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friendship to your own honeft Jenkinfon, who brings you a wife, and if the company reftrains their curiofity a few minutes, they fhall fee her.'So faying, he went off with his usual celerity, and left us all unable to form any probable conjecture as to his defign. Aye, let him go,'cried the fquire; whatever elfe I may have done, I defy him there. I am too old now to be frightened with fquibs.'

I am furprized,' faid the baronet, what the fellow can intend by this. Some low piece of humour, I fuppofe !'-Perhaps, Sir,' replied I, 'he may have a more ferious meaning. For when we reflect on the various fchemes this gentleman has laid to feduce innocence, perhaps fome one more artful than the reft has been found able to deceive him. When we confider what numbers he has ruined, how many parents now feel with anguish the infamy and the contamina* tion which he has brought into their families, it would not furprize me if fome of them-Amazement! Do I fee my loft daughter! Do I hold her! It is, it is my life, my happiness. I thought thee loft, my Olivia, yet ftill I hold thee, and ftill thou shalt live to blefs me.' The warmest transports of the fondeft lover were not greater than mine, when I faw him introduce my child, and held my daughter in my arms, whofe filence only fpoke her raptures. And art thou returned to me,

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my darling, 'cried I, 'to be my comfort in age!' That fhe is,' cried Jenkinfon, and make much of her, for fhe is your own honourable child, and as honeft a woman as any in the whole room, let the other be who fhe will.-And as for you, fquire, as fure as you ftand there, this young lady is your lawful wedded wife. And to convince you that I speak nothing but truth, here is the licence by which you were married together.' So faying, he put the licence into the baronet's hands, who read it, and found it perfect in every refpe&t. And now, gentlemen,' continued he, I find you are furprized at all this; but a few words will explain the difficulty. That there fquire of renown, for whom I have a great friendship, but that's between ourfelves, has often employed me in doing odd little things

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' for him. Among the reft, he commiffioned me to procure him a false licence and a falfe prieft, in order to deceive this young lady. But as I was very much his friend, what did I do but went and got a true licence and a true prieft, and married them. both as fast as the cloth could make

' them. Perhaps you'll think it was generofity that made me do all this. But no. To my fhame I confess it, my only defign was to keep the licence and let the fquire know that I could ' prove it upon him whenever I thought proper, and fo make him come down whenever I wanted money.' A burst of pleasure now feemed to fill the whole apartment; our joy reached even to the common room, where the prisoners themselves fympathized,

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And fhook their chains

In tranfport and rude harmony.

Happiness was expanded upon every face, and even Olivia's cheek feemed flushed with pleasure. To be thus reftored to reputation, to friends and fortune at once, was a rapture fufficient to stop the progrefs of decay, and reftore former health and vivacity. But perhaps among all there was not one who felt fincerer pleasure than I. Still holding the dear-loved child in my arms, I asked my heart if these transports were not delufive. 'How could you,' cried I, turning to Mr. Jenkinson, how could you add to my miferies by the story of her death? But it matters not; my pleasure at finding her again, is more than a recompence for the pain."

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As to your question,' replied Jenkinfon, that is eafily anfwered. I thought the only probable means of 'freeing you from prifon, was by fubmitting to the fquire, and confenting to his marriage with the other young ‹ lady. But thefe you had vowed never to grant while your daughter was living there was therefore no other method to bring things to bear, but by perfuading you that she was dead. I prevailed on your wife to join in the deceit, and we have not had a fit opportunity of undeceiving you till

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affurance had entirely forfaken him : he now faw the gulph of infamy and *want before him, and trembled to take the plunge. He therefore fell on his knees before his uncle, and in a voice of piercing mifery implored compaflion. Sir William was going to fpurn him away, but at my request he raised him, and after paufing a few moments, Thy vices, crimes, and ingratitude,' cried he, deferve no tenderness; yet ⚫ thou shalt not be entirely forfaken, a bare competence shall be supplied, to fupport the wants of life, but not it's follies. This young lady, thy wife, shall be put in poffeffion of a third part of that fortune which once was thine, and from her tenderness alone thou art to expect any extra• ordinary fupplies for the future.' He was going to exprefs his gratitude for fuch kindnefs in a fet fpeech; but the baronet prevented him, by bidding him not aggravate his meannefs, which was already but too apparent. He ordered him at the fame time to be gone, and from all his former domefticks to chufe one fuch as he should think proper, which was all that should be granted to attend him.

