhe; I will not be teafed. If your paffion for me be what I would have it, I think you may now be cafy.' Eafy, Sophia! call not fuch exulting happiness as • mine by fo cold a name. tranfporting thought! am I not affured that the bleffed day will come, when I • fhall call you mine; when fear fhall be no more; when I fhall have that dear, that vaft, that exquifite ecftatic delight of making my Sophia happy ?— Indeed, Sir,' faid fhe, that day is in your own power.?O! my dear, my divine angel,' cried he, these words • have made me mad with joy.-But I muft, I will thank thefe dear lips which have fo fwectly pronounced my bliss.' He then caught her in his arms, and kiffed her with an ardour he had never ventured before.

O

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put off

• Let

At this inftant, Weftern, who had flood fome time liftening, burst into the room, and with his haunting voice and phrafe, cried out, To her, boy, to her, go to her. That's it, little honeys, O that's it. Well, what, is it all over? Hath fhe appointed the day, boy? What, fhall it be to-morrow or next day! It fhan't be a minute longer than next day, I am refolved.' me befeech you, Sir,' fays Jones, don't let me be the occafion'- - Befeech mine a- ,' cries Weftern, I thought thou hadft been a lad of higher mettle, than to give way to a parcel of maidenifh tricks.- -I tell thee 'tis all flimflam. Zoodikers! fhe'd have the wedding to-night with all her heart. Would't not, Sophy? Come, confefs, and be an honeft girl for once, What, art dumb? Why doft not speak? Why should I confefs, Sir,' fays Sophia, fince it feems you are fo well acquainted with my thoughts? That's a good girl,' cries he, and doft confent then? • No indeed, Sir,' fays Sophia, I have given no fuch confent.'-And wunt nut ha un then to morrow, nor next day? fays Western Indeed, Sir,' fays fhe, I have no fuch

6

intention. But I can tell thee,' replied he, why haft nut? only because thou doft love to be disobedient, and to plague and vex thy father. Pray, Sir,' faid Jones, interfering-- I tell thee thou art a puppy,' cries he. When I forbid her, then it was all nothing but fighing and whining, and languifhing and writing; now I am vor thee, fhe is against thee. All the fpirit of contrary, that's all. She is above being guided and governed by her father, that is the whole truth on't. It is only to difoblige and contradict me.' What would my papa have me do? cries Sophia. • What would I ha thee do?" fays he, why gi un thy hand this moment.'Well, Sir,' faid Sophia, I will obey you. There is · my hand, Mr Jones.' • Well, and will you confent to ha un to-morrow morning? fays Weftern.- I will be obedient to you, Sir,' cries fhe. Why then tomorrow morning be the day,' cries he.- - Why then to morrow morning fhall be the day, papa fince you will have it fo,' fays Sophia. Jones then fell upon his knees, and kiffed her hand in an agony of joy, while Western began to caper and dance about the room, prefently crying out, Where the devil is Allworthy? He is without now, a talking with that dd lawyer Dowling, when he fhould be minding other matters.' He then fallied out in queft of him, and very opportunely left the lovers to enjoy a few tender minutes alone.

But he foon returned with Allworthy, faying, if you won't believe me, you may ask her yourself. Haft nut gin thy confent, Sophy, to be married to-morrow? Such are your commands, Sir,' cries Sophia, • and I dare not be guilty of difobedience.' I hope, Madam, cries Allworthy, my nephew will merit fo much good• nefs, and will be always as fenfible as myself, of the great honour you have done my family. An alliance with fo charming and fo excellent a young lady would • indeed be an honour to greateft in England.' 'Yes,' cries Western, but if I had fuffered her to ftand ftill I fhall I, dilly dally, you might not have had that honour yet a while; I was forced to ufe a little fatherly authority to bring her to.' I hope there is not, Sir,' cries Allworthy, I hope there is not the leaft conftraint.' Why, there,' cries Weftern, you may

6

bid her unfay all again, if you will. Do'ft heartily repent of thy promife, do'ft not, Sophy? Indeed, papa,' ,' cries the, I do not repent, nor do I believe I ever fhall, of any promife in favour of Mr Jones.' Then, nephew,' cries Allworthy, I felicitate you • most heartily; for I think you are the happiest of men. And, Madam, you will give me leave to congratulate you on this joyful occafion : indeed I am convinced you have bestowed yourself on one who will be fenfible of your great merit, and who will at least use his best • endeavours to deferve it.' His beft endeavours!' cries Weftern, that he will, I warrant un.— -Harkee, Allworthy, I'll beat the five pound to a crown we have a boy to-morrow nine months: but, prithee tell me what wut ha! Wut ha Burgundy, Champaigne, or what? for, please Jupiter, we'll make a night on't.' • Indeed, Sir,' faid Allworthy, you must excufe me; both my nephew and I were engaged, before I fufpected this near approach of this happinefs. Engaged!' quoth the fquire; 'never tell me.- -I won't part with thee to-night upon any occafion. Shalt fup here, please the Lord Harry.' You must pardon me, my dear neighbour,' anfwered Allworthy; I have given a folemn promife, and that you know I never break.' Why, prithee, who art engaged to? cries the fquire. Allworthy then informed him, as likewife of the Odzookers!' anfwered the fquire, I will go with thee, and fo fhall Sophy; for I won't part with thee to-night, and it would be barbarous to part Tom and the girl. This offer was prefently embraced by Allworthy; and Sophia confented, having first obtained a private promife from her father, that he would not mention a fyllable concerning her marriage.

company

YOUNG Nightingale had been that afternoon, by ap

pointment, to wait on his father, who received him much more kindly than he expected There likewife he met his uncle, who was returned to town in quest of his new-married daughter.