monotony of my life; and to find a friend, such as fancy had pourtrayed.  I cannot then describe the emotion I felt, the Sunday they made their appearance at church.  My eyes were rivetted on the pillar round which I expected first to catch a glimpse of them, and darted forth to meet a servant who hastily preceded a group of ladies, whose white robes and waving plumes, seemed to stream along the gloomy aisle, diffusing the light, by which I contemplated their figures.

“We visited them in form; and I quickly selected the eldest daughter for my friend.  The second son, George, paid me particular attention, and finding his attainments and manners superior to those of the young men of the village, I began to imagine him superior to the rest of mankind.  Had my home been more comfortable, or my previous acquaintance more numerous, I should not probably have been so eager to open my heart to new affections.

“Mr. Venables, the merchant, had acquired a large fortune by unremitting attention to business; but his health declining rapidly, he was obliged to retire, before his son, George, had acquired sufficient experience, to enable him to conduct their affairs on the same prudential plan, his father had invariably pursued.  Indeed, he had laboured to throw off his authority, having despised his narrow plans and cautious speculation.  The eldest son could not be prevailed on to enter the firm; and, to oblige his wife, and have peace in the house, Mr. Venables had purchased a commission for him in the guards.

“I am now alluding to circumstances which came to my knowledge long after; but it is necessary, my dearest child, that you should know the character of your father, to prevent your despising your mother; the only parent inclined to discharge a parent’s duty.  In London, George had acquired habits of libertinism, which he carefully concealed from his father and his commercial connections.  The mask he wore, was so complete a covering of his real visage, that the praise his father lavished on his conduct, and, poor mistaken man! on his principles, contrasted with his brother’s, rendered the notice he took of me peculiarly flattering.  Without any fixed design, as I am now convinced, he continued to single me out at the dance, press my hand at parting, and utter expressions of unmeaning passion, to which I gave a meaning naturally suggested by the romantic turn of my thoughts.  His stay in the country was short; his manners did not entirely please me; but, when he left us, the colouring of my picture became more vivid—­Whither did not my imagination lead me?  In short, I fancied myself in love—­in love with the disinterestedness, fortitude, generosity, dignity, and humanity, with which I had invested the hero I dubbed.  A circumstance which soon after occurred, rendered all these virtues palpable. [The incident is perhaps worth relating on other accounts, and therefore I shall describe it distinctly.]