PAUL AND VIRGINIA. 9I 



out of politenefs, for (lie no longer deliberated in 

 her own mind, after the decifion of her confeflbr. 

 Even Margaret, who, in fpite of the advantages 

 which (he thought her Ton might derive from 

 ^/>^/»i(2's -fortune, h'd warmly oppofed her depar- 

 ture, no long^^cr made any objedions. As for Paul, 

 entirely ignor;int of the refolutions which might 

 be formed, and alarmed at the fecret converfations 

 of Madatne de la Tour and her daughter, he aban- 

 doned himfelf to a gloomy fadnefs : *' Surely," 

 faid he, " they are contriving fome mifchief 

 " againft me, from the myfterioufnefs of their con - 

 " dud toward me." 



A report, meanwhile, being foon circulated in 

 the ifland, that fortune had vifited thefe folitudes, 

 merchants of every defcription might be feen fcram- 

 bhng up hither : they difplayed, amidft thefe poor 

 cottages, the richefl ftiifFs of India j the fuperfine 

 dimities of Goudelour; the handkerchiefs of Poul- 

 licat and Mazulipatam, and the muflins of Decca, 

 plain, ftriped, embroidered, and tranfparent as the 

 day ; the baftas of Surat, fo beautifully white, ^nd 

 chintzes of all colours, and of the rareft fort, with 

 a fable ground and green fprigs. They unrolled 

 the magnificent filks of China ; lampas pinked into 

 tranfparency ; fatiny-white damaiks; fome of a 

 meadow- green, others of a dazzling red; rofe-co- 

 loured taffetas, fatins in whole bales, Pekins foft as 



wool, 



