. Howard having on his visit to his brother and sister disclosed our situation, and acquainted them with our real name

and splendid connection under the tie of secrecy, and likewise with the amount of our fortune, Mrs. Hindon seized the earliest opportunity of making a confidant of her friend Lady Farnford.
The two ladies were seated in Mrs. Hindon's dressing-room, which is merely divided by a thin partition from the apartment we at present occupy, and which was then inhabited by Miss Parsons. She happened to be quietly placed at her book, when her studies were interrupted by the conversation of the next room, and her attention so unavoidably attracted by the eager vociferation of this confidential tete a tete, that contrary either to her inclination or design, she found herself in possession of all their secrets.
The two friends, after pondering, wondering, and gossiping, began to reflect that with ten thousand in possession, and at least double that sum in expectation,

with the advantages of a splendid family connection, Fanny and I presented no inconsiderable gratification to the avarice or vanity of any needy pretenders.
From these particulars they soon began to form wishes that prizes so considerable could be secured to their own families, by means of whatever males of their house should be matrimonially disposed: and Captain Wilmot, the nephew of the one, and Farnford, the son of the other, instantly occurred to the active and fertile imaginations of these busy intermedling old women. Those two gentlemen, in whom the ladies felt a mutual interest, were at once indigent and extravagant, good looking and showy, circumstances which rendered the success of their schemes both essential and probable. They resolved however carefully to conceal their plan till ripe for execution; doubting not but occasional meetings and frequent intercourse would gradually facilitate

its progress and insure it a fortunate conclusion. It was in consequence of this that you two ladies were entreated with a display so oftentatious of hospitable civility to take up your abode in Mrs. Hindon's family.
Fanny and I both warmly thanked Miss Parsons for this information, dictated by the keenness of her feelings and by that gratitude which a little kindness and a few trivial attentions had excited: attentions that no delicate mind could have withheld testifying even for a person less amiable, in a situation so humiliating as hers.
Good heavens! cried I, and was I too the object of a project? We have undoubtedly made a sufficient return to Mrs. Hindon for all her civilities in furnishing such amusing and interesting subjects for her active spirit to work on. I think, however, as our fortune was the
