diftant and respectful terms, and with the utmost diffidence and caution. She told Flavilla," that "fhe was a fine young lady, that her husband was “abroad, that she kept a great deal of company, "and that the world was cenforious; fhe wifhed "that lefs occafion for fcandal was given; and

hored to be excused the liberty fhe had taken, as "fhe might be ruined by those flanders which could “have no influence upon the great, and which, "therefore, they were not folicitous to avoid."This addrefs, however ambiguous, and however gentle, was eafily understood, and fiercely refented. Flavilla, proud of her virtue, and impatient of controul, would have defpifed the counsel of a philofopher, if it had implied an impeachment of her conduct; before a perfon fo much her inferior, therefore, she was under no restraint; fhe answered, with a mixture of contempt and indignation, that 'thofe only who did not know her would dare to 'take any liberty with her character; and warned ⚫ her to propagate no fcandalous report at her peril.' Flavilla immediately rofe from her feat, and the woman departed without reply, though she was scarce less offended than her lodger; and from that moment she determined, when Mercator returned, to give warning.

Mercator's voyage was profperous; and after an abfence of about ten months he came back. The woman to whom her husband left the whole management of her lodgings, and who perfifted in her purpofe, foon found an opportunity to put it in execution. Mercator, as his part of the contract had been punctually fulfilled, thought he had fome cause to be offended, and infifted to know her reafons for compelling him to leave her house. Thefe his hoftess, who was indeed a friendly woman, was very unwilling to give; and as he perceived that fhe evaded his question, he became more folicitous to obtain an answer. After much hesitation, which perhaps had a worse effect than any tale which malice could have invented, fhe told him, that "Madam kept a great deal of company, and often "ftaid out very late; that fhe had always been used "to quiet and regularity; and was determined to let "her apartment to fome perfon in a more private " ftation."

At this account Mercator changed countenance; for he inferred from it just as much more than truth, as he believed it to be lefs. After fome moments of fufpence, he conjured her to conceal nothing from him, with an emotion which convinced her that she had already faid too much. She then affured him, that "he had no reason to be alarmed;

"for

" for that she had no exception to his lady, but those "gaieties which her ftation and the fashion fuffici

ently authorised." Mercator's fufpicions, however, were not wholly removed; and he began to think he had found a confidant whom it would be his intereft to truft: he therefore, in the folly of his jealoufy, confeffed, that he had some doubts con'cerning his wife, which it was of the utmoft importance to his honour and his peace to refolve: he intreated that he might continue in the apart'ment another year: that, as he should again leave 'the kingdom in a short time, she would fuffer no • incident, which might confirm either his hopes or his fears, to escape her notice in his absence; and at his return fhe would give him such an account < as would at least deliver him from the torment of fufpenfe, and determine his future conduct.'

There is no sophistry more general than that by which we justify a busy and scrupulous inquiry after fecrets, which to discover is to be wretched without hope of redress; and no fervice to which others are fo eafily engaged as to affift in the fearch. To communicate fufpicions of matrimonial infidelity, especially to a husband, is, by a strange mixture of folly and malignity, deemed not only an act of justice but of friendship; though it is too late to prevent an evil, which, whatever be its guilt, can diffufe wretchedness

wretchedness only in proportion as it is known. It is no wonder, therefore, that the general kindness of Mercator's confidant was on this occafion overborne; she was flattered by the trust that had been placed in her, and the power with which she was invefted; fhe confented to Mercator's propofal, and promised that she would with the utmost fidelity execute her commiffion.

Mercator, however, concealed his fufpicions from his wife, and, indeed, in her presence they were forgotten. Her manner of life he began seriously to difapprove; but being well acquainted with her temper, in which great fweetness was blended with a high spirit, he would not embitter the pleasure of a short stay by altercation, chiding, and tears; but, when her mind was melted into tenderness at his departure, he clasped her in an extacy of fondness to his bofom, and intreated her to behave with referve and circumfpection; " because," faid he, "I "know that my father keeps a watchful eye upon

your conduct, which may, therefore, confirm or "remove his displeasure, and either intercept or "bestow such an increase of my fortune as will pre"vent the pangs of separation which muft otherwise "fo often return, and in a fhort time unite us to "part no more." To this caution fhe had then no power to reply; and they parted with mutual proteftations of unalterable love. Flavilla,

Flavilla, foon after fhe was thus left in a kind of widowhood a fecond time, found herfelf with child; and within fomewhat lefs than eight months after Mercator's return from his firft voyage, fhe happened to stumble as fhe was going up ftairs, and being immediately taken ill, was brought to bed before the next morning. The child, though its birth had been precipitated more than a month, was not remarkably fmall, nor had any infirmity which endangered its life.

It was now neceffary, that the vigils of whift and the tumults of balls and vifits should, for a while, be fufpended; and in the interval of languor and retirement, Flavilla firft became thoughtful. She often reflected upon Mercator's caution when they laft parted, which had made an indelible impreffion upon her mind, though it had produced no alteration in her conduct: notwithstanding the manner in which it was expreffed, and the reafon upon which it was founded, she began to fear that it might have been fecretly prompted by jealousy. The birth, therefore, of her first child in his abfence, at a time when, if it had not been premature, it could not poffibly have been his, was an accident which greatly alarmed her: but there was yet another, for which it was still lefs in her power to account, and which, therefore, alarmed her still more.