I never entertained the slightest doubt of your attachment to her. With regard to Miss Lennox, I renounce her-her conduct is inexcusable: and if the encouragement you met with, equalled what she bestowed on me, she must be a coquette-a cold, heartless coquette-unworthy of our regard. Now, my dear Spencer, I no longer wonder at your heat; but I thought you knew me better, than to believe me guilty of such base conduct."

"Willoughby," exclaimed Spencer, offering his hand, "I have wronged you, and I am sorry for it; but I beseech you, make some allowance for a man half distracted with love and jealousy."

"Think no more of it," said Willoughby, warmly shaking the offered hand, "think no more of it, as I mean to do. In fact, we ought rather to rejoice that this business has come to an eclaircissement, and that we have had our eyes opened to the character of Miss Lennox. Were she beautiful as an angel, I would not now unite my fate to hers.

Like me, Spencer, resolve to forget her. What faith, what confidence, could you repose in one who has treated you so shamefully? Believe me, my dear Spencer, you ́ will never secure your happiness by a union with Ellinor Lennox."

"I feel," said Spencer, "that she has not used me well. Before you were known to her, she received my attentions in a way that induced me to believe they were agreeable to her; but since that period, you have completely engrossed her. Yet could I but hope that I had touched her heart, and that her conduct to you was occasioned only by a love of admiration-"

"A love of admiration! my dear Spencer!-Do you consider to what fatal consequence that passion so often leads ?"

But observing him pained by this discourse, he broke off that part of the subject, and asked Spencer what line of conduct he meant to pursue.

"In my opinion," said Willoughby, "we ought to visit there as usual; but we should

refrain from all particularity of behaviour, and so gradually withdraw from the dangerous intimacy-Do you agree with me?"

"In truth, Willoughby," replied Spencer, "I hardly know myself what are my intentions-I can neither resolve to leave her, nor can I almost wish to make her mine. There is, I allow, much truth in what you say concerning her; yet, with all her faults, I love her yes, I most sincerely love her. She is young and thoughtless. Let us not judge her harshly.-Indulged from her very cradle, incessantly flattered and admired, can we wonder at her imperfections? but she possesses both sense and feeling, and in proper hands, do you not think there is reason that she may yet become an amiable and estimable woman?"

Willoughby, seeing Spencer's great reluctance to give up all thoughts of Ellinor, would not then press the subject, but contented himself with saying," Well, Spencer, let us do nothing rashly-She may, as you observe, improve; but as you value your

future happiness, be cautious how you commit yourself. Beware how you take a step of such importance without full deliberation -study her well. I, too, for your sake, will scrutinize every word, every action. Sincerely, truly, do I hope I may find myself mistaken in the opinion I have formed of her; but if not, Spencer, you must not, shall not, marry her."

Spencer having thanked Willoughby for the friendly interest he took in his happiness, the friends separated; the one resolved to be guided by duty and principle alone; while the other, irresolute and unsteady, could form no determination with regard to his future conduct, but left to time and chance to decide whether his attentions to his beautiful and capricious enslaver should be continued or withdrawn.

CHAPTER VII.

I am not in a sportive humour now.

Comedy of Errors.

ONE day soon after this conversation, Willoughby thought himself obliged to call on the Lennoxes. He found Ellinor and Catherine only at home, with whom he entered into conversation; but in spite of his efforts to appear gay and unconstrained, there was a change in his manner, which Ellinor remarked with uneasiness, but desirous of pleasing him, she tried to adapt herself to his tone, and accordingly commenced a moralizing, sedate, and sentimental conversation, in which she displayed so