As foon as he left us,, Sir William very politely stept up to his new niece with fmile, and wifhed her joy. His example was followed by Mifs Wilmot and her father; my wife too kiffed her daughter with much affection, as, to ufe her own expreffion, she was now inade an honeft woman of. Sophia and Mofes followed in turn, and even our benefactor Jenkinfon defired to be admitted to that honour. Our fatisfaction feemed fcarce capable of increafe. Sir William, whofe greatest pleature was in doing good, now looked round with a countenance open as the fun, and saw nothing but joy in the locks of all except that of my daughter Sophia, who, for fome reafons we could not comprehend, did not feem perfectly fatisfied. I think now,' cried he with a fmile, that all the company, except one or two, feem perfectly happy. There only remains an act of justice for me to do. You <are fenfible, Sir,' continued he, turning to me, of the obligations we both owe Mr. Jenkinson. And it is but just we fhould both reward him for it. Mifs Sophia will, I am fure, • make him very happy, and he shall

have from me five hundred pounds as her fortune, and upon this I am fure they can live very comfortably together. Come, Mifs Sophia, what fay you to this match of my making! Will you have him? My poor gir feemed almoft finking into her mother's arms at the hideous propofal. No,

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Have

him, Sir!' cried the faintly. 'Sir, never.'-'What,' cried he again, not Mr. Jenkinson, your benefactor, a handfome young fellow, with five hundred pounds and good expectations! I beg, Sir," returned the, fcarce able to speak, that you'll defift, and not make me fo very wretch 'ed.'-' Was ever fuch obftinacy 'known,' cried he again, ⚫ to refufe a man whom the family has fuch infinite obligations to, who has preferved your fifter, and who has five hundred pounds! What, not have him! No, Sir, never,' replied fhe angrily, I'd fooner die firft.'If that be the cafe then,' cried he, if you will not have him-I think I • must have you myself.' And so say. ing, he caught her to his breaft with ardour. My lovelieft, my most fenfible of girls,' cried he, how could you ever think you own Burchell could deceive you, or that Sir • William Thornhill could ever ceate to admire a miftrefs that loved him for himself alone? I have for fome years fought for a woman, who, a tranger to my fortune, could think that I had merit as a man. After having tried in vain, even among the peit and the ugly, how great at lat must be my rapture, to have 'made a conqueft over fuch fenfe and fuch heavenly beauty!' The turning to Jenkinson, • As I cannot, Sir, part with this young lady my felf, for fhe has taken a fancy to the cut of my face, all the recompence I can make is to give you her fortune, and you may call upon my steward to-morrow for five hundred pounds." Thus we had all our compliments to repeat, and Lady Thornhill underwent the fame round of ceremony that her fifter had done before. In the mea time Sir William's gentleman appeared to tell us that the equipages were ready to carry us to the inn, where every thing was prepared for our reception. My wife and I led the van, and left thofe gloomy manfions of forrow. The

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generous

generous baronet ordered forty pounds to be diftributed among the prifoners, and Mr. Wilmot, induced by his example, gave half that fum. We were received below by the fhouts of the villagers, and I faw and thook by the hand two or three of my honeft parifhioners, who were among the number. They attended us to our inn, where a fumptuous entertainment was provided, and coarfer provifions diftributed in great quantities among the populace.

After fupper, as my fpirits were exhausted by the alteration of pleasure and pain which they had fuftained during the day, I asked permiffion to withdraw, and leaving the company in the midit of their mirth, as foon as I found myfelf alone, I poured out my heart in gratitude to the Giver of joy as well as forrow, and then flept undif turbed till morning.

CHAP. XIII.

THE CONCLUSION.

