I79I* LITERARY INTELLIGENCER. ipj« 



rlage ; praifed her beauty ; extolled her virtues ; and corv- 

 cluded by fwearing that he adored her. She heard him 

 with unfufpedting pleafure, which her bluflies could ill con- 

 ceal. Sir Edward improved the favourable moment, talked 

 of the ardency of his paflion, the inflgniiicancy of ceremo- 

 nies and forms, the inefficacy of legal engagements, the 

 eternal duration of tliofe dictated by love ; and, in fine, 

 urged her going oif with him, to crown both their days with 

 happinefs. Louila ftarted at that propofal. She would have 

 reproached him ; but her heart was not made for it : fhe 

 could only weep. 



They were interrupted by the arrival of her father with 

 his intended fon-inlaw. He was juft luch a man as Louifa 

 had reprcfented him ; courfe, vulgar, and ignorant. But 

 Venoni, though much above their neighbour in every thing 

 but riches, looked on him as poorer men often look on 

 the wealthy, and diicovered none of his imperfeclions. He 

 took his daughter alide, told her he had brought her future 

 hufband, and that he intended they fliould be married in a 

 week at fartheft. 



Next morning Louifa was indifpofed, and kept her cham- 

 ber. Sir Edward was now perfeftly recovered. He was 

 engaged to go out with Venoni ; but, before his departure, 

 he took up his violin, and touched a few plaintive notes on 

 it. They were heard by Louifa. 



In the evening, (lie wandered forth to indulge her forrows 

 alone. She had reached a fequeftered fpot, where fome 

 poplars, formed a thicket on the banks of a little ftream that 

 watered the valley. A nightingale was perched on one of 

 them, and had already begun its accuilomed fong. Louifa 

 lat down on a withered flump, leaning her chetk upon her 

 hand. After a little while, the bird was feared from its 

 perch, and flitted from the thicket. Louifa rofe from the 

 ground, and burft into tears. She turned, and beheld Sir 

 Edward. His countenance had much of its former languor : 

 and, when he took her hand, he call on the earth a melan- 

 choly look, and leemed unable to Ipeak his feelings. " Are 

 you not well. Sir Edward r" faid Louifa, with a voice faint 

 and broken. " I am ill indeed," faid he, " but my illnefs 

 is of tlie mind. Louifa cannot cure me of that. I am 



