do away some flaws in his character which had reached the ears of Mrs. Warian. She was but too well assured that the opinion she had formed of his morals, on his first introduction, was well founded. With such a conviction it was certainly the duty of Miss Warian's parents to withhold their consent to the union; but a mistaken kindness prevailed on them to consent that it might take place at the end of one year, provided no new objections arose from ill conduct on the part of the gentleman. They imagined their daughter's happiness was concerned, and they could not bear to contradict their darling (as they always called her). Had they began the proper work of contradiction before, there might, perhaps, have been no necessity to have used it on the present occasion; their daughter might have been a reasonable being, and a proper judge of what her true happiness ought to

consist in.

Mr. Alldash took an apartment in the neighbourhood, and was permitted to see the object of his affections as often as he pleased. He had now the opportunity he wished, to undermine every principle of goodness which existed in the mind of Miss W. Her understanding, and powers of discrimination, were very weak; of this he failed not to take advantage. He called particular qualities by other names than were

commonly given them; a mistake frequently made, and always attended with bad consequences. Modesty he termed bashfulness. Tenderness of conscience, superstition. Prudence, deceit and obedience to parental authority, an attachment to arbitrary customs and vulgar prejudices. Having persuaded his fair auditor, in some degree, to embrace these new opinions, he next represented, in the most glowing colours, a warm imagination could dictate, the unreasonableness of her parents, in wishing to delay their happiness for so long a period; and seeing the patience with which she bore to hear their conduct condemned, he ventured to propose a private marriage; and mentioned a number of instances in which a trip to Gretna Green had been forgiven by fathers and mothers equally rigid as her own. Miss Warian permitted herself to listen to his alluring conversation. She deliberated, and doubted not but that her judgment sufficiently strong for the important task of deliberation. There was something pleasing to her romantic imagination in a stolen marriage. Of the sincerity of her lover, she entertained not the most distant suspicion; and she made no doubt, from the indulgence of her parents, she should be forgiven. It was reposing such a confidence too in her husband as must engage his warmest affections, and unite hîm the

was

more closely in the bonds of gratitude as well as love. He said he would be grateful for ever, and who could doubt the word of a man of honour? Mistaken idea! to suppose that, by giving a man the highest possible proof of her imprudence, she should have a stronger claim on his esteem and confidence. None but a weak mind would thus have argued. May every female reader, if tried by a similar temptation, reflect, that it is only by maintaining a proper conduct to her lover, that she can reasonably expect the esteem of her husband; and if his esteem is not secured, his confidence and his love will never continue. Let her also reflect, that the moment her lover endeavours to seduce her from the path of propriety, she has reason to be alarmed, and should immediately apply for advice to a parent or friend. Youth is necessarily inexperienced, but it is not necessarily opinionated. Nothing is so amiable in that period of life as a humble and teachable disposition, and those who possess it make no great mistake in their general conduct.

These remarks are trite and common, but that circumstance does not invalidate their truth. On the contrary, it enforces it, for truths universally received, and continually repeated by every moral writer, have surely an absolute claim on our respect and attention.

The remainder of Miss Warian's conduct is, doubtless, anticipated; and none will be surprised to hear, that she was guilty of an imprudence, of which no female ever yet was guilty without severely suffering for her error. She eloped from her father's house. Dreadful step! never taken but at the expense of female delicacy, and filial affection. Surely sensibility recoils from the idea, and modesty veils her face!

But the step was taken, and the victim of vanity, conceit, and folly, was, in consequence, plunged into a state of infamy and ruin. She suffered more severely than many of her sex who have been guilty of imprudence equally enormous; for she fell into the hands of a seducer, which is not always the case, though a miserable marriage is the usual consequence. Mr. Alldash, instead of taking her to Gretna-green, took her to London, introduced her to the society of some of his female acquaintance, whose fascinating manners won her regards, and whose lively deportment, and apparent serenity of mind, deceived her into the opinion, that happiness could exist detached from virtue. The attentions of her false lover, the society of these agreeable ladies, and the continual whirl of dissipation into which they plunged her, precluded all serious reflections; and when she considered

H

for a moment the disgrace of her present situation, she considered also the difficulties she must encounter in attempting an escape. In time, she began to be more reconciled to what she termed her fate. She wrote to her parents, for whose peace of mind she was not wholly indifferent, assured them she was married to Mr. Alldash, but for reasons, which would be fully satisfactory when known, they must, for a short time, absent themselves; but hoped, in the course of a few months, to throw themselves at their feet (an expression she had admired in some favourite authors), and obtain their forgiveness; assuring them she was perfectly happy, and to know that they were so, would afford her the highest satisfaction. At the same time, she informed them where they might write to convey this intelligence, But Mr. Alldash knew it was necessary to conceal their place of abode; he took care that the letter should never be conveyed to the unhappy parents, and then took advantage of their unavoidable silence, to impress the mind of Miss Warian with the conviction, that she had, in their apprehension, sinned past forgiveness, and consequently was delivered up by them to his sole care and protection.

To describe the sufferings of Mr. and Mrs. Warian on this occasion is impossible. Their feelings of regret for the step their daughter had