22 AMYNTOR AND ALMIRA. 



and to which they will cany with tliem the same affections douhly 

 purified and darting back from their beatified spirits to that lovely 

 centre whence they originally came. 



'* Great source of love enable me ***** 



Here stopt her hand, interrupted probably in her pious ejaculations by 

 some family call, to which she always sacrificed her own private 

 gratifications. 



Scarcely had I read the paper and replaced it in the bowl, before 

 Almira made her appearance, and welcomed me to her house with that 

 unaffected sweetness of address which ever attends and indicates a 

 meek and humble heart. Indeed I have long been of opinion that 

 true politeness is not indebted solely to art, or what is called good 

 company, but derives its peculiar charm from a higher original, and 

 breathes and tastes of heaven. 



I immediately confessed, and begged pardon of the good lady for 

 the liberty I had taken to peep into her manuscript. With a blush 

 of genuine modesty she excused me, and apologised delicately for the 

 hasty scrawl, as she called it, and hoped that her sentiments met with 

 my approbation. 



I was just going to express the high satisfaction which those senti- 

 ments had given me, when Amyntor, the husband and the lover of 

 Almira, entered in from his morning walk. 1 saw the glance darted 

 and caught from the eyes of both ; it spoke a thousand feelings, 

 which all the softness of language could never have expressed. 

 Amyntoi's friendship for me dictating such a welcome as would have 

 warmed the coldest heart, it failed not to kindle the flame in mine, 

 and with these two married lovers I was more highly and rationally 

 enteitained than ever I had been at a breakfast before. 



Just at parting I communicated to Amyntor what had passed, and at 

 my request he furnished me the next morning with a copy of Almira 's 

 Essay 



