I would fetch them. But I had anfwered for too much. Neither inquiries nor fearching, menaces nor promises, were of any effect. The necklace had disappeared.

My father, to add to my concern, feemed more disturbed by this incident than I had ever seen him in my life, and the day paffed in ufelefs confufion and fruitless regrets. Some months fucceeded, and I had reafon to think that my father had forgotten his chagrin in the fame degree at least as I was reconciled to my lofs.

"The fon and heir of lord V now came of age, and great preparations were made to celebrate the event. Invitations

were profufely fent round the country. A masked ball and fupper entered into the plan of amusements. My friend and myfelf were not omitted on an occasion, in which we were politely and good-humouredly told that we should add to the promifed pleasure. The novelty and expected eclat of the fête engaged our more than ufual folicitude refpecting our dreffes; and

not

not fatisfied with our own tafte, it was determined that we should both have fancy dreffes from London. They arrived at Mr. Hanway's, and a meffenger was dispatched in hafte to announce to me this very important news; the more welcome, as the delay of them had begun to alarm us, it being within two days of our engagement at lord V's. I ftaid late with my friend. Our orders had been exactly observed: all was in the most elegant style, and we anticipated with youthful vanity the expected pleasure of fhowing ourselves to advantage.

"Unfortunately, my eager defire of exhibiting my dress to my aunt led me to refuse the preffing folicitations of mifs Hanway to pass the night with her. The evening was cold and wet; but I speedily reached home, attended by a fervant loaded with band-boxes. This heedlefs impatience was punished. I was seized with a violent toothach in the night, which entirely banished sleep, and the morning discovered a swelled face and fome degree of fever. This bad

news

news foon reached Sophia, and she came in hafte to condole with me. The day paffed, and my pain augmented. In the evening the ball was given up, and the servant who was dispatched for the apothecary to draw the unlucky tooth was charged with our excufes to lord V- Sophia remained with me till the operator appeared; when, acknowledging her cowardice, fhe left me. The tooth was happily extracted, and my firmnefs recompensed by a night of sweet repose.

"The next morning it rained without ceafing, and Sophia only heard of my exemption from pain. In the courfe of the morning fhe wrote me a kind and fympathizing note expreffive of her disappointment. This, although as kindly received, by no means leffened my regrets : but I did my best, perceiving that my good aunt was also vexed by this impediment, for which fhe observed with unusual acrimony, I had to thank myself.' The fwelling in my face was how

ever

ever fubfided, and I was without pain; and I began after dinner to compare with much fecret difcontent the hazard of going, with the mortification of staying at home. The conclufion added to my reftlefsnefs.

"The violent rain had ceased, the evening promifed to be fair; and I watched the face of the clouds with penfive attention at the window. It will be a fine clear night

after all,' faid my

ing at my father.

She hesitated.

good-natured aunt, look"Suppose, brother...' Suppofe, I fay, we

hazard a little for this poor lafs?' My fa

ther had his fears. he was fubdued.

I in my turn looked, and

< Well,' faid he, if fhe be fick, you must nurfe her; but I bar dancing.' This decifion fent us to our dreffingroom in an instant; but with all our dif patch we did not reach the castle until the company were all affembled in the great faloon,

"On our arrival we entered into a small parlour, and fent for lord V

He joined

joined us immediately, and received us with his ufual cordiality, leading the way at the fame moment to the faloon.

"On entering the motley crowd, I fought directly for my friend, anticipating the pleasure of furprising her. Knowing her drefs, I discovered her with ease she was engaged in converfation with a gentleman, and apparently with gaiety and interest. I cautiously advanced, and had just reached her, when two or three ladies, arm in arm, stopped me. In that moment judge of my aftonishment! my pearl necklace struck my eyes! The locket was then only plain gold, and by no means a fuitable appendage to it. I suppose the gentleman was obferving this defect in so rich an ornament; for he held it up and examined it, faying fomething that obviously related to it; and Sophia laughing difengaged it from his hand, and dropped it into her bofom; I gazing immoveably all the time at her!

"Confounded and difmayed, I retired at length unobserved, and fought my aunt.

My