pieces of brutality, commonly called jests, on this occasion. Jones was no sooner dressed than he walked down stairs, and knocking at the door, was presently admitted by the maid, into the outward parlour, which was as empty of company as it was of any apparatus for eating. Mrs. Miller was in the inner room with her daughter, whence the maid presently brought a message to Mr. Jones, 'That 'her mistress hoped he would excuse the disappointment, but an accident had happened, which 'made it impossible for her to have the pleasure * of his company at breakfast that day; and begged his pardon for not sending him up no'tice sooner.' Jones desired she would give • herself no trouble about any thing so trifling as 'his disappointment; that he was heartily sorry 'for the occasion; and that if he could be of any 'service to her, she might command him.' ، ، He had scarce spoke these words, when Mrs. Miller, who heard them all, suddenly threw open the door, and coming out to him, in a flood of tears, said, 'O Mr. Jones! you are certainly one 'of the best young men alive. I give you a 'thousand thanks for your kind offer of your ser'vice; but, alas! Sir, it is out of your power to preserve my poor girl. O my child! my child! ' she is undone, she is ruined for ever!' 'I hope, 'Madam,' said Jones, 'no villain,'-' O Mr. 'Jones!' said she 'that villain who yesterday left my lodgings, hath betrayed my poor girl; hath 'destroyed her.-I know you are a man of honour. 'You have a good-a noble heart, Mr. Jones. 'The actions to which I have been myself a wit'ness, could proceed from no other. I will tell 'you all: nay, indeed, it is impossible, after what ، hath happened, to keep it a secret. That Nightingale, that barbarous villain hath undone 'my daughter. She is she is-oh! Mr. Jones, ، my girl is with child by him; and in that con dition he hath deserted her. Here! here, Sir, is 'his cruel letter: read it, Mr. Jones, and tell me ' if such another monster lives.' ، The letter was as follows: 'DEAR NANCY, 'AS I found it impossible to mention to you 'what, I am afraid, will be no less shocking to you, than it is to me, I have taken this method to 'inform you, that my father insists upon my im'mediately paying my addresses to a young lady of 'fortune, whom he hath provided for my-I need 'not write the detested word. Your own good understanding will make you sensible, how entirely 'I am obliged to an obedience, by which I shall 'be for ever excluded from your dear arms. 'fondness of your mother may encourage you to 'trust her with the unhappy consequence of our ، ، ، The love, which may be easily kept a secret from the ' world, and for which I will take care to provide, as I will for you. I wish you may feel less on this 'account than I have suffered; but summon all your fortitude to your assistance, and forgive and forget the man, whom nothing but the prospect of ' certain ruin could have forced to write this letter. 'I bid you forget me, I mean only as a lover; but 'the best of friends you shall ever find in ، 'Your faithful, though unhappy, 'J. N.' When Jones had read this letter, they both stood silent during a minute, looking at each other; at last he began thus: 'I cannot express, Madam, 'how much I am shocked at what I have read; 'yet let me beg you, in one particular, to take the 'writer's advice. Consider the reputation of your daughter,'' It is gone, it is lost, Mr. Jones,' cried she, 'as well as her innocence. She received 'the letter in a room full of company, and imme ८ ، diately swooning away upon opening it, the con 'tents were known to every one present. But the 'loss of her reputation, bad asit is, is not the worst; ' I shall lose my child; she hath attempted twice ' to destroy herself already: and though she hath 'been hitherto prevented, vows she will not out'live it; nor could I myself outlive any accident ' of that nature. What then will become of my 'little Betsy, a helpless infant orphan; and the ، poor little wretch will, I believe, break her heart ' at the miseries with which she sees her sister and ، ، ، ، ، myself distracted, while she is ignorant of the cause,-O'tis the most sensible, and best-natured 'little thing! The barbarous, cruel-hath destroyed us all. O my poor children! Is this the 'reward of all my cares? Is this the fruit of all 'my prospects? Have I so cheerfully undergone 'all the labours and duties of a mother? Have I ' been so tender of their infancy, so careful of their 'education? Have I been toiling so many years, denying myself even the conveniencies of life, to provide some little sustenance for them, to lose one or both in such a manner?' 