Part 55 (1/2)

'”I vainly urged that the sudden disappearing of both entirely contradicted such a conjecture; that Mr Trevor, if he were capable of an action like this, must be as wicked as he was mad; and that I had every reason to believe hienerous and elevated principles As you uments from me only subjected me to reproof, sarcasm, and even suspicion

'”My aunt fortified herself in her opinion; and behaved with a more jealous watchfulness than ever She even terrified me with the dread of that which I could not credit: the possibility that what she affir in my power to prove that one part of her surmises was false, I deter or even hearing any thing concerning Mr Trevor And this wasthe note, which you received

'”My mind however suffered a continual conflict I debated on the propriety of listening to the daily defamation of Mr Trevor, when there were soto prove that it was false; and I accuseda calht of him at the Opera renewed my self-reproaches, in full force; and, likewise, fortunately awakenedvisits, to-day, has been to a friend of Lady Bray's; and there we learned that Mr Trevor had been introduced, by Sir Barnard, to his lady and their co into parliament, and supposed to be possessed of extraordinary talents

'”This I find by his letter is untrue; and there still appears to be some mystery which perhaps, as you see him so often, you may be able to unravel”

'I immediately requested her to look at the date of the letter; by which she saw it had been written several weeks: and afterward made her acquainted with all the particulars I knew, concerning your beginning and renouncing the study of the law, and your new political plans: ive your noble minded friend, Mr Evelyn, his due share of what I had to relate

'Oh! how did her eyes swilohile I stated what I had heard of his sentis! Yes! She has a heart! a heart to match your own, Mr Trevor

'She then read the remainder of the letter; but with nu her ad her own

'When she had ended, she spoke to me nearly as follows

'”I am now, my dear friend, deterhts my heart that Mr Trevor accords with me in opinion, and advises ling, and which I ath resolved to adopt! I mean to inform my aunt of all that I know, as well as of all that I intend I will tell her where I have been, shew her this letter, repeat every thing I have heard, and add my fixed purpose not to admit the addresses of any man on earth; till my family shall authorise those of Mr Trevor For that, or for the time when I shall be unconditionally my own mistress, however distant it may be, I ait

'”Tell Mr Trevor that enerous and noble conduct; and it exults in his uards ratification; that I will obey his injunction, and that ill have no clandestine correspondence; but that our souls shall commune: they shall daily sympathise, and mutually excite us to that perseverance in fidelity and virtue which will be their oard, and the consolation and joy of our lives

'”If ain calumniate Mr Trevor, I will forewarn them of my further determination to inform him, and enquire into the facts But I hope they will neither be so unjust nor so ungenerous At least, I think my aunt will not; when she hears the truth, knows e

'”Of misinterpretation fron, he never could have iined the conduct he has so nobly pursued But to suppose the possibility of such a thing in him would be a most unpardonable injustice The man who should teach me to distrust him, as a lover, could never inspire me with admiration and confidence, as a husband But different indeed has been the lesson I have learned from Mr Trevor

'”Oh that Mr Evelyn! What a Godlike morality has he adopted! How rational! How full of benefit to others, and of happiness to himself!

'”But Mr Trevor's friends are all of this uncommon stamp; and I own that to look into futurity, and to suppose myself excluded by prejudice and pride from the enjoyment of such society, is perhaps the most painful idea that can afflict theeven to you,friend, the torrent of eht of the pure pleasures I hope for hereafter; frohtened by the intercourse of the generous, benevolent, and strong-minded men who share his heart”'

To detail all that farther passed, between Olivia and Miss Wilmot, with the particulars which the latter related to me, would but be to repeat sensations and incidents that are already fas, those he will doubtless have anticipated What could they be but rapture? What could they inspire but resolution: the power to endure, and the will to persevere?

CHAPTER IX

_The study of oratory: Remarks on fashi+onable manners and their consequences: A public dinner: E of quondaer within co passions of surprise, resentes coluttony_

Previous to this event, I should have iined it impossible to have increased my affection: yet, if admiration be the basis of love, as I am persuaded it is,forward on a journey, of the length of which I was indeed wholly ignorant; but the road was made plain, and the end was inexpressible happiness I should therefore travel with unwearied alacrity

But, that I th of way, it was necessary I should be as active in pursuit as I was ardent inone Oratory accordingly, Olivia excepted, became the object that seereat masters They and their ht No lected that precept or exae, could afford: and the additional intercourse which I thus acquired with hest order

I did not however entirely confinelikewise constituted a se instruction Impelled by curiosity and a those people of fashi+on to whoained access