herself to a commerce-table one evening; to a young party for a game of blind-man's-buff another evening; to see a play in a barn on a third; and to a little dance on a fourth. Thus, weeks and months went round; and though her aunt sometimes expostulated, and sometimes complained, yet Louisa generally contrived to obtain her acquiescence in these imprudences, by representations to this purpose."Why, aunt, you know I cannot play at whist; and I cannot sit evening after evening with those dull old ladies, of whom you are so very fond; and there is always the best company where I go: Mrs. Dalrymple, the surgeon's lady, will be there to-night; and she has promised to take care of me, and to bring me home; and she will never lose sight of me, nor allow me I am sure to do any thing improper for the whole world." Now Mrs. Staunton was a lover of ease; and it is always more easy to give way to wilful young people than to contend with them. In consequence of this, Louisa always obtained her desires on these occasions of dispute, although Mrs. Staunton was not wholly satisfied that she was acting right by subinitting to her niece; for Miss Louisa Harley being the great grandaughter of an earl, Mrs. Staunton considered that the persons with whom she permitted her to associate were not of a very suitable description for introducing her niece into life.

Things were in this state, and Miss Louisa Harley in a very fair way of entirely losing her reputation through this want of decision in the conduct of her aunt, when the rector of the parish, whom I have before described as a very old man, died, and the rectory, which was a valuable one, was presented to a relation of Miss Harley's, a gentleman of the name of Holloway, a married man, and one who had a large and respectable family. Immediately upon this gentleman's obtaining the benefice, the large and venerable parsonage-house, with its extensive gardens, were put into admirable order; and, within a few months, the family were. settled in their new situation.

On the ground of their relationship and former acquaintance, Mrs. Staunton and Miss Harley paid their first visit to Mrs. Holloway before she had made her appearance at church, and, in consequence, before the rest of the neighbours considered themselves authorised to pay their compliments to the parsonage. But, early as this visit was

made after the arrival of the family, it was not before the report of Mrs. Staunton's improper indulgence of Louisa Harley's indiscretion had reached the ears of Mrs. Holloway; and, in consequence, although this lady did not refuse to see her cousins when their names were announced, there was formality and coldness in the reception she gave them, which very sensibly affected the heart of Louisa, of whom I have before remarked, that she was endued with a remarkable strength and quickness of feeling.

Mrs. Holloway and her daughters were sitting at work in a large old-fashioned parlour, when Louisa and her aunt were introduced: and though the young ladies arose when they entered, they did not advance one step from their seats to meet their cousin, nor were their countenances (which at no time were particularly gracious or animated) illuminated by the smallest tendency towards a smile. The occasion of all this solemnity of manner was, however, at length made apparent by Mrs. Holloway, who, after several short coughs and expressive hems, opened the subject which dwelt upon her mind; and, though in a sufficiently genteel and obliging way, repeated what she had heard of the imprudence allowed her by her aunt: adding at the same time her own opinion of the impropriety of allowing such liberties to young ladies of family; and remarking, that it would be utterly out of her power, and that of Doctor Holloway, to permit their daughters to associate with their cousin, unless she submitted to such restrictions as her birth and rank in life required.

During this exhortation, Louisa endured the most violent emotions of shame and vexation; for a conviction of the propriety of all which Mrs. Holloway said flashed instantly on her mind, and as soon as the lady ceased to speak, she looked imploringly on her aunt, hoping that she would say something which might make her behaviour appear in a more favourable point of view. But poor Louisa was disappointed in this hope. Mrs. Staunton without any hesitation threw all the blame upon her niece, representing her as wholly unmanageable, and describing herself as having used every means to inspire her with a sense of propriety.

This assertion of Mrs. Staunton, which was but partially true, removing every part of the blame from herself to her

niece, Mrs. Holloway took occasion to represent to Lousia, in the strongest terms, the great offence of disobedience to elders, together with the shame and disgrace which almost inevitably follow this sin. Mrs. Holloway's remarks, though harsh, were strictly true, and were only to be condemned because not altogether directed as the circumstances of the case required. She had not recollected, that Louisa was an orphan, that Mrs. Staunton had probably Inismanaged her education, and that perhaps she might have effected the laudable purpose at which she aimed, in a way less likely to give offence. But this lady, though a well meaning woman, was one of those severe characters who pay no regard to the feelings of others; and having always lived in situations which exposed her but little either to the rubs of fortune or the allurements of pleasure, she could make no allowance for those who had failed in their duty through the pressure of the one or the enticements of

the other.

