was,

that he knew me, and desired very earnestly to speak with me. I was prevented from going the next day, but I went the day after. The substance of what he said to me that he had heard of two men being taken up for abusing, wounding, and attempting to rob Lady Blunt ; being conscious that he and another had committed that crime, and thinking himself dying, he wished to appease his conscience, and prevent the condemnation of innocent people, by making this confession; that he had been drawn into the crime by a man who lived as butler with Mrs. Demure; that the same man had lately engaged him to go, in the stage-coach, all the way to Liverpool, where he was to make inquiry for a certain foreigner, and deliver a letter to him; on his arrival, he received no intelligence of the foreigner; but another letter had been given to him by the same butler, that he was very earnestly and repeatedly desired to put into the post-office as soon as he should arrive at Liverpool, which he had done accordingly. This last letter was addressed to William Clifford, Esq. Northumberland; that as he had heard from a servant of Colonel Sommers's that Mr. Clifford had fought a duel with Mr. Mordaunt immediately after receiving a letter, he conceived that the letter he put into the post-office might be that which gave rise to the quarrel; and he thought himself in duty bound to give me this information, because he knew I was a friend of Mr. Mordaunt, and would make the proper use of it, if any use could be made.'

I have long had an ill opinion of Madam Demure. I know she harboured malice against you. If the letter in question had any tendency to produce a quarrel between you and Clifford, I strongly suspect it to be from her; the author of malicious anonymous letters is capable of any baseness. The contriver of the attack on Lady Blunt may, with great probability, be considered as the instigator of your affair with Clifford. At all events, I thought it right to send you this intelligence.

As for the poor devil who is wounded, I told him he might make his conscience easy with regard to the two

men who had been taken up, because they were already liberated. The man expressed so much satisfaction at hearing this, that I assured him that neither Mr. Plaintive nor I intended to prosecute him for the robbery, He has suffered pretty smartly already. Curse the pocketbook! I now wish I had let it go-it has been found necessary to amputate the poor fellow's arm. My uncle, who never could bear to throw away money on any thing but doctors, remarked, that to hang this man now would make what he intends to give to the surgeon so much lost money, and render an operation, that has been successfully performed, good for nothing.'

I had every thing prepared for accompanying you abroad, if you had thought that measure necessary; and still am ready, at a minute's warning.

Yours,

T. TRAVERS.'

P. S. I have broken up the seal to inform you, that I have this instant heard that the man's confession regarding Mrs. Demure (for he had made it to others as well as to me) had reached her ears, The butler has disappeared. She has offered a reward for his discovery, which has had no effect, except to convince the world that she thinks him in some very safe lurking place,'

You perceive, my lord, that this letter could not fail to remove all obscurity and doubt. Mr. Clifford was peculiarly shocked: he remained silent, with his eyes fixed on the ground, some seconds after the letter was read, and then exclaimed,- What a dupe, what a despicable tool, have I been to this horrid woman!'

• We have all been dupes in our turn, I fear,' said your brother. Don't you remember, Sommers, what a dupe I was made, and how very near I was brought to ruin, by a woman less artful than Mrs. Demure ?'

You are a generous man, Mr. Mordaunt,' said Clifford with fervour : I am filled with remorse at the recollection of my behaviour. I am sensible, that to your forbearance, to your magnanimity, I owe my not being at

present a corse, or the most miserable of living men.-My gratitude shall be endless.-May I ever expect any share in your friendship?-Can you forget?'

Mr. Clifford spoke with such earnestness and rapidity, as for some time prevented your brother from uttering a word. But here, seizing Mr. Clifford's hand in an affectionate manner, he pronounced with energy,- Be assured, my dear Clifford, that the earnest wish of my heart is to live with you, not only as a friend, but as a brother."

They embraced.—At that instant the surgeon, who I believe knew that Miss Clifford and Miss Proctor were at the door, opened it, and they both entered.

It is not possible for me, my dear lord, to do justice to this scene. Never did I witness such genuine expressions of happiness as in the countenances of the two ladies when they saw your brother and Clifford in each other's arms. Never were features more admirably formed for the expression of happiness than theirs.

