him-when upon pulling out his little horn box, as I fat by his grave, and plucking up a nettle or two at the head of it, which had no business to grow there, they all ftruck together fo forcibly upon my affections, that I burft into a flood of tears- but I am as weak as a woman; and I beg the world not to fmile, but pity me,

I

THE REMISE DOOR,

CALAI S.

HAD never quitted the lady's hand all this time; and had held it fo long, that it would have been indecent to have let it go, without first preffing it to my lips: the blood and fpirits, which had fuffered a revulfion from her, crowded back to her, as I did it.

Now the two travellers, who had spoke to me in the coach-yard, happened at that crifis to be paffing by, and obferving our communications, naturally took it into their heads that we must

be man and wife, at least; so stopping as foon as they came up to the door of the Remife, the one of them, who was the inquifitive Traveller, ask'd us, if we fet out for Paris the next morning?I could only anfwer for myfelf, I faid; and the lady added, fhe was for Amiens. -We dined there yesterday, faid the fimple Traveller - You You go directly through the town, added the other, in your road to Paris. I was going to return a thoufand thanks for the intelligence, that Amiens was in the road to Paris; but upon pulling out my poor monk's little horn box to take a pinch of fnuff, I made them a quiet bow, and wished them a good paffage to Doverthey left us alone

-Now where would be the harm, said I to myself, if I was to beg of this diftreffed lady to accept of half of my chaife?-and what mighty mischief could enfue?

Every dirty paffion, and bad propenfity in my nature, took the alarm, as I ftated the propofition-It will oblige

you to have a third horfe, faid AVARICE, which will put twenty livres out of your pocket-You know not what fhe is faid CAUTION-or what fcrapes the affair may draw you into, whisper'd COWARDICE

Depend upon it, Yorick! faid DisCRETION, 'twill be faid you went off with a mistress, and came by affignation to Calais for that purpose.

You can never after, cried HYPOCRISY aloud, fhew your face in the world

or rife, quoth MEANNESS, in the church or be any thing in it, faid PRIDE, but a lousy prebendary.

But 'tis a civil thing, faid I-and as I generally act from the first impulfe, and therefore feldom listen to thefe cabals, which ferve no purpose, that I know of, but to encompass the heart with adamant-I turn'd inftantly about to the lady

-But he had glided off unperceived, as the caufe was pleading, and had made ten or a dozen paces down the ftreet, by the time I had made the de

termination; fo I fet off after her with a long ftride, to make her the propofal with the best addrefs I was master of; but obferving fhe walk'd with her cheek half refting upon the palm of her hand -with the flow, fhort-meafur'd step of thoughtfulness, and with her eyes, as fhe went step by step, fixed upon the ground, it ftruck me, fhe was trying the fame caufe herself. God help her! faid I, fhe has fome mother-in-law, or tartufish aunt, or nonfenfical old woman, to confult upon the occafion, as well as myself: fo not caring to interrupt the proceffe, and deeming it more gallant to take her at difcretion than furprise, I faced about, and took a fhort turn or two before the door of the Remife, whilft fhe walk'd mufing on one fide.

IN THE STREET.

CALAIS.

AVING, on first fight of the lady, fettled the affair in my fancy, "that he was of the better order of "beings"-and then laid it down as a fecond axiom, as indifputable as the firft, That she was a widow, and wore a character of diftrefs-I went no further; I got ground enough for the fituation which pleafed me-and had the remained close befide my elbow 'till midnight, I fhould have held true to my system, and confidered her only under that general idea.

She had fcarce got twenty paces diftant from me, ere fomething within me called out for a more particular inquiry -it brought on the idea of a further feparation-I might poffibly never fee her more- the heart is for faving what it can; and I wanted the traces thro' which my wishes might find their way