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and totally obliterated all thoughts of his latter behaviour, for which I made also every allowance and 6 every excuse in my power.

'But what may perhaps appear more extraordinary, my aunt began soon to speak of him with concern. 'She said he had some understanding formerly, though 'his passion for that vile woman had, in a great meaเ sure, obscured it; and one day, when she was in an ' ill-humour with me, she had the cruelty to throw out 'a hint that she had never quarrelled with her brother เ if it had not been on my account.

'My father, during his life, had allowed my aunt very handsomely for my board; for generosity was too deeply ' riveted in his nature to be plucked out by all the power 'of his wife. So far, however, she prevailed, that though he died possessed of upwards of 20007. he left me no ، more than 100%. which, as he expressed in his will, was 'to set me up in some business, if I had the grace to take เ to any.

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'Hitherto my aunt had, in general, treated me with 'some degree of affection; but her behaviour began now 'to be changed. She soon took an opportunity of giving

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me to understand that her fortune was insufficient to keep me; and, as I could not live on the interest of my own, it was high time for me to consider about going into the world. She added, that her brother having mentioned my setting up in some business in 'his will was very foolish; that I had been bred to nothing, and besides, that the sum was too trifling to 'set me up in any way of reputation; she desired me 'therefore to think of immediately going into service.

This advice was perhaps right enough; and I told 'her I was very ready to do as she directed me; but ، I was, at that time, in an ill state of health; I desired 'her therefore to let me stay with her, till my legacy,

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'which was not to be paid till a year after my father's 'death, was due; and I then promised to satisfy her for my board; to which she readily consented.

'And now, Madam,' said Mrs. Bennet, sighing, 'I am going to open to you those matters which lead directly to that great catastrophe of my life, which hath occa'sioned my giving you this trouble, and of trying your patience in this manner.'

Amelia, notwithstanding her impatience, made a very civil answer to this; and then Mrs. Bennet proceeded to relate what is written in the next chapter.

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CHAPTER IV.

Further continuation.

'THE curate of the parish, where my aunt dwelt, was a young fellow of about four and twenty. He had been 'left an orphan in his infancy, and entirely unprovided for; when an uncle had the goodness to take care of 'his education, both at school and at the university. As 'the young gentleman was intended for the church, his เ uncle, though he had two daughters of his own, and no very large fortune, purchased for him the next presentation of a living of near 2007. a year. The incumbent, at the time of the purchase, was under the

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age

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sixty, and in apparent good health; notwithstanding 'which, he died soon after the bargain, and long before 'the nephew was capable of orders; so that the uncle was obliged to give the living to a clergyman, to hold 'it till the young man came of proper age.

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'The young gentleman had not attained his proper age of taking orders, when he had the misfortune to

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'lose his uncle and only friend; who thinking he had sufficiently provided for his nephew by the purchase of 'the living, considered him no farther in his will, but 'divided all the fortune of which he died possessed be'tween his two daughters; recommending it to them, 'however, on his death-bed, to assist their cousin with เ money sufficient to keep him at the university, till he 'should be capable of ordination.

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'But as no appointment of this kind was in the will, 'the young ladies, who received about 2000. each, thought proper to disregard the last words of their 'father; for, besides that both of them were extremely เ tenacious of their money, they were great enemies to 'their cousin, on account of their father's kindness to him; and thought proper to let him know that they 'thought he had robbed them of too much already.

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'The poor young fellow was now greatly distressed; for he had yet above a year to stay at the university, ' without any visible means of sustaining himself there.

'In this distress, however, he met with a friend, who 'had the good-nature to lend him the sum of twenty pounds, for which he only accepted his bond for forty, ' and which was to be paid within a year after his being possessed of his living; that is, within a year after his 'becoming qualified to hold it.

'With this small sum, thus hardly obtained, the poor 'gentleman made a shift to struggle with all difficulties, 'till he became the due age to take upon himself the 'character of a deacon. He then repaired to that clergyman, to whom his uncle had given the living upon the conditions above-mentioned, to procure a title 'to ordination; but this, to his great surprise and mor'tification, was absolutely refused him.

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'The immediate disappointment did not hurt him so 'much as the conclusion he drew from it; for he could

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' have but little hopes that the man, who could have the cruelty to refuse him a title, would vouchsafe afterwards 'to deliver up to him a living of so considerable a value; nor was it long before this worthy incumbent told him 'plainly that he valued his uncle's favours at too high a 'rate to part with them to any one; nay, he pretended 'scruples of conscience, and said, that if he had made any slight promises, which he did not now well remem'ber, they were wicked and void; that he looked upon himself as married to his parish, and he could no more ' give it up than he could give up his wife without sin.

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The poor young fellow was now obliged to seek far'ther for a title, which, at length, he obtained from the rector of the parish where my aunt lived.

'He had not long been settled in the curacy, before an 'intimate acquaintance grew between him and my aunt; 'for she was a great admirer of the clergy, and used fre'quently to say they were the only conversible creatures ' in the country.

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The first time she was in this gentleman's company was at a neighbour's christening, where she stood god'mother. Here she displayed her whole little stock of 'knowledge, in order to captivate Mr. Bennet (I suppose, Madam, you already guess that to have been his name, 'and before they parted, gave him a very strong invita'tion to her house.

'Not a word passed at this christening between Mr. 'Bennet and myself; but our eyes were not unemployed. 'Here, Madam, I first felt a pleasing kind of confusion, 'which I know not how to describe. I felt a kind of 'uneasiness; yet did not wish to be without it. I longed 'to be alone; yet dreaded the hour of parting. I could 'not keep my eyes off from the object which caused my 'confusion, and which I was at once afraid of and en'amoured with.-But why do I attempt to describe my

'situation to one who must, I am sure, have felt the 'same?'

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Amelia smiled, and Mrs. Bennet went on thus: 'O, 'Mrs. Booth! had you seen the person of whom I am now speaking, you would not condemn the suddenness เ of my love. Nay, indeed, I had seen him there before, though this was the first time I had ever heard the 'music of his voice.-Oh! it was the sweetest that was เ ever heard.

'Mr. Bennet came to visit my aunt the very next day. She imputed this respectful haste to the powerful charms of her understanding, and resolved to lose no 'opportunity in improving the opinion which, she 'imagined, he had conceived of her. She became by 'this desire quite ridiculous, and ran into absurdities and a gallimatias scarce credible.

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'Mr. Bennet, as I afterwards found, saw her in the same light with myself; but as he was a very sensible ' and well-bred man, he so well concealed his opinion 'from us both, that I was almost angry, and she was pleased even to raptures, declaring herself charmed with 'his understanding, though, indeed, he had said very ‘little; but I believe he heard himself into her good opinion, while he gazed himself into love.

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The two first visits which Mr. Bennet made to my aunt, though I was in the room all the time, I never spoke a word; but on the third, on some argument 'which arose between them, Mr. Bennet referred himself 'to me. I took his side of the question, as indeed I must 'to have done justice, and repeated two or three words of 'Latin. My aunt reddened at this, and expressed great 'disdain of my opinion, declaring, she was astonished ' that a man of Mr. Bennet's understanding could appeal 'to the judgment of a silly girl: "Is she," said my aunt, 'bridling herself, "fit to decide between us?"

Mr.