fented her with fomething, and taking her hand, led her to the exhibition room. Matilda was ready to faint.Maitland perceiving her to tremble exceffively, tenderly demanded if she was unwell. "I "feel fome inconvenience from the heat," faid fhe, endeavouring to fummon refolution, "but Emily's falts will remove it." By ill luck Maitland conducted them to a feat directly oppofite to that on which Lenox and the lady were seated. Emily nodded familiarly to the latter, who returned it with a fmile :-Maitland, in a whisper, demanded her name. " 'Tis Lady Frances Delvin; but let not "her black eyes make any impreffion on your heart, as fhe is immediately to be "married to that Gentleman befide her." "Placed as I at prefent am," faid Maitland, Matilda, with painful attention, liftened to this information, and stealing a look at Lenox, observed him gazing on her with uncommon earneftness. She addreffed. Her pride was hurt. herself with apparent liveliness to Maitland; and, at the close of the performance, accepted his proffered hand with an air of vivacity that entirely concealed the tumult of anguifh that fwelled in her bofom. Wealth and fplendor could not charm me, HENRY, on receiving the information communicated by Mary, immediately proceeded to Mrs. Montague's, of whofe arrival he had accidentally heard. A lady intimate with the Grosvenor family, in a vifit that morning, informed Mrs. Montague of Matilda's present fituation, with the circumftances which firft introduced her to her uncle's notice; and this lady had just taken leave as Henry entered." Deareft Mr. Le(6 nox, only think what a piece of intelli66 gence," said Mrs. Montague, after the ufual falutation," Matilda Ofming"ton is acknowledged, and taken into favour by her uncle.". "For her pro per conduct while fhe refided in a bro"thel," said Miss Montague, fneeringly. "Errors of innocence are juftly "more venial than intentional depravity," faid Lenox coolly, furveying Mifs Montague. Neither party feeming willing to lengthen the converfation, Henry withdrew, and proceeded to Lord Delvin's, where he had appointed to meet the general, on bufinefs refpecting the intended nuptials. Bitterly now did he regret the hour, when, yielding to falfe appearances, he had offered his hand to one who never could poffefs his heart; whilst Matilda, doubly endeared to him by the recollection of that affection which she once voluntarily owned to feel for him, was now loft to him for ever. Amid this painful retrofpection, he arrived at Lord Delvin's. Important bufinefs of ftate preventing his Lordship from attending to any domestic concerns that day, the intended arrangements were poftponed; and Lady Frances mentioning her intention of vifiting the Comte de B's exhibition, Henry offered to attend her: 'Twas here he beheld Matilda. Her feeming partiality to Maitland filled his bofoin with impetuous tumult, to which he was before a ftranger. Although he confidered her loft to him irretrievably, yet he could not endure to behold her thus unconcernedly offer fuch diftinguifhing marks of predi lection |