HE next morning as foon as I

Tawaked, I found my eldeft fon

fitting at my bedfide, who came to increafe my joy with another turn of fortune in my favour. First having released me from the fettlement that I had made the day before in his favour, he let me know that my merchant who had failed in town was arrested at Antwerp, and there had given up effects to a much greater amount than what was due to his creditors. My boy's generofity pleafed me almoft as much as this unlooked for good fortune. But I had fome doubts whether I ought in juftice to accept his offer. While I was pondering upon this, Sir William entered the room, to whom I communicated my doubts. His opinion was, that as my fon was already poffeffed of a very affluent fortune by his marriage, I night accept his offer without any hefitation. His bufinefs, however, was to inform me, that as he had the night before fent for the licences, and expected them every hour, he hoped that I would not refufe my affiftance in making all the company happy that morning. A footman entered while we were fpeaking, to tell us that the meffenger was returned; and as I was by

this time ready, I went down, where I found the whole company as merry as affluence and innocence could make them. However, as they were now preparing for a very folemn ceremony, their laughter entirely difpleafed me. I told them of the grave, becoming, and fublime depoitment, they fhould affume upon this mystical occafion, and read them too homilies and a thefis of my own compofing, in order to prepare them. Yet they still feemed perfectly refractory and ungovernable. Even as we were going along to church, to which I led the way, all gravity had quite forfaken them, and I was often tempted to turn back in indignation In church a new dilemma arofe, which promised no eafy folution. This was, which couple fhould be married firft; my fon's bride warmly infifted, that Lady Thornhill (that was to be) thould take the lead; but this the other refused with equal ardour, protesting fhe would not be guilty of such rudenefs for the world. The argument was supported for fome time between both with equal obftinacy and goodbreeding. But as I ftood all this time with my book ready, I was at last

quite tired of the conteft, and shutting

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it, I perceive,' cried I, that none of you have a mind to be married, and I think we had as good go back again; for I suppose there will be no business done here to-day.' This at once reduced them to reafon. baronet and his lady were first married, and then my fon and his lovely part

ner.

The

I had previously that morning given orders that a coach fhould be fent for my honeft neighbour Flamborough and his family, by which means, upon our return to the inn, we had the pleasure of finding the two Mifs Flamboroughs alighted before us. Mr. Jenkinfon gave his hand to the eldeft, and my fon Mofes led up the other; (and I have fince found that he has taken a real liking to the girl, and my confent and bounty he hall have whenever he thinks proper to demand them.) We were no fooner returned to the inn, but numbers of my parishioners, hearing of my fuccefs, came to congratulate me, but among the reft were those who rofe to refcue me, and whom I formerly rebuked with fuch fharpnefs. I told the story to Sir William, my fon

in-law,

in-law, who went out and reproved them with great feverity; but finding them quite disheartened by this harth reproof, he gave them half a guinea apiece to drink his health and raise their dejected fpirits.

Soon after this we were called to a very genteel entertainment, which was dreft by Mr. Thornhill's cook. And it may not be improper to obferve with refpect to that gentleman, that he now refides in quality of companion at a relation's houfe, being very well liked and feldom fitting at the fide-table except when there is no room at the other; for they make no ftranger of him. His time is pretty much taken up in keeping his relation, who is a little melancholy, in fpirits, and in learning to blow the French horn. My eldest daughter, however, ftill remembers him with regret; and fhe has even told me, though I make a great fecret of it, that when he reforms the may be brought to relent. But to return, for I am not apt to digrefs thus; when we were to fit down to dinner, our ceremonies were going to be renewed. The queftion was, whether my eldest daughter, as being a matron, fhould not fit above the two young brides; but the debate was cut fhort by my fon George, who proposed that the company fhould fit indifcriminately, every gentleman by his lady. This was re

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ceived with great approbation by all, excepting my wife, who I could perceive was not perfectly fatisfied, as the expected to have had the pleasure of fitting at the head of the table and carving all the meat for all the company. But notwithstanding this, it is impoffible to defcribe our good-humour. I can't fay whether we had more wit amongst us now than ufual; but I am certain we had more laughing, which answered the end as well. One jeft I particularly remember; old Mr. Wilmot drinking to Mofes, whose head was turned another way, my fon replied, Madam, I thank you. Upon which, the old gentleman winking upon the rest of the company, obferved that he was thinking of his mistress. At which jeft I thought the two Mifs Flamboroughs would have died with laughing. As foon as dinner was over, according to my old cuftom, I requested that the table might be taken away, to have the pleasure of feeing all my family affembled once more by a chearful fire-fide. My two little ones fat upon each knee, the reft of the company by their partners. I had nothing now on this fide of the grave to wish for, all my cares were over, my pleafure was unfpeakable. It now only remained, that my gratitude in good fortune should exceed my former submiffion in adverfity.

FINI S.

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