Part 24 (2/2)

_Story of Miss Wil-table friend characterized: Modern icians: Suspicious principles: The friend's absence, and return: Allegorical wit, and dangerous advice_

Various causes inducedMiss Wilmot; her story had inspired coht be in want, and to relieve her would give me pleasure

Beside which I had a nu this Wakefield; and soreat a favourite with Mary,I saw Miss Wil her with as much delicacy as possible pecuniary aid, she inforenerous, beneficent, and tender; not less prudent than kind; and, though very young, possessed of a dignity of understanding such as she had never before met in woman Miss Wilination readily caught fire, felt a redoubled wish to see this angel

I hinted it to Miss Wil lady had expressly requested her visits ht be private, and her name concealed I inquired how they had first become acquainted, and learned that it was in consequence of the friendly zeal of Mary, who had a countrywo lady, and froence of the liberal and noble qualities of herthe house of the bishop, was to a poor lodging provided by Mary Fro lady to her present asylu herself; and had since been supplied with necessaries through the same channel 'The favours she confers on me,' said Miss Wilmot, 'are not so properly characterised by delicacy, as by a her quality; an open and unaffected sensibility of soul; a benevolent intention of proned heart felt pleasure which accohtful duty

The particulars I have now related,' continued she, 'were all that remained to be told when I was interrupted by Mary, at our last ; and you are now acquainted with my whole story'

Every conversation that I had with Miss Wilmot confirreatly awakened by the misfortunes in which her mistakes had involved her; and particularly by the deep despondency of her brother He, Wakefield, and the young lady were the continual topics of her discourse; but her brother the most and oftenest I was several times a witness that the papers were daily perused by her, with all those quick emotions of dread which she had so e resolution was almost too much for her, and it ith difficulty she preserved her mind from madness I saw its tendency, and took every opportunity to sooth and calm her troubled spirit; and my efforts were not wholly ineffectual

In the et that I was not possessed of the purse of Fortunatus On the contrary, I had a e of Olivia incessantly haunted me The ineffable beauty of her forotten sensibility that she displayed when I first saw her in the presence of Andrews, at Oxford, and the native unaffected dignity of her mind were my constant themes of meditation Must I behold her in the arht was horror! Yet how to obtain her? If I studied the law, preliminary forms alone would consume years From the church I was banished A military life I from principle abhorred; even my half ripe philosophy could not endure the supposition of being a hireling cut-throat

Literature ained from that source there was scarcely an example

From literary merit however lected Of such neglect indeed my passionate love of letters would not adh infinitely too slow for the rapidity of ood to be prepared for all events I therefore entered an another snail-pace journey of terh occupations are forced upon it of a nature too serious for its propensities, it fails not to find time for amusement In St James's-street, near the palace, was a billiard-table, to which when an inmate with Lord Idford I had resorted It was frequented by officers of the Guards, and other persons ere chiefly supposed to betheentleman of the name of Belmont, remarkable for the easy familiarity of his address, an excellent billiard player, and who had in a ree of attention that was engaging I thought indeed that I discovered contradictory qualities in hiination, and the whimsicality of his remarks, compensated for a looseness of principle, which was too apparent to be entirely overlooked

He frequently turned the conversation on the county of which I was a native, having, as he informed me, and as his discourse shewed, many acquaintance in that county Since htardour

Flattered by this preference, and often delighted with the flights of his fancy, I returned his advances with great cordiality His appearance was always genteel, but from various circumstances I collected that he was not at present rich His expectations, according to his own account, were great; and his fa every nify that he considered himself their equal

When we first met, after my return to town, he was desirous I should relate to him where I had been, and what had befallen me: and when he heard that I had visited the county of--he becaeaccount of himself

'For my own part, Mr Trevor, I am at present under a cloud I shall soain: nor can I tell how soon I love to see life, and I do not believe there is a e, who has seen h when I tell you that, since we last parted, I have been _vagabondizing_ You do not understand the term? It offends your delicacy? I will explain'

He saw he had raised my curiosity, and with a loquacity that sat easy on hiery in which as I have said he excelled, he thus continued

'Perhaps you will think a gentle subjected hih, no; you have wit enough to laugh at gray-beards, and their ridiculous forms and absurd distinctions Know then, there is a certain set or society ofparties about this kingdoic, will metamorphose an old barn, stable, or out-house, in such a wonderful manner that the said barn, stable, or out-house, shall appear, according as it suits the will or purpose of the said icians, at one tie; now the noisy receptacle of drunken clubs and wearied travellers, called an inn; anon the nificent dome of a Grecian te audibly certain sentences which are penned down for theician, they transport the said barn, stable, or out-house, thus metamorphosed, over sea or land, rocks, mountains or deserts, into whatsoever hot, cold, or teion the director wills, with as much facility as my lady's squirrel can crack a nut What is stillwith them, without the witchery of brooh whenever they please they becon over all the eovernments, vice-royalties, and principalities upon their adherents, divide the spoils of nations adoly ah but thewith Marc Antony, or quaffing nectar with Jupiter hier of a pound to a penny that half of theues! s! that ithout sorrow, stab without anger, die without dread, and laugh, sing, and dance to inspire mirth in others while surrounded the still more remarkable in these enchanters is that they coht in observing the wonderful effects of their art laugh or cry, conde the heart with every various passion: more especially when they pronounce the charms and incantations of a certain sorcerer called Shakspeare, whose science was so powerful that he himself thus describes it

--'I have oft be-dimm'd The noon-tide sun, call'd forth the reen sea and the azur'd vault Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak With his own bolt: the strong-bas'd promontory Have I raves, at my command, Have wak'd their sleepers; op'd, and let them forth By hted with the picture he had drawn

'Your necessities have obliged you to turn player?'

'Not altogether my necessities,' answered he: 'it was more from a frolic, and to know the world That is my study, Mr Trevor But can you telltheir profession, act in soabonds, and vagrants, and in others are protected by the law, and dignified with the high and hty title of his Majesty's Servants?'--

'Indeed I cannot,' said I