A stranger coming into the room would have been warmed with a glow of pleasure at the sight. You may imagine what it communicated to a heart so deeply interested as mine. The two ladies exchanged looks of affectionate sympathy and joy. Your friend, Colonel Sommers,' said Mr. Clifford, is the most generous of men.' Then addressing his sister, he added, What think you, Horatia ?' At this sudden question, a very deep blush overspread her charming countenance.

'What think you, my dear drawing her gently towards him.

Horatia ?' he repeated,
Her head leaned on his

shoulder, when she said, but so softly as to be heard only by him, He knows what I think.'

'He declares,' resumed Mr. Clifford, that it is his earnest wish to be united to me, not only as a friend, but as a brother.'

It is the most earnest wish of my soul,' said your brother.

You do not object, my dear Horatia?' said Miss Proctor, taking hold of her hand, and smiling in her face.

• Not,' replied Miss Clifford, provided you, my dear Mary, do not object to being united to me, not only as a friend, but as a sister.'

And that,' exclaimed Mr. Clifford, is the supreme wish of my soul !'

"Are we to be sisters, my dear ?' repeated Miss Clifford. Miss Proctor, with a look of inexpressible affection, held forth her hand to her friend.

6

Nay,' rejoined Miss Clifford, to prove that you agree to the condition, it is not to me, but to this gentleman, that you must give your hand'-conducting Miss Proctor's hand, at the same instant, to her brother, who saluted it with rapture; then, seizing his sister's hand, he added, -'And, to make me brother to the man I love and esteem above all mankind, it is to this gentleman, my dear Horatia, that you must give yours."

• There is no need of force, brother,' said she, extricating her hand from his, and, with inimitable gracefulness, delivering it to Mr. Mordaunt.

At that moment Miss Proctor was told her father inquired for her.-Miss Clifford withdrew with her.

In my life,' said the surgeon, I never was witness to so delightful a scene; which, I am convinced, is only the prologue to much permanent happiness; but, to render it more secure, I must inform Mr. Clifford-(as for Mr. Mordaunt, I have no title to interfere with his arrangements)-but I must remind you, Mr. Clifford, that you are my patient; and no person, under my care, ever presumed to marry without my approbation : this, I plainly perceive, you will have at no great distance of time; but, until that time arrives, I expect that you will remain a bachelor.'

Miss Proctor, being sensible that what had passed should be communicated without delay to her father, and having some reluctance to do it herself, devolved the task on Miss Clifford. He, whose nature is so far from doing harm that he suspects none,* had never the least idea of Clif• Shakespeare.

ford's design on his daughter, nor of her partiality for him, He was therefore a good deal surprised, but not at all displeased, when he understood that Mr. Clifford had act ually proposed marriage, and that the proposal was agreeable to her.

Mr. Clifford, not knowing that his sister had anticipated him, and finding Mr. Proctor alone, began to broach the same subject to him. But the old gentleman, who dislikes all superfluous discourse from any mouth but his own, interrupted him, saying,- To save you trouble, Mr. Clifford, I must tell you that I am already informed of your proposal of marriage to my daughter; which, by-thebye, you ought to have communicated, in the first place, to me; but, passing over that, I will acknowledge that few things could be more honourable, and none more agreeable, to me, than having your father and mother's son, the brother of Miss Horatia Clifford, for my son-in-law; all three being characters of such distinguished worth, that their alliance would do credit to the first family in the land. And, were I inclined to make any objection, you may depend upon it that it would be founded on considerations, which, in civility to you, particularly in my own house, I decline mentioning; for, in spite of all that has happened, I cannot help trusting that the offspring of such worthy parents will ultimately turn out a man of worth: therefore, sir, I will tell you at once, that, since you are agreeable to Mary, you are not disagreeable to me :-and I will tell you farther, that, on the day of your marriage, you shall have one-half of my fortune, (for the other half is more than sufficient for me): the residue, you, and your children by her, shall have at my death. But the most precious treasure in my power to bestow is my daughter herself, whom I pray God to bless, by making you a husband deserving of her.

Mr. Clifford seemed no way dissatisfied with this harangue; and, from that moment, harmony and happiness reigned in the mansion of Heathfield.

Mr. Proctor and I, being rather neglected by your bro