6

Do so,' said she, I am attentive.'

6

At

I dreamt,' said he, this night that we were in the most miserable situation imaginable. Indeed, in the situation we were yesterday morning, or rather worse; that I was laid in a prison for debt, and that you wanted a morsel of bread to feed the mouths of your hungry children. length (for nothing you know is quicker than the transition in dreams) Dr. Harrison methought came to me, with cheerfulness and joy in his countenance. The prison doors immediately flew open; and Dr. Harrison introduced you, gayly, though not richly dressed. That you gently chid me for staying so long; all on a sudden appeared a coach with four horses to it, in which was a maid-servant with our two children. We both immediately went into the coach, and taking our leave of the doctor, set out towards your countryhouse; for yours, I dreamt it was.-I only ask you now, if this was real, and the transition almost as sudden, could you support it?'

Amelia was going to answer, when Mrs. Atkinson came into the room, and after very little previous ceremony presented Booth with a bank note, which he received of her, saying, he would very soon repay it; a promise that a little offended Amefia, as she thought he had no chance of keeping it.

The doctor presently arrived, and the company sat down to breakfast, during which Mrs. Atkinson entertained them with the history of the doctors that had attended her husband, by whose advice Atkinson was recovered from every thing but the weakness which his distemper had occasioned.

When the tea-table was removed, Booth told the doctor, that he had acquainted his wife with a dream he had last night. I dreamt, doctor,' said he, that she was restored to her estate.'

Very well,' said the doctor; and if I am to be the Oniropolis, I believe the dream

come

'to pass. To say the truth, I have rather a better opinion of dreams than Horace had. Old Ho'mer says they come from Jupiter; and as to your dream, I have often had it in my waking thoughts, that some time or other that roguery (for so I ' was always convinced it was) would be brought to light; for the same Homer says, as you, madam, (meaning Mrs. Atkinson) very well know, Εἴπερ γάρ τε καὶ αὐτίκ. Ὀλύμπιον ἐκ ἐτέλεσσεν, Ἔκ τε κ, ὀψὲ τελεῖ· σύν τε μεγάλῳ απέτισαν Συν σφῇσιν κεφαλῇσι, γυναιξί τε και τεκέεσσιν *.

'I have no Greek ears, sir,' said Mrs. Atkinson. I believe I could understand it in the Delphin 'Homer.'

6

I wish,' cries he, my dear child (to Amelia) you would read a little in the Delphin Aristotle, or else in some Christian divine, to learn a doctrine which you will one day have a use for. I mean to bear the hardest of all human conflicts, and support with an even temper, and without any violent transports of mind, a sudden gust of prosperity,'

Indeed,' cries Amelia, I should almost think my husband and you, doctor, had some very good 'news to tell me, by your using, both of you, the same introduction. As far as I know myself, 1 'think I can answer, I can support any degree of 'prosperity, and I think I yesterday shewed I could: for I do assure you, it is not in the power of fortune to try me with such another transition from grief to joy, as I conceived from seeing my husband in prison and at liberty.'

Well, you are a good girl,' cries the doctor, and after I have put on my spectacles I will try you.'

* If Jupiter doth not immediately execute his vengeance, he 'will however execute it at last; and their transgressions shall fall heavily on their own heads, and on their wives and children.'

The doctor then took out a news-paper, and read as follows:

"Yesterday one Murphy, an eminent attorney at "law, was committed to Newgate, for the forgery "of a will under which an estate had been for many 66 years detained from the right owner."

Now in this paragraph there is something very remarkable, and that is-that it is true: but opus est explanatum. In the Delphin edition of this news-paper, there is the following note upon the 'words right owner: "The right owner of this "estate is a young lady of the highest merit, whose "maiden name was Harris, and who some time "since was married to an idle fellow, one lieutenant "Booth. And the best historians assure us, that "letters from the elder sister of this lady, which "manifestly prove the forgery, and clear up the "whole affair, are in the hands of an old person "called Dr. Harrison."

And is this really true?' cries Amelia.

Yes, really and sincerely,' cries the doctor. The whole estate; for your mother left it you all, and is as surely yours, as if you was already ' in possession.'

Gracious Heaven!' cries she, falling on her knees, I thank you.-And then starting up, she ran to her husband, and embracing him, cried, My dear love, I wish you joy; and I ought in gratitude to wish it you; for you are the cause of mine. "It is upon yours, and my children's account, that I principally rejoice.'

Mrs. Atkinson rose from her chair, and jumped about the room for joy, repeating,

Turne, quod optanti divím promittere nemo
Auderet, volvenda dies, en, attulit ultro *.

Amelia now threw herself into a chair, complained she was a little faint, and begged a glass of

* What none of all the Gods could grant thy vows,

That, Turnus, this auspicious day bestows."

water. The doctor advised her to be blooded; but she refused, saying, she required a vent of andther kind. She then desired her children to be brought to her, whom she immediately caught in her arms, and having profusely cried over them. for several minutes, declared she was easy. After which, she soon regained her usual temper, and complexion.

That day they dined together, and in the afternoon they all, except the doctor, visited captain Atkinson; he repaired to the bailiff's house to visit the sick man, whom he found very cheerful, the surgeon having assured him that he was in no danger.

The doctor had a long spiritual discourse with Robinson, who assured him that he sincerely rẻpented of his past life, that he was resolved to lead his future days in a different manner, and to make what amends he could for his sins to the society, by bringing one of the greatest rogues in it to justice. There was a circumstance which much pleased the doctor, and made him conclude that, however Robinson had been corrupted by his old master, he had naturally a good disposition. This was, that Robinson declared he was chiefly induced to the discovery by what had happened at the pawnbroker's, and by the miseries which he there perceived he had been instrumental in bringing on Booth and his family.

The next day Booth and his wife, at the doctor's instance, dined with colonel James and his ladý, where they were received with great civility, and all matters were accommodated, without Booth ever knowing a syllable of the challenge even to this day.

The doctor insisted very strongly on having Miss Harris taken into custody, and said, if she was his sister, he would deliver her to justice. He added

besides, that it was impossible to skreen her, and carry on the prosecution, or, indeed, recover the estate. Amelia at last begged the delay of one day only, in which time she wrote a letter to her sister informing her of the discovery, and the danger in which she stood, and begged her earnestly to make her escape, with many assurances that she would never suffer her to know any distress. This letter she sent away express, and it had the desired effect; for Miss Harris having received sufficient information from the attorney to the same purpose, immediately set out for Pool, and from thence to France, carrying with her all her money, most of her clothes, and some few jewels. She had, indeed, packed up plate and jewels to the value of two thousand pounds and upwards. But Booth, to whom Amelia communicated the letter, prevented her, by ordering the man that went with the express (who had been a serjeant of the foot-guards recommended to him by Atkinson), to suffer the lady to go whither she pleased, but not to take any thing with her except her clothes, which he was carefully to search. These orders were obeyed punctually, and with these she was obliged to comply.

Two days after the bird was flown, a warrant from the lord chief justice arrived to take her up, the messenger of which returned with the news of her flight, highly to the satisfaction of Amelia, and consequently of Booth, and, indeed, not greatly to the grief of the doctor.

About a week afterwards, Booth and Amelia, with their children, and captain Atkinson and his lady, all set forward together for Amelia's house, where they arrived amidst the acclamations of all the neighbours, and every public demonstration of joy.

They found the house ready prepared to receive