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I will not do too much. She is a gentlewoman. She is unhappy from within. Thank God you are not. And the is not now, nor ever was your fer

vant.

They reddened, and looked upon each other in fome confufion.

He preffed each of their hands as in love. Don't let me give you concern, faid he; only permit me to remind you, while it is yet in time, that you have an opportunity given you to fhew yourfelves Grandifons.

When they came to the chamber in which Sir Thomas died, and which was his usual apartment, Mrs Oldham turned pale, and begged to be excufed attending them in it. She wept. You will find every thing there, Sir, faid fhe, to be as it ought. I am ready to answer all questions. Permit me to wait in the adjoining drawing-room. Sir Charles allowed her request.

Poor woman! faid he: How unhappily circumftanced is fhe, that the dares not, in this company, fhew the tendernefs, which is the glory, not only of the female, but of the human nature!

In one of the cabinets in that chamber they found a beautiful little cafket, and a paper wafered upon the back of it; with these words written in Sir Thomas's hand, My wife's jewels, &c.

The key was tied to one of the filver handles. Had you not my mother's jewels divided be tween you? asked he.

My father once fhewed us this casket at Grandifon-hall, answered Caroline. We thought it was ftill there.

My dear fifters, let me ask you: Did my father forbear prefenting these to you, from any declared mifapprehenfion of your want of duty to him?

No, replied Mifs Caroline. But he told us, they fhould be ours when we married. You have heard, I dare fay, that he was not fond of seeing us dressed.

It must have been misapprehenfion only, had it been fo. You could not be undutiful to a father.

He would not permit it to be opened before him: But, prefenting it to them, Receive your right, my fifters. It is heavy. I hope there is more than jewels in it. I know that my mother used to depofit in it her little hoard. I am fure there can be no difpute between fuch affectionate fifters, on the partition of the contents of this casket.

While their brother was taking minutes of pa pers, the ladies retired to open this casket.

They found three purfes in it; in one of which was an India bond of 500l. inclosed in a paper, thus infcribed by Lady Grandifon-From my maiden money. 120 Carolus's were alfo in this purse in two papers; the one inscribed, From my aunt Molly; the other, From my aunt Kitty.

In the fecond purfe were 115 Jacobus's, in a paper, thus infcribed by the fame lady, Prefents made at different times by my honoured mamma, Lady W. three bank-notes, and an India bond, to the amount of 300 l.

The third purse was thus labelled, as Lady L. fhewed me by a copy fhe had of it in her memorandum-book.

For my beloved fon: In acknowledgement of his "duty to his father and me from infancy to "this hour Jan. 1. 17. . .—Of his love to his "fifters-Of the generofity of his temper; "never once having taken advantage of the "indulgence fhewn him by parents fo fond of "him, that, as the only fon of an antient fa

mily, he might have done what he pleafed with them-Of his love of truth: And of "his modefty, courage, benevolence, steadi"nefs of mind, docility, and other great and amiable qualities, by which he gives a mo

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"ral affurance of making A GOOD MAN

“—GOD grant it!

Amen."

The ladies immediately carried this purfe, thus labelled, to their brother. He took it; read the label, turning his face from his fifters, as he read; -Excellent woman! faid he, when he had read it, Being dead, fhe fpeaks. May her pious prayer be anfwered! looking up. Then opening the purse, he found five coronation-medals of different princes in it, and feveral others of value; a gold fnuff-box, in which, wrapt in cotton, were three diamond rings; one fignified to be his grandfather's; the two others, an uncle's and brother's of Lady Grandifon: But what was more valuable to him than all the rest, the ladies faid, was a miniature picture of his mother, fet in gold; an admirable likeness, they told me; and they would get their brother to let me fee it.

Neglecting all the reft, he eagerly took it out of the fhagreen cafe, gazed at it in filence, kiffed it, a tear falling from his eye. He then put it to his. heart: Withdrew for a few moments; and returned with a chearful afpect.

The ladies told him what was in the other two purfes. They faid they made no fcruple of accepting the jewels; but the bonds, the notes, and the money, they offered to him.

He asked, If there were no particular direction upon either? They aufwered, No.

He took them; and emptying them upon the table, mingled the contents of both together: There may be a difference in the value of each: Thus mingled, you, my fifters, will equally divide them between you. This picture (putting his hand on his bofom, where it yet was) is of infinite more value than all the three purfes contained befides.

You will excufe, thefe particularities, my dear friends: But if you do not, I can't help it.We are all apt, I believe, to purfue the fubjects

that

that most delight us. Don't grudge me my pleafure: Perhaps I fhall pay for it. I admire this man more than I can exprefs.

[Saturday Night-And no Sir Charles Grandifon. With all my heart!]

W

LETTER

XXI.

Mifs BYRON. In Continuation.

HEN Sir Charles and his fifters had looked

over every other place in his father's apartment, they followed Mrs Oldham to hers.

A very handsome apartment, upon my word! How could Mifs Grandifon-She knew the fituation the unhappy woman had been in: Mistress of that house.

Her brother looked at her.

Mrs Oldham fhewed them which of the furniture and pictures (fome of the latter valuable ones) fhe had brought into the house, faved, as she said, from the wreck of her husband's fortune-But, faid fhe, with the confent of creditors. I, for my part, did not wrong any-body.

In that clofet, Sir, continued fhe, pointing to it, is all that I account myself worth in the world. Mr Grandifon was pleased to put his feal upon the door. I befought him to let me take 50%. out of it, having but very little money about me: But he would not: His refufal, befides the difgrace, has put me to fome shifts. But weeping, I throw myfelf upon your mercy, Sir,

The fifters frankly owned, that they hardened each other by fault-finding. They whispered, that fhe expected no mercy from them, it was plain. what a glory belongs to goodness, as well in its, influences as in itself! Not even these two amiable

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fifters, as Mifs Charlotte once acknowledged, were fo noble in themselves before their brother's arrival, as they are now.

Aflure yourself of justice, madam, faid Sir Charles. Mr Grandifon is hafty: But he would have done you justice, I dare fay: He thought he was acting for a truft.-You may have letters, you may have things here in his closet that we have no business with. Then, breaking the feal, F leave it to you to fhew us any-thing proper for us to take account of. The reft I with not to fee.

My ladies, Sir-They will be pleased to

YES, Mrs Oldham, faid Caroline: And was putting herself before her brother, and fo was her fifter, while Sir Charles was withdrawing from the clofet: But he took each by her hand, interrupting Caroline

NO, Mrs Oldham Do you lay out things as you pleafe: We will ftep into the next apartment. He accordingly led them both out.

You are very generous, Sir, faid Mifs Grandifon. I would be fo, Charlotte. Ought not the private drawers of women to be facred?

But fuch a creature, Sir-faid Mifs CarolineEvery creature is intitled to justice-can ladies forget decorum? You fee fhe was surprised by Mr Grandifon. She has fuffered difgrace: Has been put to difficulties.

Well, Sir, if fhe will do juftice

Remember (with looks of meaning) whofe housekeeper fhe was.

They owned they were daunted [And fo, dear ladies, you ought to have been], but not convinced at that inftant. It is generous to own this, ladies ;; Becaufe the behaviour makes not for your honour.

Mrs Oldham, with tears in her eyes, came courtefying to the ladies and their brother, offering to conduct them into her clofet. They found, that the Had fpread on her table in it, and in the two win

dows,

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