A particular friend, he said, well acquainted with his misfortunes, had found means of informing him, that if he chose to accept the entire guardianship of a female infant, who could never, from some circumstances of a peculiarly delicate and distressing nature, be acknowledged, or publicly protected by those to whom she belonged, he should receive with her one thousand guineas, provided he bound himself, in a solemn manner, to bring her up as his own child, faithfully preserve the secret of her birth, and rest satisfied with the sum received with her, which was all he must ever expect on her account.

"I would not," continued Mr. Greville, “return any answer to this proposal till I had consulted you; should you accede to it, comfort and happiness may, I think, again be our's; but should you object to it, be assured I shall not murmur.”

To do this, however, was not by any means the intention of Mrs. Greville; there were few things, indeed, to which she would not have agreed, in order to extricaté herself from her present embarrassments. She accordingly consented to take the little offspring of sorrow and imprudence to her arms, hinting, however, at the same time, that she did not suppose her husband meant to include her in the number of those from whom he was bound to preserve the secret entrusted to him.

On this point he instantly undeceived her, declaring, in the promise expected from him, no exception would be allowed; and that, as all inquiries relative to the parentage of the infant would be fruitless, he trusted she would neither teaze herself nor him by making any, once more assuring her, if she did not thoroughly approve of coming the guardian of the child, he v ut hesitation refuse being so.

own people, inquiring into their wants, relieving their distresses, and encouraging their industry?" Or how could his pride be more nobly gratified, than by supporting the honours of his ancient house with becoming dignity, and keeping alive the generous spirit of hospitality which once distinguished it, and made the wayfaring and indigent rejoice whenever they approached its towers? Or where, if he merely consulted the gratification of his senses, could he behold a place more calculated to delight and please them?"

The family of Mr. Greville consisted of a wife and four children, a young man who had been consigned to his care till he became of age, and a young girl who had been brought up by him and his wife, as their daughter.

There was a mystery attached to the birth of this girl, which Mr Greville would not even explain to his wife; and in consequence of his profound secrecy on the subject, nothing could have induced Mrs. Greville to take her under her protection, but the advantages with which the measure was attended to herself.

Neither she nor Mr. Greville were by any means in affluence at the time of their union; and some circumstances took place soon after that event, which considerably augmented their pecuniary distresses. They were, in short, in the most deplorable and melancholy situation, without a hope or prospect of relief, when Mr. Greville appeared before his wife one morning with a cheerful countenance, and told her Providence had at length given them an opportunity of retrieving their affairs. Mrs. Greville joyfully started at this intelligence, and eagerly begged an explanation, which. he gave her to the following effect:

A particular friend, he said, well acquainted with his misfortunes, had found means of informing him, that if he chose to accept the entire guardianship of a female infant, who could never, from some circumstances of a peculiarly delicate and distressing nature, be acknowledged, or publicly protected by those to whom she belonged, he should receive with her one thousand guineas, provided he bound himself, in a solemn manner, to bring her up as his own child, faithfully preserve the secret of her birth, and rest satisfied with the sum received with her, which was all he must ever expect on her account.

"I would not," continued Mr. Greville, “return any answer to this proposal till I had consulted you; should you accede to it, comfort and happiness may, I think, again be our's; but should you object to it, be assured I shall not murmur."

To do this, however, was not by any means the intention of Mrs. Greville; there were few things, indeed, to which she would not have agreed, in order to extricate herself from her present embarrassments. She accordingly consented to take the little offspring of sorrow and imprudence to her arms, hinting, however, at the same time, that she did not suppose her husband meant to include her in the number of those from whom he was bound to preserve the secret entrusted to him.

On this point he instantly undeceived her, declaring, in the promise expected from him, no exception would be allowed; and that, as all inquiries relative to the parentage of the infant would be fruitless, he trusted she would neither teaze herself nor him by making any, once more assuring her, if she did not thoroughly approve of his becoming the guardian of the child, he would without hesitation refuse being so.

Mrs. Greville eagerly repeated her consent, hoping and believing she should at length win upon the confidence of her husband, and obtain the information she so ardently wished for; not so much from curiosity, as from some secret suspicions she entertained.

The child, who then appeared about a twelvemonth old, and was as beautiful as a cherub, was brought to her one night by her husband, and with her the sum which had been promised.

Freed from the load which had so long oppressed them, Mr. Greville was enabled to make such exertions, as soon procured him the curacy of Wyefield, whither he directly repaired, and his little family, with feelings similar to those which the fatigued and weather-beaten sailor must experi- . ence, who, after a dangerous and tempestuous voyage, finds himself at length in a haven of security and rest.

In this peaceful retirement, he became the delighted father of four lovely children, a girl and three boys, between whom and the little foundling (whatever his secret feelings might have been), he made no distinction.

But not all the happiness she enjoyed through means of the little Jacintha, her infantine endearments, or affectionate manners, could attach the unfeeling heart of Mrs. Greville to her. The suspicions she entertained concerning her birth, which the obstinate silence of Mr. Greville respecting it tended to strengthen, together with the jealousy his fondness for the child inspired, and the envy she felt at her expanding charms, which threatened, at a very early period, totally to eclipse those of her own daughter, made her hate her with the most inveterate rançour.

She was mistress of too much art, however, not to be able to conceal this hatred from her husband, before whom she generally assumed a smiling and tender aspect to Jacintha, which completely deceived him, and made him readily believe, whenever he heard of her being treated with harshness, that she deserved it.

Unchecked, therefore, in her cruelty, Mrs. Greville took every opportunity of mortifying her, as often as she possibly could, without exciting a suspicion of her own malevolent disposition. She debarred her of the amusements and enjoyments adapted to her age; she made her almost a household slave; and insinuated to her inmates that she was a girl of a most froward and unruly temper; thus endeavouring to excite a prejudice against her which might counteract the effects of her dreaded beauty.

Jacintha had a proud spirit and a feeling heart, and not only lamented, but murmured at the inhuman and unmerited conduct of her mother. She was too noble-minded, however, to prefer any complaint to her father, though she had reason to imagine, from his uniform tenderness towards her (a tenderness which she amply returned), that he would take her part.

She was happily of a cheerful disposition; her regrets, therefore, though deep, were not permanent; and her face, like an April morning, was one hour bedewed with tears, and the next irradiated with the sunshine of good humour. In consequence of this disposition, she grew up, notwithstanding the severity of her fate, with all that sweetness of temper, and loveliness of person, of which she gave so early a promise. Her's was

"The faultless form,

Shap'd by the band of harmony; the cheek,