 the difficulties and distressing embarrassments in which doubtless you must have found yourselves involved, had not the marriage of the one sister offered an agreeable home for both: but what was my surprize on finding that he listened to me with all the pity and astonishment of a man who was wholly unconcerned in the affair; and when, emboldened by the compassion he testified, I ventured to tell him what a severe disappointment Lord Belmont's cruel behaviour had proved, he declared he had never been informed of the application, nor could he believe it possible he said that an affair so melancholy and interesting should have failed

of success with his Lordship, whose heart was open to every call of distress and to every sentiment of humanity. These were Mr. Roatsley's very words. Delighted to find my auditor so much more agreeably disposed than I could have hoped for, you may believe I delayed not laying hold of this favourable moment to expatiate on the mortifying and severe reverse of situation which but a very short time ago had been all at once presented before your eyes, by the cruel rejection of his Lordship, whose favour was now become, through the imprudence of your late guardian, still more essential. I represented, in terms the most pathetic and moving, the state of distressful poverty and dependence, to which but so lately it seemed likely you must both have been reduced, had not the happy and fortunate event before mentioned in part offered a relief, and I failed not to hint, in a pretty explicit

manner, how useful and acceptable, nay how necessary some addition to your present finances must undoubtedly prove; more especially as your future expectations, were they even realized to the utmost of your hopes, would afford but a very scanty support and be scarcely capable of bestowing the mere necessaries of dress; while for those of subsistence you was constrained to depend upon the limited income of your brother in law.
Never was man more affected than Mr. Roatsley at this recital, and he expressed his sympathy in the strongest terms. We had not however either leisure or opportunity for discussing matters fully. But he faithfully promised to exert his utmost activity and avail himself of Lord Belmont's interest towards contributing to place you in a situation suitable to your birth and education. So eager was he in the cause, that he called two different times on the two succeeding

days, with the intention no doubt of making further enquiries and to consult what could be done most speedily and effectually for your service. I was unluckily from home both times, but I think you told me you had seen him the day
