 thought.—My mother's dying form seemed to appear before me, and her last words to vibrate on my ear.

I could resist no longer—And when my father came to reproach me with the letter, which Mr. Harley had so ungenerously shewn him, I pacified his wrath by telling him, with a composure that amazed myself, that I was ready to obey his will, and sacrifice my peace, my happiness, and all my soul held dear, to his commands, and go a silent victim to the altar with Mr. Harley.—At that instant my father gazed on me with an astonished look, and said, My Julia is incapable of deceit, she therefore purposes what she now promises, and means to make her father happy at last.
O, do not doubt it, Sir, I answered, if giving up much more than life can answer that great end, behold your daughter ready to make the sacrifice.—My father turned away his head to hide

the starting tear, then took me in his arms and blessed me.
I was a perfect Niobe; yet at that moment felt a transient transport that absorbed my griefs.—Blest source of happiness, the consciousness of having done my duty; why wert thou not for ever present with me? Why has this feeble frame been ever torn between thy dictates and contending passions!
My father was so much pleased with me, that he became all kindness on the sudden. Sally Watson was allowed to attend me; I was no longer watched by Mrs. Winterman; and he was indulgent enough to postpone my marriage for a fortnight without my requesting it, in hopes that I should, in that time, recover my chearfulness—Alas! it was for ever fled from me—and though I

wore the semblance of composure all the day, my nights were passed in agonies.
My poor Watson was amazed at my conduct, and was afraid to mention the loved name of Evelyn.—But as she found me frequently in tears, she began to doubt the reality of my seeming calmness, and ventured to acquaint me with the numberless stratagems my Henry had vainly tried to accomplish his hopes of seeing me.—I was terrified at the account she gave me of the dangers to which he had exposed himself for me, and told her, that were it in my power to see him, I would decline the interview, as my fate was now irrevocably fixed, and nothing upon earth could alter it.
She then implored my forgiveness, for having promised to deliver a letter from Mr. Evelyn, which she presented to me.

—I had not virtue to
