222 
she resolved’ to endeavour, by the most , 
rigid attention to her ewn behaviour, to 
regain his affections. But alas! there is 
eo slight a difference between guilt and 
dissipation, that unless the latter is quit 
ted (a sacrifice which Melissa was unable 
to make) the imputation of the former 
can seldom be avoided. 
Melissa’s only consolation in her hours 
of solitude (for hours of solitude and re- 
flection will intrude on the busiest and 
most dissipated) was a very fine boy 
whom she bore her husband within a 
twelve-month of their marriage, and who 
evas now about four years old. Her af 
fection for this child was so unbounded, 
and her indulgence so ill-judged, that 
little master soon found himself the more 
powerful of the two. ~Florio was also 
very fond of his son, and spased no ex- 
nse on his education. Unfortunately 
fonh parents were’ too fond of the dar- 
ling to expose him to the rude butiets of 
2 public’school; bat as Florio was de- 
termined to give his son the education 
to which his birth entitled him, he placed 
him under the care of a private tutor, a 
gan who had no other object, or indeed 
ability, than to flatter the boy’s vanity, 
and to court the father’s favour. 
It commonly, I think, happens, when 
two people fix their affections very 
strongly on one object, that they gradually 
feel.an affection for each other. This 
at least was the case with Florio and 
Melissa. It was some time indeed be- 
fore the former could reconcile it to his 
eonscience, asa man of honour, to ask 
pardon of his wife; nor did the Jat- 
ter, who had long been disgusted by her 
husband’s irregularities, very cordially 
meethis overtures. Time, however, and 
niutual sympathy, effected their recon- 
iliation, 
Such was the situation of, this pair 
when I was introduced to them. Their 
affection appeared to be very sincere, 
but as the fashionable circle in which 
they moved rendered’ my acquaintance 
neither honourable’ nor advantageous, 
they quickly dropped it, and from that 
time, which is nearly twelve years ago, I 
never heard from them. 
About a fortnight ago I was surprised 
by a visit from Melissa in deep mourn- 
ing, and:in extreme distress. Her looks 
were so changed, that, had she not dis- 
covered herself, I should not have recog- 
nized the toast who had set so many 
hearts on fire. 
“Tam come,” said she, (aS soon as 
her tears would allow her to speak,) “I 
a 
Story of Melissa. 
am come to you for advice. I have, € 
confess, no claim to your friendship; 
but I am sure you will have the gene- 
rosity to forget my past ill-treatment 
in my present affliction. Osir, you res 
member me glittering in all the insoler:ce 
of fashion, the victim of dissipation, the 
gayest of the gay! You now see me 
bereft of all my honours, poor, sick, and 
friendless! And» yet L would not exs 
change my- present situation for all the 
splendour of my former life. Then E 
was vain, insolent, and guilty. There is 
nothing that can bring a vutary of fashion 
to repentance and reflection, but some 
sudden stroke of adversity, sent by hea- 
ven to reclaim them. : 
“ Soon atter we lost sight of you, my 
husband, whose constitution was much 
injured by a long course of intempe+ 
rance, died in a consumption.’ We never 
had a settiement, but he left me by his 
will 2000]. a-year, with nearly 10,0001. 
in ready money. The remainder of his 
fortune he gave to his son. ‘The latter, 
who was then at college, no sooner found 
that his father was'dead, than he quitted 
the university and came to London; and, 
though under age, contrived to pesuade 
the trustees, in whose hands his. for- 
tune was lodged, to advance lifty’a very 
large sum. With this, regar my 
affliction, and without the, spect 
for the memory of his father, et off 
to [taly, and remained there till he had 
spent the whole of the money he had 
received, and nearly as much more, 
which he borrowed on the strength of 
his expectations, About sixteen months 
ago, Altamont came of age, and took 
possession of his fortune, which was al+ 
together little less than 50Q0I. a-year, 
My annuity was secured in the funds, 
He offered, if I would relinquish it, to 
secure an equivalent sum on his landed 
estates. To this proposal, as I had no 
doubt of his integrity, whatever anxiet 
his extravagance had given me, I im- 
mediately assented. IL began ta be a 
litrle uneasy at finding he was more 
ready to receive my money, than to per= 
form his own part of the agreement; 
but when [ pressed him to remove my 
anxiety, he told me that he was going to 
Yorkshire tu arrange his affairs, and that 
on his return he would immediately set- 
tle my annuity. This scheme was ‘ren- 
dered so plausible by the greater part of 
his estate being in Yorkshire, that I was 
induced to acquiesce in it. He set off 
on his journey; but, to my infinite asto- 
nishment and terror, I heard, in aboug 
three 
[April 1, 
: 