'Indeed, Madam,' said Jones, with tears in his eyes, 'I pity 'you from my soul.' 'O! Mr. Jones,' answer'ed she, 'even you, though I know the goodness ' of your heart, can have no idea of what I feel. The best, the kindest, the most dutiful of chil'dren! O my poor Nancy, the darling of my 'soul! the delight of my eyes! the pride of my 'heart! too much, indeed, my pride; for to those 'foolish, ambitious hopes, arising from her beauty, 'I owe her ruin. Alas! I saw with pleasure the liking which this young man had for her. I 'thought it an honourable affection; and flattered my foolish vanity with the thoughts of sceing 'her married to one so much her superior. And 'a thousand times in my presence, nay, often in 'yours, he hath endeavoured to soothe and encourage these hopes by the most generous expressions of disinterested love, which he hath ، ، ، 'always directed to my poor girl, and which I, as 'well as she, believed to be real. Could I have be'lieved that these were only snares laid to betray 'the innocence of my child, and for the ruin of us all?'-At these words little Betsy came running into the room, crying, 'Dear Mamma, for heaven's 'sake come to my sister; for she is in another fit, 'and my cousin can't hold her.' Mrs. Miller immediately obeyed the summons; but first ordered Betsy to stay with Mr. Jones, and begged him to entertain her a few minutes, saying, in the most pathetic voice, 'Good heaven! let me preserve one of my children at least.' ، Jones, in compliance with this request, did all he could to comfort the little girl, though he was, in reality, himself very highly affected with Mrs. Miller's story. He told her, 'Her sister would be soon very well again; that by taking on in that manner, she would not only make her sister worse, but make her mother ill too.' 'Indeed, 'Sir,' says she, 'I would not do any thing to hurt 'them, for the world. I would burst my heart 'rather than they should see me cry. But my poor sister can't see me cry. - I am afraid she will never be able to see me cry any more. Indeed, I 'can't part with her; indeed I can't.-And then ، ، poor Mamma too, what will become of her?'She says, she will die too, and leave me : but I ، am resolved I won't be left behind.' ' And are 'you not afraid to die, my little Betsy?" said Jones. 'Yes,' answered she, 'I was always afraid to die; 'because I must have left my Mamma, and my 'sister; but I am not afraid of going any where 'with those I love.' Jones was so pleased with this answer, that he eagerly kissed the child; and soon after Mrs. Miller returned, saying, 'She thanked heaven, Nancy was now come to herself. And now Betsy,' says she, 'you may go in; for your sister is better, and longs ، to see you.' She then turned to Jones, and began to renew her apologies for having disappointed him of his breakfast. ، ، 'I hope, Madam,' said Jones, 'I shall have a more exquisite repast than any you could have 'provided for me. This, I assure you, will be the case, if I can do any service to this little family ' of love. But whatever success may attend my 'endeavours, I am resolved to attempt it. I am very much deceived in Mr. Nightingale, if, not'withstanding what hath happened, he hath not 'much goodness of heart at the bottom, as well as a very violent affection for your daughter. If this 'be the case, I think the picture which I shall lay 'before him, will affect him. Endeavour, Madam, ' to comfort yourself, and Miss Nancy, as well as 'you can. I will go instantly in quest of Mr. 'Nightingale; and I hope to bring you good news.' ، Mrs. Miller fell upon her knees, and invoked all the blessings of heaven upon Mr. Jones; to which she afterwards added the most passionate expressions of gratitude. He then departed to find Mr. Nightingale, and the good woman returned to comfort her daughter, who was somewhat cheered at what her mother told her; and both joined in resounding the praises of Mr. Jones. CHAP. VII. The Interview between Mr. Jones and Mr. Nightingale. THE good or evil we confer on others, very often, I believe, recoils on ourselves. For as men of a benign disposition enjoy their own acts of beneficence, equally with those to whom they are done, so there are scarce any natures so entirely diabolical, as to be capable of doing injuries, without paying themselves some pangs, for the ruin which they bring on their fellow-creatures. Mr. Nightingale, at least, was not such a person, |