she had continued a minute, when the door opened, and in came lord Fellamar. Sophia started from her chair at his entrance; and his lordship advancing forwards, and making a low bow, said, 'I am afraid, Miss Western, I break in upon you abruptly.' 'Indeed, my lord,' says she, I must ' own myself a little surprised at this unexpected 'visit.' 'If this visit be unexpected, Madam,' answered lord Fellamar, my eyes must have been very faithless interpreters of my heart, when last 'I had the honour of seeing you; for surely you could not otherwise have hoped to detain my heart in your possession, without receiving a 'visit from its owner.' Sophia, confused as she was, answered this bombast (and very properly I think) with a look of inconceivable disdain. My lord then made another and a longer speech of the same sort. Upon which Sophia, trembling, said, Am I really to conceive your lordship to be out ' of your senses? Sure, my lord, there is no other excuse for such behaviour.'' I am, indeed, Madam, in the situation you suppose,' cries his lordship; and sure you will pardon the effects of a frenzy which you yourself have occasioned 1; 'for love hath so totally deprived me of reason, 'that I am scarce accountable for any of my ac'tions.' Upon my word, my lord,' said Sophia, I neither understand your words nor your beha'viour.'' Suffer me then, Madam,' cries he, at your feet to explain both, by laying open my 'soul to you, and declaring that I doat on you to 'the highest degree of distraction. O most adorable, most divine creature! what language can express the sentiments of my heart? I do assure you, my lord,' said Sophia, 'I shall not stay to hear any more of this.' 'Do not,' cries he, think of leaving me thus cruelly; could you 'know half the torments which I feel, that tender 'bosom must pity what those eyes have caused.' Then fetching a deep sigh, and laying hold of her

hand, he ran on for some minutes in a strain which would be little more pleasing to the reader than it was to the lady; and at last concluded with a declaration, "That if he was master of the world, he would lay it at her feet.' Sophia then forcibly pulling away her hand from his, answered with much spirit, I promise you, Sir, your world and its master, I should spurn from me with equal contempt.' She then offered to go; and lord Fellamar again laying hold of her hand, said, ‘Pardon me, my beloved angel, freedoms which nothing but despair could have tempted me to take.

Believe me, could I have had any hope that my title and fortune, neither of them inconsiderable, unless when compared with your worth, would have been accepted, I had, in the hum'blest manner, presented them to your accept'ance. But I cannot lose you. By heaven, I ' will sooner part with my soul.-You are, you must, you shall be only mine. My lord,' says she, I intreat you to desist from a vain pursuit ; 'for, upon my honour, I will never hear you on this subject. Let go my hand, my lord; for I am resolved to go from you this moment; nor will I ever see you more.' Then, Madam,' cries his lordship, I must make the best use of this moment; for I cannot live, nor will I live without 'you.'- What do you mean, my lord?' said Sophia; I will raise the family.' 'I have no fear, 'Madam,' answered he, but of losing you, and that I am resolved to prevent, the only way which despair points to me.'-He then caught her in his arms: upon which she screamed so loud, that she must have alarmed some one to her assistance, had not lady Bellaston taken care to remove all

cars.

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But a more lucky circumstance happened for poor Sophia; another noise now broke forth, which almost drowned her cries; for now the whole house rang with, 'Where is she? D-n me, I'll

unkennel her this instant. Shew me her chamber, I say. Where is my daughter? I know she's in 'the house, and I'll see her if she's above ground. 'Shew me where she is.'-At which last words the door flew open, and in came 'squire Western, with his parson, and a set of myrmidons at his heels.

How miserable must have been the condition of poor Sophia, when the enraged voice of her father was welcome to her ears? Welcome indeed it was, and luckily did he come: for it was the only accident upon earth which could have preserved the peace of her mind from being for ever destroyed.

Sophia, notwithstanding her fright, presently knew her father's voice; and his lordship, notwithstanding his passion, knew the voice of reason, which peremptorily assured him, it was not now a time for the perpetration of his villainy. Hearing, therefore, the voice approach, and hearing likewise whose it was; (for as the 'squire more than once roared forth the word daughter, so Sophia, in the midst of her struggling, cried out upon her father;) he thought proper to relinquish his prey, having only disordered her handkerchief, and with his rude lips committed violence on her lovely neck.

