with a few airs on the harpsichord, and finding him in a more than ordinary good humour, the ventured to enter on the fubject, enumerating all the good qualifications of her lover, and knowing at that time her father's embarraffed fituation, and the weight moft old men lay on wealth, in love affairs, did not fail to mention the large fortune her lover was poffeffed of, and finally concluded, by faying, "that as Julius had gained the confent of his rela

tions, the hoped her father would throw no obfta"cles in the way." The good old man liftened with much attention to his daughter, and, feizing her in his arms, exclaimed, My dear child, I have 'heard with rapture the obfervations you have just 'made; and although I have used great art in con•cealing my knowledge of your mutual paffion, be' lieve me, I was by no means a stranger to it. His 'fortune, on which you feem to lay such a stress, pleases me no further than as it will be the means ' of promoting your happiness and independence; and as his friends are agreeable to the match, you ' have my full confent and approbation. I have always efteemed his manners, and admired his vir'tues, and shall think myfelf much honoured by the 'connexion.' It is unneceffary to add, that this declaration was highly pleafing to Maria, and that he immediately communicated the fame to Julius.

Every thing was now fettled according to their most fanguine wishes, and the day appointed to confummate their nuptials, when an affair happened which retarded them for fome confiderable time, and had nearly proved fatal to both parties. A few weeks previous to the period of which we are now speaking, fome very ferious difturbances had arifen between the natives of Bengal and the garrifon of Calcutta; and feveral of the moft refpectable inhabitants, amongst whom was Julius, (who had got much into the good graces of the governor) were fent as a deputation to the natives, to endeavour, if poffible, to fettle matters in an amicable manner. Such an honour done to fo young a perfon as Julius, we may be fure, flattered his vanity not a little, and the only objection he could make, was, that it would procraftinate his nuptials with Maria longer than they had intended; however, with Maria's confent, and at the repeated folicitations of the governor, he fet out, expecting to return at fartheft in five or fix weeks. Berinthius, once more, in the abfence of his rival, redoubled his affiduities; but Maria continued deaf to all his proposals, and he had refolved to abandon his purfuit for ever, when an accident happened which refreshed his hopes, and induced him to redouble his proteftations. In the beginning of this hiftory I informed the reader, that Monfieur

de

de St. Pierre, though esteemed and refpected, as he had never defcended to thofe arts which difgrace too many Europeans in the Eaftern world, had never been able to realize a fortune. He had, for fome time paft, fuffered many confiderable loffes; and having at this time received accounts of the failure of a British merchant, a gentleman in whom he had always repofed an implicit confidence, and who, at that time, owed him very confiderable fums; he was unable any longer to conceal his fituation from the world. To add to his misfortune, he had some time before borrowed feveral large fums of Berinthius, who, hearing of these domestic misfortunes, again renewed his addreffes, in hopes that the fear of poverty might induce them to confent to a match which they detefted; but, finding them refolute in their refufal, and fenfible that de St. Pierre was then unable to fatisfy his demands, he required immediate payment of the different fums he had advanced him, and added, that imprisonment would certainly be the confequence of non-compliance. Monfieur de St. Pierre faid every thing he could to convince him of the impropriety of fuch a demand, and of his inability to comply with it; but all to no purpofe; and Berinthius left him in a rage, determined next morning to put his threats in execution. It is eafier to imagine than defcribe the fituation of poor

Maria at this moment, but her father feemed to give himself very little uneafinefs on the occafion, endeavouring, as much as poffible, to conceal his own feelings to alleviate his daughter.

Next morning arrived, and Monf. de St. Pierre arofe at his ufual hour, expecting every foot he heard to be the fatal meffenger. He walked through the room for fome time very much agitated; and, at laft, calling a servant, desired Maria might speak with him. The fervant foon returned with an answer, that his daughter was not to be found, and that she had not been feen that morning.

The old man, at this intelligence, concluding that fome misfortune muft have befallen her, rushed into the streets, frantic with defpair, queftioning every one he met refpecting his daughter, but no daughter could be heard of. At last, paffing accidentally the house where Berinthius lived, he overheard a female voice calling for affistance; and fatisfied that it must be his daughter, he immediately, drawing his fword, rushed into the house, and flying to the room from whence the noife proceeded, was met by four natives, fervants to Berinthius, who oppofed his entrance; but de St. Pierre, become defperate, rushed upon them, and at last forced his way; but not before he had mortally wounded two of them, and difarmed the others. The lady was in

fact

fact Maria, and Berinthius, the moment he obferved de St. Pierre, quitted her to defend himself. Monf. de St. Pierre attacked his adversary with all the fury injured honour could infpire;-but Berinthius, who was young, healthy, and vigorous, would have foon got the better of de St. Pierre, had not Maria, while as yet the fatal fword was fufpended to plunge into her father, rushed between them, and for a moment kept his fate fufpended; and de St. Pierre, who now in his turn trembled for his daughter; by the most fortunate thrust in the world, not only faved Maria's life, but rendered his opponent unable to make any further refiftance.

The room was now filled with people from all quarters, drawn thither by the clafhing of fwords, and the shrieks of Maria, who seeing the danger to which her father was exposed, ran through the house calling for affiftance, and tearing her hair in all the agony of defpair.

The wounds which Berinthius had received, in this rencontre, were much more ferious than was at first apprehended; and, as fears were entertained for his recovery, de St. Pierre, by command of the governor, was taken into cuftody, to answer for his fafety. Maria was now more inconfolable than ever, on feeing her father unjustly dragged to prifon, and that too on her account: however, the deter