little abruptly, that we might be at home at the usual hour. As soon as ever we were got alone, I asked Charlotte how she liked the handsome hermit?"Oh," said she, with a tender emotion, "that I had never seen him! Till now I was not "sensible of the injury this barbarian your bro"ther had done me; he has cut me off from all "the lawful joys of life, from the pleasure of a "reciprocal affection for a man of worth and vir"tue with my innocence I lost a right to that "happiness. What! am I a prostitute! a kept "mistress! your brother's! O infamy! your "brother's wh-e!" "If you had not been that," said I, "Charlotte, "you had been a beggar." "Oh envied title !" she replied, "O glorious Po« verty! thou hast been the choice of saints and "heroes; virtue has made thee her sanctuary, her "peaceful retreat. I could have fed on wholesome "vegetables, quenched my thirst at some crystal "brook, indulged my harmless slumbers on the "verdant turf, undisturbed with guilty fears. Par"don me," said she, recollecting herself, "these "passionate sallies; I find myself more than ever. " undone, condemned to waste my hours in sullen "obscurity; in the pride of life, the bloom of soft "desires, to languish in solitary despair! My con"science will not suffer me to gratify an unlaw"ful passion; nor should any advantage (were my "guilt a secret) persuade me to impose on a nian "of worth. I have been true, even to this rake "that has undone me, and frustrated all my hopes "of a lawful happiness." "That is, my brother has spoiled your marriage," said I: "But, dear Charlotte, why should that thought afflict you, who intend to pass your fu"ture time in penitence and retirement? Has the "handsome hermit altered your pious resolutions?" "No," she replied; "he has rather confirmed "them. Never had the cause of virtue a more re"sistless advocate; methinks I see the beauty that "lightened in his face; I hear the charming accent "still; I felt the energy of his arguments; my soul " gave its full assent to the celestial dictates. I "wondered you could so often interrupt the grace"ful orator with your ill-timed raillery; I could "have listened to his lecture of morality till the mid66 night dews had fallen, 'till all the stars had set." "Dear Charlotte" said I, "forgive this interrup❝tion; I find you are in love. My intention is "entirely frustrated of having your picture drawn "as the Fair Penitent, with a lamp and prayer"book before you; I perceive you' design yet to "converse among sinful mortals. Will you go with me to-morrow to hear another lecture from the "charming divine ?" "Rather," she replied, " let me retire to the si"lent grave to conceal my infamy. I would not "deceive him with an air of innocence, while I am "conscious of my own dishonour. I know my"self; this is the crisis of my misery; nothing can "obliterate this secret sense of shame; I may re"tire from the public view, as it is my full resolu"tion; but what is a resolution at sixteen? With"out peculiar assistance from heaven I shall never 66 conquer the dictates of Love and Nature; in this "perplexity I must either marry some worthless "wretch that knows my infamy, or deceive some man of merit to whom it is a secret." Here she burst into a flood of tears, entreating me to write to an uncle she had to receive her into his favour, and let her live privately in his family. This I promised; nor despair of prevailing. My concern for her makes me forget it is time to subscribe myself Your humble servant, LAURA. LETTER V. To the same. CHARLOTTE, to her great satisfaction, has this morning left us, and is gone to her uncle, who was easily persuaded to receive her, after he was assured of the sincerity of her penitence. But I found it a harder task to prevail with my brother to resign the idol of his affections; though he lost nothing by her absense but the pleasure of gazing on her. I am in pain till you know the sequel of my adventure with Philocles, who, since I writ last, has several times, by appointment, met me in the delicious bower; but still, to my great vexation, he appeared insensible of any tender impression. I could discern nothing in his conversation but a pious design to convert me to Christianity, and convince me of the folly of the new scheme to which my brother had made me a proselyte. But the last time we met I observed a soft confusion in his looks, 'till after a long pause, (which I had no mind to interrupt.) "I am going," said he, "to set myself in a very ridiculous light to one of your character: but I am content to pass "for an enthusiast 'till the event convinces you of "the truth of what I shall relate. "If a domestic tradition may be credited, there "has no person died out of our family but what "has had a warning of their approaching fate, by "hearing music passing through the house in the dead silence of the night, which is heard by none "but the person concerned: my mother and sister "both foretold their own death from this presage. "I see you smile," continued Philocles; " but I "have had the same warning, and am supersti"tious enough to credit it. Last night some trifl however, were placid and serene; some verses "I had heard my sister repeat in her last sickness "came fresh into my memory: "While Night in solem triumph reigns, "While drowsy men, with idle themes, "Are entertain'd, do thou converse "With Heav'n, and heav'nly strains rehcarse; "Visit the peaceful climes above, "And through the fields of pleasure rove; "Forget the scenes of care and strife, "And walk among the trees of life. "Lose every thought of mortal things. "Just as I had repeated these verses, I was se "renaded by an invisible musician, with the sweet"est strains that ever delighted mortal ears: the "harmonious echo seemed to pass from room to "room 'till it came into my chamber; where, af"ter a short space, it sunk away in a gentle ca"dence. "I knew my obsequies were now sung, and "heard that fatal summons without surprise: death "was a theme familiar to my thoughts, as I nei |