 the manner it was natural for her to have done, from the circumstances of his conduct towards me, in the light it had hitherto appeared to her. But when he had disclosed the scene of villainy and deceit to which he had likewise fallen a victim, her affections softened, and she could not help looking upon him then as a third sufferer in our complicated misfortune.
He contrived artfully to draw from her the secret of my abode, but without suffering the least hint to escape him, of any purpose to seek me there. Then, taking her hand, and kneeling before her, vowed an attachment to me, during life; said he would ever pay her the

respect and duty of a son-in-law, attending till death, or some more speedy vengeance, might remove Mr. W— out of the way of his happiness; and offered her an affluent support out of his fortune, becoming the honourable connection which he had then declared between them.
My dear unhappy mother returned him the most grateful thanks for the kindness and generosity of his offer, but her spirit and delicacy made her decline the acceptance of it. She confessed herself alarmed, even at his visit, and urged him to depart instantly, without suffering himself to be known, lest this circumstance, though accidental and innocent in itself, might possibly, in the train of our misfortunes, happen to be

made an additional article of suspicion against us all. She plained the distress and difficulty of our situations—They embraced, and he retired immediately out of the town.
On his route to Devonshire Bath lay in his way, where he happened to meet with Captain R—, who had been an officer in the same corps with him, in America. There had always subsisted a particular intimacy between them; and as friendship is apt to inspire a confidence, and that his heart was full, he imparted the whole secret of our loves and disappointments to him.
He also informed him, at the same time, of his resolve to go and conceal himself somewhere near the place of my retirement,

till he might meet with a favourable opportunity, without hazard to my reputation, of seeing me even for a minute, in order to vindicate himself from the unjust opinion I must necessarily have conceived of his infidelity and baseness; declaring also, that he thought it a duty incumbent on him to watch over my destiny, and at the expence of his fortune, and the sacrifice of his life, to defend me from any injury or violence that might ever be attempted against me.
Captain R— approved his motives, and commended his purpose