With respect to religion, Mrs. Holloway had none which could be properly called Christian; for although she was a strict observer of forms, she was utterly unacquainted with the real nature and tendency of the doctrines of the Gospel. But, as I shall have occasion hereafter to speak further concerning the religious principles of this family, I will here leave this matter for the present, and proceed with my story.

Mrs. Holloway having relieved her mind of the burden which was upon it relative to the misconduct of her young cousin, and believing that the blame of all which had been amiss lay at the door of Louisa, she immediately changed her manner towards Mrs. Staunton, and began to treat her with as much freedom and courtesy as she generally used to any one, still retaining the same reserve towards Louisa-although when she asked Mrs. Staunton to partake of their family dinner, she condescended to extend the invitation to Louisa, at the same time informing her eldest daughter, that she depended on her to amuse Miss Harley.

Miss Holloway, who was some years older than Louisa, was remarkably cold and formal. It was therefore no great relief to Louisa to be obliged to follow this young lady during the remainder of the morning, up and down

stairs; first, into her own apartments, where she was condemned to look over a large folio of stiff drawings; and, afterward, into a garden equally unentertaining, where they wasted the weary hours till called to dinner after which Louisa was obliged to listen to as many comments on her conduct, from her cousin, the father of the family, as she had heard in the morning from his wife. And as neither the one nor the other made any allowance for her youth, her inexperience, or her want of a proper guide, nor yet pointed out the means of her acquiring that selfcommand, which nevertheless, they insisted upon as that which could not be dispensed with, if she wished in future to be received as a relation in their family, it was no wonder that she returned home in the evening much perplexed and distressed, and suffering under such a dejection of spirits as she had never felt before.

It is probable, however, that these painful impressions might soon have worn off from the mind of Louisa, had it not so happened, that the very next week was fixed for Mrs. Staunton's annual visit into the country: for this lady had always made a point of spending the three summer months of every year in the country. It sometimes happened on these occasions, that she visited a friend's house, and at other times took lodgings in a farm-house. This present year, the farin-house was selected as the most convenient place; and she removed with her niece, her maid, and footman, to the lodgings which had been prepared for her, a very few days after her visit to Mr. Holloway's.

Had Louisa been in good spirits, she would have fancied a thousand agreeablenesses in this change of place, and have interested herself in all the rural transactions which were carried on in her new situation. But she had not yet forgotten the reproofs given her by her cousins; and perceiving them all to be just, she was oppressed with so deep a sense of shame as nothing could enable her to shake off; neither could she become in any degree reconciled to herself.

While her mind was in this state, several old fashioned religious books, which were lying in the window of the parlour at the farm-house, drew her attention. These were Law's Serious Call, Nelson's Fasts and Festivals, The Lady's Calling, Fordyce's Sermons for Young Women, and

other books of the same complexion, in which the forms and duties of religion are set forth more plainly than its doctrines. These she first took up for want of other occupation, and presently became so much engaged by them, as to feel an eager desire excited in her heart to regulate her future conduct by the strict rules laid down in them. "I have lost my character," she said to herself, "in the eyes of my relations, and I will endeavour to retrieve it. I will on my return to D- —, exhibit such an example of strict attention to religion, discretion, and propriety, as shall utterly obliterate my past follies from the mind of Mrs. Holloway and her daughters. I have found (young as I am) nothing but shame and mortification in the ways of pleasure: I will now seek happiness in those of religion. I will repent and become pious. I will dress after the manner of the excellent Mirandi in Law's Serious Call; and I will bestow all I can spare on the poor."

By the time Louisa had formed all these good resolutions, she was, in her own opinion, truly converted, and changed (if such a term may be allowed) into an accomplished saint. Moreover, even during her short residence in the country, she multiplied her observances and forms of devotion, until she became actually perplexed and distressed with the self-imposed burden. In the mean time, the three months which were destined for the country passed away, and Mrs. Staunton and her neice returned to the town.

When these ladies arrived from the country, they found but little change among their old neighbours, excepting that Dr. Holloway's family were become better known, and had, in consequence of the handsome manner in which they lived, and the neat and elegant entertainments which they gave, acquired an influence in society, which tended in some degree to reform the style of manners in the town. Although Dr. Holloway himself never joined in cards or dancing, yet he permitted both to his family, and even insisted that his lady and the young people should attend the public assemblies, in order to act as a check, by their presence, on any indecorums which might otherwise take place. At the same time, he insisted, that they should also be extremely observant of all the forms of religion, and on no common occasion absent themselves from public worship.