did say it :-not at that very moment, but in five minutes afterwards, when Sir Charles, with an interest in her happiness that flattered, and a precision, which left her no doubt of the accuracy of his information, conveyed to her understanding in ambiguous, but not doubtful phrases, at once the attachment of Mr. Willoughby to Lady Charlotte, and the high play in which he was engaged with her brother.

At this moment Isabella forgot every thing but the balm which Sir Charles's sympathy afforded to her lacerated heart. Eager to be mistress of every circumstance of her misfortune, and hoping for assistance and support from Sir Charles's friendship, and his knowledge of the world, she was listening to him with an attention, and an interest, which to those who did not know the subject of their dis

course, and it was carried on in the lowest tone possible, would admit of but one interpretation, when the words, "Sin not!" fell upon her ear, in a voice solemn and impressive. Both she and her companion started: "Who's that?" said Sir Charles, looking angrily around.

"A friend!" cried Isabella, as she turned her quick eye in succession on every countenance within her view; but not a single feature of any betrayed any interest in her, her virtues, or her vices, all were grave or gay, for themselves alone.

"It is strange!" said Isabella.

"It is intolerable!" said Sir Charles, "that cursed screen has sheltered the impertinent! but such liberties are not to be endured."

"The Oracle, however, has spoken plainly," said Isabella," and I will

obey its dictates." And as she spoke she arose, and turned from Sir Charles. My dear Mrs. Willoughby, is it possible?" said he, "I could not have believed that your admirably constituted mind could have been so affected! don't you see the trick?”

"Where can be the trick in so plain an admonition,” replied Isabella; "an admonition that I must feel humbled to find it supposed, however unfoundedly, that I wanted."

"You! My dear Mrs. Willoughby, you!" cried Sir Charles, "do you

believe that those insolent words were directed to you? of every creature in the room you perhaps are the only individual to whom they cannot apply."

"Yet I shall not be afraid to take them to myself," said Isabella, calmly, "such advice is as the common blessings of nature; the property of all; the beneficence of heaven, in which

all may share, without encroaching on the rights of others. Good night." "Leave me not, I beseech you," said Sir Charles. "I guess the quarter from whence the insolence has proceeded; and nothing can be further from the wish of the impertinent warner, than that you should take the warning; nay do not go : let not the artful malice of a devil prevail over the spirit of an angel."

"I must be gone," said Isabella. "I go to meditate on what I have heard; on all that I have heard, through this extraordinary day. – Farewell."

Nor did Sir Charles farther endeavour to detain her- he felt that the moment was unpropitious to his sophistry; and though he doubted not but that a fresh wound to her vanity, and a recurring mortification to her affections, would, at no very distant

period, enable him enable him to re-asume, and to confirm his powers over her mind, yet he was himself startled at what had happened, and alarmed by such a proof that his designs were penetrated by some friend of Isabella's, who had taken this method of at once shewing him that he was understood, and of putting her upon her guard. He had indeed endeavoured to insinuate to Isabella, that the whole was nothing more than a piece of jealous mischief on the part of Lord Thomas Orville, yet he had no suspicion that he had any thing to do with the words that had been spoken, but wholly imputed them to some unknown guardianship which was extended over Isabella.