that in his due time, your Susan may be restored to you, as innocent and unspotted from the world as when you parted from her.

Having said this prayer, I sat me down before the cottage door, and sung the evening hymn, as I had been used to do every night before I went to rest, when I lived with my dear Mrs. Neale.

When I had finished the hymn, I leaned my head on my arm, and sat listening to the sweet voice of the nightingale, and the sound of the wind amongst the trees, considering what a poor, forlorn, and desolate creature I should be, if there were no great and good God to take care of me; when all of a sudden, I saw a gentleman open the garden gate and come towards me.

It was nearly dusk, but when he came near to me, I knew him to be the Captain. Without waiting to think what I ought to do, I started up from my seat, and running into the house, was going to pull the door after

and to fasten it; but the gentleman was too quick for me: before I could draw the bolt, he pushed open the door and walked in. It was almost dark in the house; there was no other light except from a few embers which glowed upon the hearth.

My dear Susan, said the Captain, coming up to me, why did you run away? why are you so frightened?

Pray, sir, pardon me, I said, making a low courtesy.

Is your mistress at home? I wished to see her.
No, sir, I said, she is not.

But if you

please she shall call upon you to-morrow morning at any hour you may fix.

No, he answered; what I have to say to her is of little conséquence.

Then he added, looking very hard in my face, you have a very sweet voice, Susan, and sing most charmingly. Do you always when alone sing hymns? do you never sing any other than holy songs?

No, sir, I answered, I know no other.

By whom were you brought up? where do your parents live?

I have no father and mother, I said; but I thank God, although I am very poor, and have very few friends, that I was not neglected in my younger days, but was early taught my duty as a Christian.

He asked me many questions about the way in which I had been brought up; and when I had answered them, Sir, I said, will you pardon a poor servant, but as it is very late, might I ask you if you have any message which I could deliver to my mistress?

What, my little Susan, he said, you wish me to leave you; you perhaps think that your mistress would be displeased if she found me here..

Why, perhaps, sir, I answered, looking down upon the ground, for I was afraid of looking so fine a gentleman in the face, she might not be pleased, if she should happen to return whilst you were in the cottage. Does she often go out, Susan? asked he. Yes, Sir, very often, I answered.

Will you then let me come and see you some day, when you are sure that she will

not return

I believe I looked very angry; for I felt very angry, and I said, sir, you mistake me very greatly if you suppose that I refuse to do what is wrong lest I should offend my mistress: no indeed, I do not only fear her displeasure, but I fear that God, whose eye is upon all his creatures, who now not only sees all we do, but searches our very hearts.

The Captain was silent for some minutes; at last he said, Susan, I beg your pardon; I was deceived in you; I believe you to be very different to what I find you. I thought that you were not much better than many others, who, although your superiors in rank, have not been offended to be addressed with much more freedom than I have dared to address you with.

He then said some very fine and flattering things in compliment to my virtue and my modesty; saying, how much virtue made young women appear more amiable, adding

to their beauty more than the finest or gay

est ornaments.

I listened to these things with so much. pleasure, for I was glad to hear him talk so becoming a gentleman, that I forgot for some time to ask him again to deliver his message: at last, when I reminded him that it was late, and that it did not become me in my humble state, to enter into discourse with a gentleman :

My pretty Susan, he said, although you are in the low state of a servant, yet there are many ladies who might be proud to be like you; nor is there any lady whom I have seen in all my travels, that I should prefer to you for a wife. Had I not a very severe father, who would refuse to give me one shilling if I were to marry without his leave, I would marry you, Susan, to-morrow, and think myself the happiest man in the world.

Oh! sir, I said, how can you talk so to a poor servant; surely it does not become you to degrade yourself, to deceive such an ignorant girl as myself.

I am not deceiving you, he said; and was perhaps going on to say many more fine things, when I recollecting myself, said, Sir, I have listened to you too long; you must go this moment. It is neither fit for you as a gentleman, nor for me as a servant, to talk any more on these subjects. I pray you, sir,

go, and do not think of returning again to this piace, for my conscience tells me that I have already done very wrong in entering into discourse with you.

Seeing that I was so positive, he took his leave; but before he had passed through the wicket, he turned back again, and in a inost courtly and polite manner, begged my par don, if he had said or done any thing which could offend me. You take me for a bad man, Susan, I fear, he said, but I am not oue; and in future, you may trust that I will always behave to you, as I ought to behave to so virtuous and discreet a young woman.

He had scarcely gone out in the meadows, when my mistress came in.

Did you meet any body in the pathway? said, I to her.

No, said she; who has been with you? has Charlotte been here this evening?

I immediately told her who had paid me a visit; and repeated all that the gentleman had said. Scarcely had I done speaking, when she clapping me on the back, cried out, I wish you joy, my Susan; play your cards well, and you are sure of being the Captain's lady.

Indeed, said I, I have no such vain thoughts. I am not fit to be a gentleman'swife, I know very well; and I am resolved that I will see him no more; with your