school, a fenfible angel, after the experience of two interviews, at no greater diftance than from one fide of the Atreet to another, and not fucceed? Her old lover (who was only the third fince the escaped from the tyranny of her school-mistress, the Christmas before) was inftantly difcarded. Clandeftine interviews for a long time were indulged; and the young couple feemed to realize the romantic fcenes, which had formerly delighted young Mifs in theory, in those novels which an indulgent teacher had used flyly to introduce into the boarding-school. It happened the fpark was poffeffed of all the accomplishments which her education had taught her to admire. He was unequalled in the minuet, a connoiffeur in mufic, the life of a card party, wonderfully adroit at touching a lady's little finger-knew when to squeeze it, and when to falute her glove; when to heave a figh, when to whisper a foft thing, and when to pay an audible compliment; in fhort, he was a paragon of modern perfection. The lady, on her part, had nothing that was to his tafte, but her gaiety and her beauty. But there are but two things (poffeffion, or the allurements of newer and more attractive charms) can deftroy the luftre of these, in the eye which is neither too often indulged, nor too long reftrained. Her dominion continued therefore almost a year. At length, however, an accident feparated them. The youth pined three days, was dull a whole week, and continued to think of his abfent Delia (now and then) for almost a month: but at the end of this long age of conftancy, he happened to dance with. a young lady, whose charms either were, or appeared to be, fuperior to those of his former goddefs. Delia was now forgotten, and another never-fading affection was conceived for the bright. Amaryllis nay, as is generally the cafe when. these delufive attachments fubfide, Gaylove could never again behold the former object of his ado-ration, or even reflect upon the proofs of her par-tiality, without fentiments of disgust, and expreffions of contempt. Delia, on the other hand,, conceived herself most cruelly injured, and railed for ever after against the hypocrify, and cruelty of our fex-quite negligent at the fame time of those accufations, which her former lovers were with equal juftice breathing against her. Thus, I believe, the generality of thofe perfidies with which either fex is charged, originate not fo much in the treachery of the human heart, as in the delufions of affected fentiment, and the notions of romantic attachment, which are infpired at a time when the heart is yet too little matured, and too full of levity to be capable of genuine paffion, THE UNHAPPY MARRIAGE. MR. Watfon was an eminent Weft-India merchant, who had acquired a very large fortune, most of which was vested in the public funds. When he was upwards of forty, he married a brifk young lady who bore him feveral children; but they all died young, except Emilia, the unhappy fubject of this narrative. She was brought up in the most tender manner, under the fond eyes of her indulgent parents, till fhe was ten years of age, and then fhe was fent to a boarding-school at Hampstead. There the acquired the knowledge of French and Italian, with mufic, dancing, and all forts of needlework. When she was fifteen, fhe loft her mother, who was taken off by a violent fever, in confequence of having over-heated herfelf, dancing at a city ball. As Mr. Watfon loved his wife, in the most tender manner, fo he remained difconfolate for his lofs; but when he began to reflect that his daughter was almost able to manage his domeftic affairs, he fent for her home, and was pleafed to find what progrefs fhe had made in learning. Emilia Emilia was tall and well proportioned, had fine dark eyes, and brown hair; her voice was extremely agreeable, and there was fomething in the whole of her deportment fo engaging, that few could behold her without admiration. He gave her every indulgence confiftent with his duty as a parent, and by the time fhe had completed her seventeenth year, he had the pleasure to see her grown up to her full fize, and daily acquiring new accomplishments. In the fame ftreet in which Mr. Watson lived, was the house of one Mr. Mellefs, a merchant of great eminence in trade; but, unfortunately, he and Mr. Watfon happened once to have a very expenfive law-fuit, in which the latter was caft, and fo enraged were they at each other, that when they met in the ftreets, they would not speak. The one would not go into the coffee-houfe which the other frequented; nor was any of their fervants allowed to meet at the fame alehouse. Mr. Mellefs had feveral children, fome of whom were married; and his domestic affairs were managed by his youngest daughter, an agreeable lady, not much turned of twenty. Emilia, who was not allowed to speak to any one belonging to Mr. Mellefs, happened one evening to be at a ball, and a young gentleman, finely dreffed, made choice of her as a partner. She did not know his name; but, when the dancing was over, and he conducted her to his coach, how how great was her furprife to hear him called Mellefs. This young gentleman was the fon of Mr. Mellefs, and had managed the greatest part of his bufinefs feveral years; but Emilia had never feen him before.. He was extremely handfome in his fhape, and agreeable in his features; but had not read much, nor was he very well acquainted with the world. He was, however, very polite in his manners,. and had something in his behaviour that charmed all those who converfed with him. In his dress he was neat rather than fine; and was altogether free from the least affectation; fo that with most people, who knew him, he passed for a more accomplished gentleman than he really was. He had often feen Emilia; but as it was in company with her father, he knew that he could not be allowed to speak to her; for Mr. Watfon would fooner have married his daughter to a footman, than to any one belonging, to Mr. Mellefs Emilia told the young gentleman to fet her down before they came to the end of the street where her father lived; but, unfortunately, just as fhe. was coming out of the coach, her father happened to pass by, and faw who fhe was in company. with. He took no notice, but walked home; fhe called for a chair, that fet her down at her. father's door. When the came into the parlour, her father afked with whom he had been dancing; to which she answered, that a young gentleman had chofen |