"I think fuch principles demand ten thousand pardons. What! give up liberty, property, "and, as the Gazetteer fays, ly down to be fad"dled with wooden fhoes! Sir, I infift upon your 66 marching out of this house immediately, to pre"vent worse confequences; Sir, I infift upon it." I was going to repeat my remonftrances; but juft then we heard a footman's rap at the door, and the two ladies cried out," As fure as death, "there is our master and miftrefs come home." It seems my entertainer was all this while only the butler, who, in his master's absence, had a mind to cut a figure, and be for a while the gentleman himself; and, to say the truth, he talked politicks as well as most country gentlemen do. But nothing could now exceed my confusion, upon seeing the gentleman, with his lady, enter; nor was their surprise at finding fuch company and good cheer less than ours. "Gentlemen," cried the real master of the house to me and my companion, "I am your most humble servant; but I protest "this is fo unexpected a favour, that I almoft fink "under the obligation." However unexpected our company might be to him, his, I am sure, was still more so to us; and I was ftruck dumb with the apprehenfions of my own abfurdity, when, whom should I next fee enter the room, but my dear Mifs Arabella Wilmot, who was formerly defigned to be married to my son George; but whose match was broken off, as already related.As foon as the saw me, she flew to my arms with the utmoft joy. "My dear Sir," cried fhe, "to

"what

"what happy accident is it that we owe so un "expected a vifit? I am fure my uncle and aunt "will be in raptures, when they find they have "the good Dr. Primrose for their gueft." Upon hearing my name, the old gentleman and lady very politely stepped up, and welcomed me with moft cordial hofpitality. Nor could they forbear fmiling, upon being informed of the nature of my prefent vifit,: but the unfortunate butler, whom they at first seemed disposed to turn away, was, at my interceffion, forgiven.

Mr. Arnold and his lady, to whom the house belonged now, infifted upon having the pleasure of my stay for some days; and as their niece, my charming pupil, whose mind, in fome measure, had been formed under my own inftructions, joined in their intreaties, I complied. That night I was fhown to a magnificent chamber; and the next morning early, Mifs Wilmot defired to walk with me in the garden, which was decorated in the modern manner. After fome time spent in pointing out the beauties of the place, fhe inquired, with feeming unconcern, when laft I had heard from my fon George. "Alas! Madam," cried I, "he has now been near three years absent, "without ever writing to his friends or me. "Where he is, I know not; perhaps I fhall never "fee him or happiness more. No, my dear "Madam, we shall never more see such pleafing "hours as were once spent by our fire-fide at "Wakefield. My little family are now difperf"ing very faft; and poverty has brought not

"only

.

only want, but infamy upon us." The goodnatured girl let fall a tear at this account; but as I faw her poffeffed of too much fenfibility, I forbore a more minute detail of our füfferings. It was, however, fome confolation to me to find, that time had made no alteration in her affections; and that he had rejected feveral matches. that had been made her fince our leaving her part of the country. She led me round all the extenfive improvements of the place, pointing to the feveral walks and arbours, and at the fame time catching from every object a hint for fome new question relative to my fon. In this manner we spent the forenoon, till the bell fummoned us in to dinner, where we found the manager of the ftrolling company, who was come to difpofe of tickets for the Fair Penitent, which was to be acted that evening; the part of Horatio by a young gentleman who had never appeared on any stage before. He feemed to be very warm in the praises of the new performer, and averred, that he never faw any who bid fo fair for excellence. Acting, he obferved, was not learned in a day: "But this gentleman," continued he, "feems born to tread the ftage. His voice, ❝his figure, his attitudes, are all admirable. We

caught him up accidentally, in our journey "down." This account, in fome measure, excited our curiofity; and, at the entreaty of the ladies, I was prevailed upon to accompany them to the play-house, which was no other than a barn.

a barn. As the company, with which I went, was inconteftibly the chief of the place, we were received with the greatest respect, and placed in the front feat of the theatre; where we fat for fome time, with no small impatience, to fee Horatio make his appearance. The new performer advanced at last, and I found it was my unfortunate fon. He was going to begin, when, turning his eyes upon the audience, he perceived us, and ftood at once speechlefs and immoveable.. The actors, behind the scene, who afcribed this pause to his natural timidity, attempted to encou-rage him; but, inftead of going on, he burst into a flood of tears, and retired off the ftage. I don't know what were the fenfations I felt; for they fucceeded with too much rapidity for descrip- tion; but I was foon awaked from this disagree-able reverie by Mifs Wilmot, who, pale, and with a trembling voice, defired me to conduct her back to her uncle's. When got home, Mr. Arnold, who was as yet a stranger to our extraordinary behaviour, being informed, that the new performer was my fon, fent his coach, and an invitation for him; and as he perfifted in his refufal to appear again upon the ftage, the players put another in his place, and we foon had him with us. Mr. Arnold gave him the kindest reception, and I received him with my usual transport; for I could never counterfeit false resentrent. Mifs Wilmot's reception was mixed with feeming neglect, and yet I could perceive the act

ed

ed a ftudied part. The tumult in her mind feemed not yet abated; fhe faid twenty giddy things that looked like joy, and then laughed loud at her own want of meaning. At intervals, fhe would take a fly peep at the glafs, as if happy in the consciousness of unrefifting beauty, and often would ask questions, without giving any manner of attention to the answers.

END OF VOLUME FIRST.