that of my daughter Sophia, who for fome reafons we could not comprehend did not feem perfectly fatisfied. I think now,' cried he with a fmile, that all the company except one or two feem perfectly happy. There only remains an act of justice for me to do. You are fenfible, Sir,' continued he, turning to me, of the obligations we both owe Mr. Jenkinson. And it is but just we should both reward him for it. Mifs Sophia will I am fure make ' him very happy, and he fhall have from me five hundred pounds as her fortune, and upon this I am fure they can live very comfortably together. Come, Mifs Sophia, what fay you to this match ' of my making? Will you have him? -My poor girl feemed almoft finking into her mother's arms at the hideous propofal. Have him, Sir!' cried the faintly. No, Sir, never.'- What,' cried he again, not have Mr. Jenkinson, your benefactor, a handsome young fellow with five hundred pounds and good expectations!' I beg, Sir,' returned the, scarcely able to speak, that you'll ⚫ defift, and not make me fo very wretched.'-' Was ever fuch obftinacy known,' cried he again, 'to ⚫ refuse a man whom the family has fuch infinite obligations to, who has preferved your fifter and who has five hundred pounds! What not have him!'

No, Sir, never,' replied the angrily, I'd fooner die firft. If that be the cafe then,' cried he, if you will not have him-I think I must • have you myself.' And fo faying he caught her to his breast with ardour. My lovelieft, my most • fenfible of girls,' cried he, how could you ever think your own Burchell could deceive you, or that Sir William Thornhill could ever cease to admire a miftrefs that loved him for himself alone? I have for fome years fought for a woman, who a stranger to my fortune could think that I had merit as a After having tried in vain, even amongst the pert and the ugly, how great at last must be

man.

'my

6

6

my rapture to have made a conqueft over fuch fense and fuch heavenly beauty.' Then turning to Jenkinson, As I cannot, Sir, part with this young lady myself, for she has taken a fancy to the cut ' of my face, all the recompence I can make is to give you her fortune, and you may call upon my 'fteward to-morrow for five hundred pounds.' Thus we had all our compliments to repeat, and Lady Thornhill underwent the fame round of ceremony that her fifter had done before. In the mean time Sir William's gentleman appeared to tell us that the equipages were ready to carry us to the inn, where every thing was prepared for our reception. My wife and I led the van and left thofe gloomy manfions of forrow. The generous Baronet ordered forty pounds to be distributed among the prifoners, and Mr. Wilmot, induced by his example, gave half that fum. We were received below by the fhouts of the villagers, and I saw and fhook by the hand two or three of my honest parishioners who were among the number. They attended us to our inn where a fumptuous entertainment was provided, and coarfer provifions were distributed in great quantities among the populace.

After fupper, as my fpirits were exhaufted by the alternation of pleasure and pain, which they had fuftained during the day, I asked permiffion to withdraw, and leaving the company in the midst of their mirth, as foon as I found myself alone I poured out my heart in gratiude to the Giver of joy as well as of forrow, and then slept undisturbed till morning.

CHAP.

CHAP. XXXII.

The Conclufion.

THE next morning as foon as I awaked I found

my eldest son fitting by my bedfide, who came to increase my joy with another turn of fortune in my favour. Firft having released me from the fettlement that I had made the day before in his favour, he let me know that my merchant who had failed in town was arrested at Antwerp, and there had given up effects to a much greater amount than what was due to his creditors. My boy's generofity pleased me almost as much as this unlooked-for good fortune. But I had fome doubts whether I ought in justice to accept his offer. While I was pondering upon this, Sir William entered the room, to whom I communicated my doubts. His opinion was, that as my fon was already poffeffed of a very affluent fortune by his marriage I might accept his offer without any hefitation. His bufinefs however was to inform me that as he had the night before fent for the licences, and expected them every hour, he hoped that I would not refufe my affiftance in making all the company happy that morning. A footman entered while we were fpeaking, to tell us that the meffenger was returned,、 and as I was by this time ready I went down, where I found the whole company as merry as affluence and innocence could make them. However as they were now preparing for a very folemn ceremony, their laughter intirely difpleafed me. I told them of the grave, becoming, and fublime deportment they fhould affume upon this myftical occafion, and read them two homilies and a thefis of my own compofing

in order to prepare them. Yet they ftill feemed perfectly refractory and ungovernable. Even as we were going along to church, to which I led the way, all gravity had quite forfaken them, and I was often tempted to turn back in indignation. In church a new dilemma arose which promised no eafy folution. This was which couple fhould be married firft; my fon's bride warmly infifted that Lady Thornhill (that was to be) fhould take the lead; but this the other refufed with equal ardour, protesting fhe would not be guilty of fuch rudenefs for the world. The argument was supported for fome time between both with equal obftinacy and good breeding. But as I ftood

all this time with my book ready, I was at laft quite tired of the conteft, and fhutting it, I perceive,' cried I, that none of you have a mind to be married, and I think we had as good go back again; for I fuppofe there will be no bufinefs done here to-day.' This at once reduced them to reafon. The Baronet and his lady were first married, and then my fon and his lovely partner.

I had previously that morning given orders that a coach fhould be fent for my honeft neighbour Flamborough and his family, by which means upon our return to the inn, we had the pleasure of finding the two Mifs Flamboroughs alighted before us. Mr. Jenkinfon gave his hand to the eldeft, and my fon Mofes led up the other; (and I have fince found that he has taken a real liking to the girl, and my consent and bounty he fhall have, whenever he thinks proper to demand them.) We were no fooner returned to the inn but numbers of my parishioners, hearing of my fuccefs, came to congratulate me, but among the reft were those who rofe to rescue me, and whom I formerly rebuked with fuch fharpness. I told the ftory to Sir William, my fon-in-law, who went out and reproved them with great feverity; but finding them quite difheartened by his harth reproof, he gave them half

a guinea

a guinea a piece to drink his health and raise their dejected spirits.

Soon after this we were called to a very genteel entertainment, which was dreft by Mr.Thornhill's cook. And it may not be improper to obferve with refpect to that gentleman, that he now refides in quality of companion at a relation's houfe, being very well liked and seldom fitting at the fide-table, except when there is no room at the other; for they make no ftranger of him. His time is pretty much taken up in keeping his relation who is a little melancholy in fpirits, and in learning to blow the French-horn. My eldest daughter, however, ftill remembers him with regret; and the has even told me, though I make a great fecret of it, that when he reforms the may be brought to relent. But to return, for I am not apt to digrefs thus, when we were to fit down to dinner our ceremonies were going to be renewed. The question was whether my eldest daughter as being a matron fhould not fit above the two young brides, but the debate was cut fhort by my fon George, who proposed that the company fhould fit indifcriminately, every gentleman by his lady. This was received with great approbation by all, excepting my wife, who I could perceive was not perfectly fatisfied, as the expected to have had the pleasure of fitting at the head of the table and carving all the meat for all the company. But notwithstanding this, it is impoffible to defcribe our good humour. I can't fay whether we had more wit among us now than ufual; but I am certain we had more laughing, which answered the end as well. One jeft I particularly remember, old Mr. Wilmot drinking to Mofes, whose head was turned another way, my fon replied, • Madam, I thank you.' Upon which the old gentleman winking upon the reft of the company, observed that he was thinking of his miftrefs. At which jeft I thought the two Mifs Flamboroughs

would