awakened, except convinced beyond a doubt they were well founded.

The messenger dispatched the next morning by Mrs. Munro to the village where Mr. Eaton lodged, returned with information of his having set out for London the preceding evening, in consequence of an express acquainting him of the death of a near relation, to whose property he was heir, and to take possession of which his presence there was immediately requisite.

This story, though plausible, gained no credit with Munro; he was convinced it was a fabrication, and, consequently, that an atrocious scheme had been carrying on against his daughter. Yes, he had no longer the smallest doubt upon his mind that a villain, availing himself of his absence, had laid a regular plan to betray her this idea made him almost bless the hand that had reduced him to the necessity of returning home at this crisis, since instrumental, in all probability, to saving him from a wound nothing could have healed. For though of the purity of the

66

angels that circle the throne of God rejoicing," he had not a more exalted opinion than he had of that of his wife and daughter, he well knew they were too ignorant of the arts of the flagitious, to be any match for those of a hardened libertine. He could no longer think of concealing from his wife the opinion he had formed of Mr. Eaton; she heard it with astonishment, and, notwithstanding the deference she paid to his judgment, with something like incredulity: had Eaton been a young man, she might, nay probably would, have subscribed without hesitation to the justness of it; but his age wás such an assurance to her of his feelings being divested of that impetuosity, which, in the early season of life, but too frequently occasions a lapse from virtue, that she could not immediately bring herself to believe him guilty.

"Trust me, my love," said Munro, in reply to her observations on the subject, "unbridled passions are not confined entirely to the bosom of youth-if in the

morning of life we allow them to triumph, in the evening they will domineer-Etna is not the only object in the creation that has snow upon its head, and a devastating fire within its veins: but, even though I should be convinced my conjectures respecting Mr. Eaton were erroneous, still, I confess, I should give our Elizabeth with reluctance to him, persuaded as I am, that without parity of age there cannot be that unity of sentiment so essential to the happiness of the married state, at least the happiness of a heart of sensibility like her's; besides, I am certain she already repents her engagement, and equally so, that she would never have thought of forming such a one but on our account."

This assertion occasioned reflections in the mind of Mrs. Munro which gradually revived a train of circumstances in her recollection, that tended to convince her it was a just one, and consequently made her rejoice at the marriage of her daughter with Mr. Eaton being prevented.

From the wretchedness which the fond

parents were now equally certain the idea of this marriage caused her, they delayed not relieving their Elizabeth. To paint

her transports at the moment, her joy, her gratitude, at being released from her promise to Mr. Eaton, at finding that the sacrifice of her happiness to theirs was what they neither expected, nor would consciously permit, would be impossible. An insupportable weight was immediately removed from her heart, by the removal of the chains which she had imposed upon herself; the melancholy which had began to pervade her mind, and make her view every object through a gloomy medium, instantly vanished; again all around wore a smiling aspect, for again

66 Hope, with eyes so fair,

Whisper'd promised pleasure,

And bade the lovely scenes at distance hail"

CHAP. V.

"What then remains, but, after past annoy,
To take the good vicissitude of joy,

To thank the gracious gods for what they give,
Possess our souls, and, while we live, to live?"

DRYDEN.

THE whispers of Hope were, however, sometimes interrupted by the suggestions of fear when Elizabeth reflected on the apparently abrupt manner in which Captain Delacour had quitted Heathwood, she was not without apprehensions of its being owing to pique, and, consequently, that he would make no effort for the renewal of their acquaintance.

Among those who came to inquire into the particulars of the affair which occasioned Munro's unexpected return home,