object not to be difregarded. They would not, however, have confented to a marriage between him and their daughter had not fhe been as much prejudiced in his favour, as he, evidently, was in hers: they had too fincere an affection for her to defire to have her feparated from them with a man to whom she was averfe; but as fhe really felt a strong prepoffeflion for Mr. Hadley, they rationally believed that they would be mutually happy in the marriage ftate.

While the neceffary preparations were making for the wedding-day, a ticket Mr. Clinton had in the lottery, came up a ten thoufand.

This event bad fuch an effect upon Mrs. Clin. ton, that it abfolutely transformed her into a new woman. She was fuddenly feized with a violent defire to return to her old neighbourhood in London, that those who had with a malicious compaf fion triumphed over her on being obliged to retire, might be mortified by the fight of her in a fituation equal to the fhowy one in which fhe once figured amongst them.

Mr. Clinton, however, having a stronger understanding, was not fo elated with his fuccefs as to wish to launch out into his former ftyle of live ing; on the contrary, he took no small pains to

drive out of Mrs. Clinton's mind, the magnificent ideas which had intruded themfelves into it. But how little do we know ourselves!

By the death of a distant relation a few weeks afterwards, Mr. Clinton, very unexpectedly, as they had not for many years been upon good terms, came into the poffeffion of a fortune more than double his prize.

This acquifition coming fo quick after the other, spoilt him entirely for a philofopher, and he began to feel the flame which he had fo ftrenuously endeavoured to extinguifh in the bofom of his ambitious wife, burning in his own breast the rage for appearance, tho' each of them was on the wrong fide of forty, animated them both to fuch a degree, that they, from that moment, thought of nothing but pomp, parade, equipage, and ftate. When a paffion for gaiety and fplendor, predominates in the hearts of those who are haftening to the autumnal part of their lives, it generally drives them into ridiculous fituations; in which fituations they certainly deferve all the merriment they excite.

The village of D

was no longer to be endured. Enquiries were made immediately after a handsome houfe in the Square from which they

had

had prudentially removed; and luckily for them, as they thought, intoxicated with the flattering re volution of their affairs, a house was just at that time evacuated by the lady whose husband a few months before died in it. Mr. Clinton, as foon as he heard of it, hurried to the landlord, and closed an agreement with him as precipitately as if the felicity of his future life depended upon his fecond refidence in B. Square.

While the preparations for their departure from Dwere going forward with the utmoft expedition, Mr. Hadley returned from an excurfion which he had made into Hpfhire, in order to fettle every thing for the reception of his bride; and imagined he fhould give Mr. and Mrs. Clinton no small fatisfaction, by informing them that he was quite ready to wait on their daughter to church. Of Fanny's fatisfaction he was pretty well affured.

To his extreme furprize he was received by Mr. Clinton with coldnefs; and when he acquaint ed him with the arrangements he had made in his house in H-pfhire, in confequence of having obtained his confent to marry Mifs Clinton, he received the following reply." I have altered my mind, Sir, fince you were here laft, with regard to the difpofal of my Fanny."

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"Altered your mind, Sir!" faid Hadley, with fome warmth: "What are your reafons for this unexpected behaviour?"

"I am not obliged to give my reasons to any body, Sir."

Hadley not being able to procure any answers from Mr. Clinton, more fatisfactory than that aforementioned, left him the parlour to himself, and went in fearch of Mrs. Clinton.

He found her in the garden watering her flowers; and could not help complaining to her, (looking upon her entirely in his intereft) of the reception he had met with from her husband.

"Mr. Clinton, Sir, knows what he is about; and if you are diffatisfied with his behaviour, you will be equally fo with mine, for we think, unanimously, I affure you, upon this occafion."

He then defired to fee Mifs Clinton.

"She is not at home, Sir; and if you will take my advice, you will never come hither again, for Mr. Clinton and I cannot now think of having you allied to us."

Hadley, though he had a fmall fortune, had a great deal of pride: he, therefore, did not attempt

to

to make another vifit to Mr. Clinton: but as he loved Fanny too fincerely not to wifh to learn her fentiments, with regard to him, he wrote a very refpectful and affectionate letter to her; and was rendered extremely happy by her anfwer, in which fhe pofitively declared, that the would give her hand to no man breathing but himself.

When Mr. and Mrs. Clinton were fettled in their new houfe, thofe who had broke off all connections with them, came pouring in to pay their congratulating vifits: their vanity was flattered by receiving thofe vifits; and their pride gratified by not returning them. By this behaviour they threw the greateft part of the Square into a violent commotion; but they were exceedingly easy about it: they were, indeed, fufficiently rejoiced at having an opportunity to mortify those families whofe infolent behaviour they had with a proper fpirit refented.

With their new neighbours, people who came to live in the Square, after their retreat from it, they kept up a very regular vifiting; but they were esteemed by nobody with whom they affociated. They were envied for the fplendor of their appearance; and they were hated for the haughtiness with which it was accompanied. They went to all public places; and in all public places