If the reader's imagination doth not assist me, I shall never be able to describe the situation of these two persons when Western came into the room. Sophia tottered into her chair, where she sat disordered, pale, breathless, bursting with indignation at lord Fellamar, affrighted, and yet more rejoiced at the arrival of her father.

His lordship sat down near her, with the bag of his wig hanging over one of his shoulders, the rest of his dress being somewhat disordered, and rather a greater proportion of linen than is usual appearing at his bosom. As to the rest, he was amazed, affrighted, vexed, and ashamed.

As to 'squire Western, he happened, at this time, to be overtaken by an enemy, which very fre

quently pursues, and seldom fails to overtake, most of the country gentlemen in this kingdom. He was, literally speaking, drunk; which circumstance, together with his natural impetuosity, could produce no other effect, than his running immediately up to his daughter, upon whom he fell foul with his tongue in the most inveterate manner; nay, he had probably committed violence with his hands, had not the parson interposed, saying, For heaven's sake, Sir, animadvert that you are in the house of a great lady. Let me beg you to mitigate your wrath; it should mi'nister a fulness of satisfaction that you have 'found your daughter; for as to revenge, it belongeth not unto us. I discern great contrition. in the countenance of the young lady. I stand 'assured, if you will forgive her, she will repent 'her of all past offences, and return unto her duty.'

The strength of the parson's arms had at first been of more service than the strength of his rhetoric. However, his last words wrought some effect, and the 'squire answered, I'll forgee her if she wull ha un. If wot ha un, Sophy, I'll forgee thee all. Why dost unt speak? Shat ha un? 'd-n me, shat ha un? Why dost unt answer? 'Was ever such a stubborn tuoad?'

'Let me entreat you, Sir, to be a little more 'moderate,' said the parson; you frighten the young lady so, that you deprive her of all power 6 of utterance.'

Power of mine a-,' answered the 'squire. You take her part then, you do? A pretty parson truly, to side with an undutiful child. Yes, yes, 'I will gee you a living with a pox. I'll gee un 'to the devil sooner.'

'I humbly crave your pardon,' said the parson; I assure your worship, I meant no such matter.' My lady Bellaston now entered the room, and came up to the 'squire, who no sooner saw her, than, resolving to follow the instructions of his

sister, he made her a very civil bow, in the rural manner, and paid her some of his best compliments. He then immediately proceeded to his complaints and said, 'There, my lady cousin ; 'there stands the most undutiful child in the world; she hankers after a beggarly rascal, and won't marry one of the greatest matches in all 'England, that we have provided for her.'

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'Indeed, cousin Western,' answered the lady, 'I am persuaded you wrong my cousin. I am sure 'she hath a better understanding. I am convinced 'she will not refuse what she must be sensible is so 'much to her advantage.'

This was a wilful mistake in lady Bellaston; for she well knew whom Mr. Western meant; though perhaps she thought he would easily be reconciled to his lordship's proposals.

'Do you hear there,' quoth the 'squire, what her ladyship says? All your family are for the match. Come, Sophy, be a good girl, and be 'dutiful, and make your father happy.'

If my death will make you happy, Sir,' answered Sophia, you will shortly be so.

'It's a lye, Sophy; it's a d-nd lye, and you know it,' said the 'squire.

'Indeed, Miss Western,' said lady Bellaston, you injure your father; he hath nothing in view, 'but your interest in this match; and I and all your friends must acknowledge the highest honour done to your family in the proposal.'

Ay, all of us,' quoth the 'squire; nay, it was no proposal of mine. She knows it was her aunt proposed it to me first.-Come, Sophy, once 'more let me beg you to be a good girl, and 'me your consent before your cousin.'

gee

'Let me give him your hand, cousin,' said the lady. It is the fashion now-a-days to dispense ⚫ with time and long courtships.'

'Pugh,' said the 'squire, what signifies time; 'won't they have time enough to court afterwards?