am certain; and we need give ourselves no further trouble about the affair of last night, since I have not a doubt of his being the incendiary.”

"And to what motive can you ascribe such wickedness?" asked Elizabeth.

"Entirely to his wishing to obtain an opportunity of doing something which should lead us to believe we owed him an obligation, in consequence of his despairing, from your manner, of otherwise receiving permission to visit here; but he shall find, from this being denied him, that he has no cause to triumph in his villainythat if not absolutely detected, 'tis at least suspected."

Elizabeth sighed-she could not deny that circumstances made against him: still, however, the reflection that he might be innocent, and, if so, of the ingratitude he must accuse them of, on finding their door closed against him, without any reason assigned for its being so-the indignation with which, in that case, such conduct must inspire him, made her wish that her

mother would not give away entirely to the supposition of his being guilty.

At length, by dint of supplication, she prevailed on her to let her not seeing him be excused on the plea of indisposition. Scarcely had she gained this point, when she saw him approaching the house; in a few minutes after, the servant entered the chamber with a card, on which were written the following lines with a pencil:

"THE disappointment of Captain Delacour, at not obtaining a personal opportunity of paying his respects to Mrs. and Miss Munro, is not a little aggravated by the cause of it; but, though denied the pleasure of an immediate interview with them, he trusts he shall not be denied the pleasure of immediately employing himself in their service."

To this address Mrs. Munro, after a little hesitation, returned the following answer:

"MRS. and Miss Munro unite in requesting Capt. Delacour to accept their thanks for his politeness, which, however, they must positively decline putting to any further test."

"Well, if any circumstance occurs to prove him the wretch he is now suspected of being, never," said Elizabeth, with solemn earnestness, as she beheld him with an air of disappointment quitting the house, never, never," her fancy still dwelling on the noble expression of his countenance, the candour, sweetness, and sensibility of which it was indicative, “will I again place faith in appearances."

66

Her mother acknowledged, that, to have judged of him from his looks, she should have considered him one of the most amiable of human beings; but, notwithstanding their testimony in his favour, avowed her belief of his being one of the most worthless.

The conversation relative to him was

interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Mr. Eaton, who seldom called of a morning. The occurrence of the preceding night Mrs. Munro conceived she could not keep from his knowledge; but with regard to the anonymous letter she resolved to be silent, lest the disclosure of it should be the means of involving him in danger. He hearkened to the particulars she communicated with an agitated air, and a varying countenance; and scarcely suffered her to conclude, ere he made an effort to depart, for the purpose, he said, of enquiring into the affair. This intention Mrs. Munro strongly opposed, but without saying why; and, at length, prevailed on him to relinquish it. By degrees he became tranquillized; and, as he recovered his tranquillity, grew extremely inquisitive about the young man (so Mrs. Munro styled Captain Delacour) who had been so instrumental to her preservation. His enquiries, however, relative to him remained unanswered; and, but whether owing to this circumstance,

or to any other secret cause of uneasiness, he suddenly became gloomy and abstracted, and abruptly departed; not, however, without first signifying his intention of returning in the evening, and expressing a hope of then having the letter, he was now in daily expectation of receiving from his friend in London, to produce.

The mention of this letter, or rather the idea of the event she expected it to lead to, sickened the heart of Elizabeth. Pale, melancholy, desponding, she continued leaning against a window after the departure of Mr. Eaton, lost to external objects,. till the trampling of horses roused her from her reverie; when, raising her eyes,. she beheld Captain Delacour riding across. the heath, attended by a groom. It in-. stantly occurred to her that he was quitting the neighbourhood, an idea which occasioned her a pang, that excited selfreproaches sufficiently severe to draw a flood of tears from her. To conceal these from observation, aware that if noticed they would lead to enquiries she could not