if I remained single, than if I gave my hand where I have no power to bestow my heart." "I am amazed," replied Lady Horatia, "that with such very good sense as you possess, you would accuston yourself to cherish these childish and girlish notions: what is this love, without feeling all the violence of which, you suppose it impossible to be happy?" "Dear Madam," cried Celestina, interrupting her, "have I not heard you say, that you once was sensible of it yourself; and that having been compelled to quit the man of your choice, you considered such a necessity as a heavy affliction, and that it rendered most of the occurrences of your subsequent life indifferent to you?" Yes, you have heard me say so—I merely acknowledged a folly, a weakness, which I pretended not to defend in myself, and certainly not to encourage in you.—What has been the life of this man, whom I called, in the romantic simplicity of sixteen, my first love? When my father parted us, and I was compelled by his authority to give my hand to General Howard, he was a younger brother, with very little fortune. In a twelve-month afterwards, the death of his elder brother and an uncle gave him a very large fortune; and he quitted the navy, where he had, for so young a man, highly distinguished himself, and with his profession he seemed to resign his virtues. He married a woman towards whom he professed himself indifferent; and whose only recommendation was a fortune nearly as large as his own. To her he behaved with neglect, which she repaid with scorn and infidelity. They seemed to agree in nothing but mutual extravagance; till at length they parted, and he now lives in France the greatest part of the year; at other times wanders about the world, to gratify his taste for variety, and fly from those corrosive reflections which must pursue him who has ruined his health and his fortune by debauchery. Can I, when I consider all this, help despising myself for the pain I felt at being separated from such a man; and ought I not rather to rejoice at what once appeared an insupportable misfortune? "Ah, Madam," said Celestina, "it is well if by these reflections you have been enabled to conquer those remains of useless regret which might otherwise have embittered your life: but give me leave to ask, since there is now no danger of renewing them, give me leave to ask, whether you sincerely believe that this gentleman,