"natural endowments, a good heart and a good "understanding; you have nothing to do but to "fake off an indolent habit, and, having youth "at your command, to employ the one and cul"tivate the other: the means of doing this it "would be prefumption in me to prefcribe, but as "my grandfather is a man well acquainted with "the world and fully qualified to give advice, I "fhould earnestly recommend to you not to take "a hafty departure before you have confulted him, "and I may venture to promife you will never "repent of any confidence you may repofe in his "friendship and difcretion."

Here Conftantia put an end to the conference and turned towards the houfe; Ned ftood fixt in deep reflection, his mind fometimes brightening with hope, fometimes relapfing into defpair: his final determination, however, was to obey Conftantia's advice and feek an interview with Mr. Somerville.

N° CXXVIII.

THE next morning, as foon as Ned and Mr. Somerville met, the old gentleman took him into his library, and when he was feated, "Sir," faid he, "I fhall fave you fome embarraffment if I "begin our conference by telling you that I am "well apprifed of your fentiments towards my "Conftantia; I fhall make the fame hafte to put you out of fufpenfe by affuring you that I am "not unfriendly to your wishes."

This was an opening of such unexpected joy to Ned, that his fpirits had nearly funk under the furprize; he stared wildly without power of utterance, fcarce venturing to credit what he had heard; the blood rushed into his cheeks, and Somerville, feeing his disorder, proceeded: "When "I have faid this on my own part, understand, 66 young gentleman, that I only engage not to "obftruct your fuccefs, I do not, nay I cannot, "undertake to enfure it: that muft depend upon "Conftantia; permit me to add, it must depend "upon yourself," Here Ned, unable to tuppress his tranfports, eagerly demanded what there could be in his power to do, that might advance him in the good opinion and efteem of Conftantia; fuch was his gratitude to the old gentleman for his kindnefs, that he could fcarce refrain from throwing himfelf at his feet, and he implored him inftantly to point out the happy means, which he would implicitly embrace, were they ever so difficult, ever to dangerous.

"There will be neither hardship nor hazard," replied Mr. Somerville," in what I shall advise. "Great things may be accomplished in a fhort "time, where the difpofition is good and the un"derstanding apt: though your father neglected "your education, it is no reafon you should neglect "yourfelf; you muft fhake off your indolence;

and as the firit ftep neceffary towards your "future comfort is to put yourself at eafe in point "of fortune, you must make yourself master of your own eftate; that I fufpect can only be done by extricating your affairs from the hands they are in; but as this is a business, that will require "the affiftance of an honest and able agent, I fhall D 5 "recommend

"recommend to you my own lawyer, on whose "integrity you may fecurely rely; he will foon "reduce your affairs to such a system of regulari.66 ty, that you will find it an easy business, and "when you discover how many sources of future "happiness it opens to you, you will purfue it as an employment of no lefs pleasure than "advantage."

To this good advice Ned promifed the fulleft and most unreferved obedience; Mr. Somerville refumed his fubject and proceeded: "When "you have thus laid the foundation in œconomy, "what remains to be done will be a tafk of plea"fure: this will confift in furnishing your mind "and enlarging your experience, in short, Sir, rubbing off the ruft of indolence and the preju"dices of a narrow education: now for this "important undertaking I have a friend in my

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eye, whofe understanding, temper, morals and

manners qualify him to render you most essential "fervices: with this amiable and inftructive com"panion I fhould in the first place recommend

you to take a tour through the most interesting

parts of your own country, and hereafter, as "occafion fhall ferve, you may, or you may not, "extend your travels into other countries: this

is the best counsel I have to give you, and I "tender it with all poffible good wishes for your "fuccefs."

A plan, propofed with fo much cordiality and holding forth fuch a reward for the accomplishment of its conditions, could not fail to be embraced with ardour by the late defpairing lover of Conftantia. The worthy lawyer was prepared for the undertaking, and Ned was all impatience to con

vince Mr. Somerville, that indolence was no longer his ruling defect. He gave inftant orders for ris journey, and then flew to Conftantia, at whofe feet he poured forth the humble, yet ardent, acknowledgments of a heart overflowing with gratitude and love it feemed as if love's arrow, like Ithuriel's fpear, poffeffed the magic powers of transformation with a touch: there was a fpirit in his eyes, an energy in his motions, an illumination. over his whole perfon, that gave his form and features a new caft: Conftantia faw the fudden transformation with furprize, and as it evinced the flexibility of his nature and the influence of her own charms, the faw it alfo with delight: "So "foon!" was her only reply, when he announced his immediate departure, but thofe words were uttered with fuch a cadence and accompanied by fuch a look, as to the eye and ear of love conveyed more meaning than volumes would contain, unaided by fuch expreffion-" Yes, adorable Conftan"tia," he exclaimed, "I am now fetting forth to

give the earliest proof in my power of a ready "and alert obedience to the dictates of my belt "adviser; these few moments, which your condef"cenfion indulges me with, are the only moments "I fhall not rigidly devote to the immediate "duties of my tafk: infpired with the hope of returning lefs unworthy of your attention, I chearfully fubmit to banish myfelf from your fight for a time, content to cherish in my heart "the lovely image there impreft, and flattering "myfelf I have the fanction of your good withes "for the fuccefs of my undertaking." Conftantia affured him he had her good wishes for every hap

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pinels

piness in life, and, then yielding her hand to him, he tenderly preffed it to his lips and departed.

It would be an uninterefting detail to enumerate the arrangements, which Ned by the inftructions of his friendly and judicious agent adopted on his return to Poppy-hall. His affairs had indeed been much neglected, but they were not embarrassed, fo that they were easily put into fuch order and regulation, as gave him full leifure for pursuing other objects of a more animating nature: with this view he returned to his friend Mr. Somerville, and was again bleft with the prefence of Conftantia, to whom every day feemed to add new graces: he 'was welcomed by all parties in the most affectionate manner; Mr. Somerville, upon converfing with his lawyer, received a very flattering report of Ned's activity and attention, nor was he difpleased to hear from the fame authority, that his eftate and property far exceeded any amount, which the unpretending owner himself had ever hinted at.

It was now the latter end of April, and Ned had allowed himself only a few days to prepare for his tour, and to form an acquaintance with the amiable person, who at Mr. Somerville's request had engaged to accompany him; their plan was to employ fix months in this excurfion through England and part of Scotland, during which they were to visit the chief towns and principal manufactories, and Mr. Somerville had further contrived to lay out their courfe, fo as to fall in with the houfes of fome of his friends by the way, where he had fecured them a welcome in fuch focieties, as promifed no less profit than amusement to a young perfon in the purfuit of experience. Measures

had