Part 22 (1/2)

Mary hesitated, and my curiosity was rouzed--'What was the lady's name?'

'Miss Lydia Wilmot'

'Wilmot? Wilmot? Surely, not Miss Wilmot, the niece of the bishop of ----?'

'No, no,' said Mary, ''a's not his niece, 'a has better blood in her veins; thof s God help us! who is without 'em? A bishop? Lord ha' mercy on us! No Christian soul could have believed there was so much wickedness in the world!'

My ierly demanded--'Did she ever live with the bishop?'

Poor Mary knew not what to answer; I perceived her confusion 'Go, Mary,' said I, 'and tell Miss Wilmot that Mr Trevor presents his colad to speak to her the moment she is at leisure'

After a little hesitation Mary went, continued up stairs some time, and at last returned with--'Miss Willad to see me'

I hurried to her apartment My conjectures were too well founded to be false: it was the same Miss Wilmot to whouide of my studies and the friend of my youth Her embarrassment was considerable, she sunk on the sopha as she curtsied, pointed to a chair, and faintly requested I would sit down

I exerted myself to assus; and by asking and answeringht her with so to interrogate her concerning the bishop, but was restrained by the fear of wounding her sensibility I inquired after her brother, but him I found she had not lately seen I forebore to be minute, but it appeared that they knew not the place of each other's abode I sat with her an hour; but, notwithstandingshe evaded the subject I wished to introduce, and turned the discourse on the common place occurrences of the day I was too respectful of her delicacy to violate it, and left her with an invitation to drink tea withafternoon, which she accepted

I saw Mary again in the interim, had some discourse with her, and, by several phrases which she once reater perplexity A person of my family had _a ruinated_ Miss Wilht done her now; that was _is _was_ for the best The baseShe was sorry, both on her ladyshi+p's account and ood end! but she feared it! Such wickedness could never prosper

This language was totally incomprehensible!--'A person of my family?

The base man? Sorry on my account?' What did she mean?

Mary was afraid she had said too ood Sir,' continued she; 'only don't you be _cunsarned_; it is no blah'

In this uncertainty she leftsome farther explanation from Miss Wilmot; of which I was not disappointed The afternoon came, Mary announced her er forbear expressingher history

At first she felt some reluctance, but, when I inforhed deeply, and said, 'I find, Sir, it is in vain to think of concealment; I will, therefore, since you desire it, relate the few events that are remarkable in my unfortunate life I fear they are more blameable than extraordinary; for, froreat city, mine are no uncomuilty than thousands God only knows for what I am reserved!'

CHAPTER IV

_The story of Miss Wilmot: Family misfortunes: A father's death: A brother's disappointence that astonishes me: Wakefield characterized: The death of Miss Wilmot's mother; and the dread of fatal consequences: Piety and coood faith and affection of a poor adherent_

'My father was an officer in the arh he served all his life, he only attained the rank of major He ice e of thirty, by whom he had five children, who, exceptreduced to the income of half-pay, they retired into their native county, where they lived with such strict oeconomy that they contrived to educate us better perhaps than the children of people of er fortune

'My brother was the eldest child, and I the youngest, so that there was an interval of fifteen years between us My father had been well educated, loved letters, and undertook to be e of fourteen At this period my brother was admitted a chorister at the cathedral of ----, at which city my parents had fixed their residence They were respected by all the inhabitants, whose wealth, birth, and pride, did not place thereat a distance; and it was a severe mortification to be unable to provide better for their son; but there was no reiven him a melancholy cast, with an aptitude to be dissatisfied; and this propensity was strongly coland and Spain calledonce ain were frustrated; and expence without benefit was incurred Early, however, in the American war, he obtained his wishes; unhappily obtained the unused to the baneful severity of camps, he and many more brave men were carried off, by the damps of the climate to which he was sent This happened when I was but nine years old; and my mother was left hat little their economy had collected, and such scanty provision as is made for officers s

'My brother, however, as truly affectionate, and active in efforts to protect us, afforded ained adrammar-school; of which, while he remained there, he was the pride and boast Immediately after our father's death, from the recommendation of his own merit and the misfortunes of the family, he was appointed a Latin usher in the same school; in which station he reerather like a father than a brother to me: he loved me tenderly, took every method to i like parental obedience Thekind, hich qualities she endeavoured to faeneral approbation and esteem

'My brother was deeply smitten with the love of letters: his poetical essays were numerous, many of them were sent up to London and readily admitted into periodical publications

'Anxious to place his faht to suppose it deserved, for h not noble, well born, he did not rest satisfied with these atteedy, and, by the advice of people who pretended to have a knowledge of such affairs, deteret it on the stage Frouth prevailed

He was then but nine and twenty, and I fourteen