 Mrs. Howard made violent resistance; but in vain; Roatsley made his point good, and had attended her as far as the bottom of the hill when they were met by Mr. Howard, who could do no less you know than request that he would walk forward and partake of a family supper at Hubert Hill. To this, after some hesitation, he consented; and the parson's family, having seen Fanny safe under her husband's protection, very opportunely chose to excuse themselves from accompanying her farther, and jumped one after another over the style which leads through the fields to the parsonage.

You cannot easily conceive, Sophia, after the train of ideas which had preceded his appearance, how singular and extraordinary it now appeared, when I recollected what pique and displeasure his silence to Mr. Howard's letter had a few days before occasioned me. I could scarce believe he was now at Hubert Hill; and when I contrasted his present flow of spirits with his dejected aspect two hours before, every thing appeared mysterious and unaccountable.
Were my dear, dear Sophia now present, said I to myself more than once during the evening, she would confess that blind partiality has not guided my pen in my representation of this amiable young man.
When our repast was concluded, Mr. Howard and Fanny, charmed to perceive their guest to all appearance fully as much pleased with their company as they were delighted with his, both joined

in entreating him to accept of a bed here. To this some slight objections in regard to inconvenience were on his part made, and easily overruled by the good lady of the mansion, who proposed dispatching Dubois to the village with orders to his servants and an apology to Mr. Bradshaw; and in short he at length complied. The wine and fruits being placed on a small table before us, all ceremony and form seemed entirely discarded; and we chatted together with a social familiarity and cheerfulness, which a long series of occasional meetings in town could never have produced. We were all in uncommon spirits; and Fanny, in the giddiness of her mirth, let several little sallies of naivete escape her which seemed extremely to please and amuse her visitor. Chance has hitherto so contrived it, that my sister has seldom or never been much the object of Mr. Roatsley's attention; but he appeared this night to regard her

in a point of view wholly new, and entered with much relish into the natural simplicity of her character.
As yet, however, nothing had been hinted relating to the proposed explanation. Had Roatsley been tete a tete
