CHA P. V.

A new and great acquaintance introduced. What we place most hopes upon generally proves most fatal.

A

Ta fmall distance from the houfe my

predeceffor had made a feat, overfhaded by an hedge of hawthorn and honeyfuckle. Here, when the weather was fine and our labour foon finished, we ufually fat together, to enjoy an extenfive landscape, in the calm of the evening. Here too we drank tea, which now was become an occafional banquet; and as we had it but feldom, it diffufed a new joy, the preparations for it being made with no fmall fhare of buftle and ceremony. On these occafions, our two little ones always read for us, and they were regularly ferved after we had done. Sometimes, to give a variety to our amufements, the girls VOL. I. fung

C

fung to the guitar; and while they thus formed a little concert, my wife and I would stroll down the floping field, that was embellifhed with blue-bells and centaury, talk of our children with rapture, and enjoy the breeze that wafted both health and harmony.

In this manner we began to find that every fituation in life may bring its own peculiar pleasures: every morning waked us to a repetition of toil; but the evening repaid it with vacant hilarity.

It was about the beginning of autumn, on a holiday, for I kept fuch as intervals of relaxation from labour, that I had drawn out my family to our ufual place of amufement, and our young musicians began their ufual concert. As we were thus engaged, we faw a ftag bound nimbly by, within about twenty paces of where we were fitting, and by its panting, it seemed preft by the hunters. We had not much. time to reflect upon the poor animal's dif

trefs,

tress, when we perceived the dogs and horsemen come fweeping along at fome distance behind, and making the very path it had taken. I was inftantly for returning in with my family; but either curiosity or furprize, or fome more hidden motive, held my wife and daughters to their feats. The huntsman, who rode foremost, paft us with great fwiftnefs, followed by four or five perfons more, who feemed in equal hafte. At laft, a young gentleman of a more genteel appearance than the reft, came forward, and for a while regarding us, inftead of pursuing the chace, ftopt fhort, and giving his horse to a fervant who attended, approached us with a careless fuperior air. He feemed to want no introduction, but was going to falute my daughters as one certain of a kind reception; but they had early learnt the leffon of looking prefumption out of countenance. Upon which he let us know that his name was Thornhill, and that he was owner of the eftate that lay for fome extent round us. C 2

He again,

there

therefore, offered to falute the female part of the family; and fuch was the power of fortune and fine cloaths, that he found no fecond repulfe. As his address, though confident, was eafy, we foon became more familiar; and perceiving mu fical inftruments lying near, he begged to be favoured with a fong. As I did not approve of fuch difproportioned acquaintances, I winked upon my daughters, in order to prevent their compliance; but my hint was counteracted by one from their mother; fo that with a chearful air they gave us a favourite fong of Dryden's. Mr. Thornhill feemed highly delighted with their performance and choice, and then took up the guitar himself. He played but very indifferently; however, my eldest daughter repaid his former applause with intereft, and affured him that his tones were louder than even thofe of her mafter. At this compliment he bowed, which she returned with a curtefy. He praised her tafte, and the commended his understand

ing:

ing an age could not have made them better acquainted. While the fond mother too, equally happy, infifted upon her landlord's stepping in, and tafting a glafs of her goofeberry. The whole family feemed earnest to please him: my girls attempted to entertain him with topics they thought moft modern, while Mofes, on the contrary, gave him a question or two from the ancients, for which he had the fatisfaction of being laughed at: my little ones were no lefs bufy, and fondly ftuck clofe to the ftranger. All my endeavours could scarce keep their dirty fingers from handling and tarnishing the lace on his cloaths, and lifting up the flaps of his pocket holes, to fee what was there. At the approach of evening he took leave; but not till he had requefted permiffion to renew his visit, which, as he was our landlord, we most readily agreed to.

As foon as he was gone, my wife called a council on the conduct of the day. She was of opinion, that it was a most fortu