 before you left town, tho' I perceived he had not chosen as yet to make his good intentions known to you; and on my part, as I doubted not but my application would turn to good account, I had determined to be silent on the subject till I could surprize you agreeably with the certainty of your good fortune. The morning after Mr. Roatsley again did me the honour of calling; but we were then all engaged at church on the grand affair. Having been so unsuccessful, he addressed himself to me by letter the very evening after, and a very pretty letter it is, I give you my word, informing me in the genteelest terms that his endeavours in behalf of my friend had

been so happily crowned with success, that thro' the interest of a certain nobleman in power, who was the intimate friend of Lord Belmont, a pension of two hundred per annum had been procured for Miss Seymour, while she remained unmarried.
But as I have reason to imagine, (says he, for I give you the very words of his letter,) that your amiable young friend labours under present difficulties, will you Madam venture to assist me in a pious fraud which will engage my warmest gratitude and respect: your friendship and intimacy in all probability must afford you a pretext for offering Miss Seymour that assistance which it may be improper to appear as coming from me. In answer to this, I immediately wrote Mr. Roatsley that I agreed most willingly to his generous scheme, and the day following received a bill for two hundred pounds, enclosed in a letter as expressive

of gratitude and acknowledgments as if I had conferred on him the greatest of all favors.
As a boon from so near a relation, probably intended as a discharge in full of all demands upon himself and his relations, I cannot suppose that even your delicacy, (over refined as I have some times thought it,) will object to the present; neither can I prevail with myself to take the merit of a gift, the magnificence of which, when considered as mine, must undoubtedly have awakened your suspicion. Mr. Roatsley made yet another attempt to visit me soon after this transaction, but I was confined to my bed, and had it not in my power to see him.
Adieu, dear Miss Seymour! Pray accept Mr. Hindon's best wishes and mine, and present the same to my brother and his fair bride; and believe me
your sincere friend and servant, MARTHA HINDON.

Oh! Sophia! what were my emotions on reading this letter! No words can speak
