with tears, a tribute that I often pay her muchloved memory, when the rest of the world are lost in sleep." Here he paused, and seemed much agi tated. At length he requested me permission to defer the recital of Harriet's woes till the next day, as he found himself unequal to the task of proceeding in the painful detail. To this proposal I readily acceded, and we returned home. I retired to my room, but every attempt to procure sleep proved ineffectual: Harriet had so wholly occupied my thoughts, that no moment of the night was suffered to pass unnoticed. At length, "when soared the warbling lark on high," I left my couch, and rejoined my worthy landlord, who was busily employ. ed in the arrangement of his garden. Though I declined mentioning the subject of our last night's adventure, yet he saw the marks of anxious ex pectation in my countenance, and proceeded to gratify the curiosity he had inspired. "It will be necessary," said he, "before I proceed to relate the woes that befell my daughter, to give a short sketch of my own life. Six and twenty years ago, Mrs.*** came hither for the benefit of her health, the air being recommended as highly salubrious. On her arrival, she gave out that she was the daughter of a clergyman, who was lately dead, and had left her in narrow circumstances. I thought it my duty to visit her, and offer her any little attention in my power. She received me with politeness, and expressed a wish to cultivate my acquaintance. I continued to repeat my visits for some time, with out suspecting that there was any thing particular in her history; till one morning, I found her in tears, reading a letter she had just received. On my en, trance, she gave it to me: it contained a notification from lord B's agent, that her usual remittances would no longer be continued. On opening this letter, I was led to suppose that her connection with lord B. was not of the most honourable nature but all my suspicion vanished on her produ cing several letters from lord B. to her mother, with whom he had been long connected. From these letters I learnt, that Mrs. *** was the daughter of lord B. by Miss M. sister to a Scotch baronet, whom he had seduced and supported during the remainder of her life. But he had, it seems, determined to withdraw his protection from the fruit of their connection. Mrs.*** declared she knew not what step to take, as her finances were nearly exhausted. I endeavoured to comfort her, assuring her that she should command every assistance in my power. On hearing this, she seemed a little satisfied, and became more composed. After sitting with her some time, I returned home, to consider in what manner I might most easily afford protection to the young orphan, whose whole dependence was on my support. If I took her home to live with me, as I was unmarried, it would give offence to my parishioners: my income was too confined to admit of my affording her a separate establishment. Thus circumstanced, I determined to offer her my hand. You will, no doubt, say it was rather an imprudent step for a man who had seen his fortieth year to connect himself with youth and beauty but as my brother was then living, it was impossible for me to render her the least assistance on any other plan. She received my proposal with grateful surprise, and accepted it without he : sitation. In a few days we were married, and have now lived together six and twenty years, in a state, the felicity of which has never been interrupted by those discordant jars which are so frequently the concomitants of matrimony: though, alas! our peace has received a mortal wound from one, the bare mention of whose name fills me with horror! But not to digress-before the return of that day which saw me blessed with the hand of Emily, my happiness received an important addition, by the birth of a daughter, who inherited all her mother's charms. It is superfluous to add, that she was equally the idol of both her parents; and as she was the only fruit of our marriage, she became every day a greater favourite. My wife had received such an education as rendered her fully capable of accomplishing her daughter in a manner far superior to any thing her situation required, or, perhaps, could justify. To this agreeable employment, however, she devoted her whole time; and when Harriet had reached her eighteenth year, she was, in every respect, a highly accomplished woman. She was become what that picture represents her. With an amiable temper and gentle manners, she was the idol of the village. Hitherto she had experienced a state of felicity unknown in the more exalted stations of life-unconscious, alas! of the ills that awaited her future years. "It is with reluctance I proceed in the melancholy narrative. One evening, as a young man, attended by a servant, was passing through the village, his horse startled, and threw him. Happening to be on the spot at the time, I offered every assistance in my power, and conveying him to my cottage, dispatched his ser vant in quest of a surgeon, who declared our patient was not in any danger, but recommended it to him to delay his departure for a day or two. His health, however, or rather his love, did not admit of his travelling for near a fortnight; during which time, he established his interest with Harriet by the most pleaşing and unremitting attention to her slightest wishes. When about to depart, he requested leave to repeat his visit on his return from his intended tour, dropping, at the same time, some distant hints of his affection for Harriet, to whom he was by no means indifferent. "Mr. H. (for so our guest was named) informed us, previous to his departure, that he had a small independent fortune; but that from a distant relation he had considerable expectation. After bidding an affectionate adieu to Harriet, he set out on his intended tour, which lasted for a month.”— The effects produced by his absence must, however, be reserved for another paper. X. BERKELEY. No. XXXVIII. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1787. Conclusion of the Vicar's Tale. "DURING the time of Mr. H's absence, Harriet appeared pensive, and I observed with pain that he も At had made no slight impression on her heart. length Mr. H. returned, and Harriet's reception of him left us no room to doubt her attachment. During his second visit he was very assiduous to secure the favour of all the family: with Harriet he easily succeeded; nor were Mrs. T. or myself disposed to dislike him. His manners were elegant, and his wit lively. At length he obtained from Harriet the promise of her hand, provided her parents should not object. Hitherto I had never been induced to make any inquiries concerning his circumstances and character. Now, however, by his direction, I applied to Mr. E-ns, a clergyman of his acquaintance. This gentleman, now in an exalted station in the church, then chaplain to lord C. informed me, that Mr. H. was in every respect a desirable match for my daughter; and that, whenever his cousin should die, he would be enabled to maintain her in affluence and splendour:-he added that his character was unexceptionable. Little suspecting the villanous part Mr. E-ns was acting, I readily consented to the proposed union, and performed the ceremony myself. Mr. H. requested that their marriage might be kept a secret till the birth of a son and heir. This proposal rather alarmed me, but it was too late to retreat; and knowing no one in the great world, it was impossible for me, previous to the marriage, to procure any account of Mr. H. but such as his friend communicated to me. Thus circumstanced, I could only consent: and as Harriet readily adopted every proposal that came from one she so tenderly loved, the matter was finally agreed on. After staying a few days, he set off for London, but soon returned, |