esign to gratify it, and only expect you will judge of my desire to
oblige you by my readiness in obeying your commands; were I myself the
subject, the motive for my obedience might be equivocal.'

The History of Miss Mancel and Mrs Morgan continued

I think, continued Mrs Maynard, we left Miss Melvyn requiring to be
confronted by her accuser, a request which her step-mother was not
inclined to grant; for though in her dealings with young Simon she had
perceived such a degree of solicitude for his own interest, and such
flagrant proofs of want of integrity, that she did not doubt but that by
promising him the farm on rather better terms than she had yet consented
to he might be prevailed with to join so far in her scheme as to assert
any thing to Sir Charles, yet she dared not venture to produce him face
to face to Miss Melvyn, fearing lest his assurance should fail him on
so severe a trial.

She replied, therefore, that the proofs were too strong to admit of
doubt, but she could not think of exposing Miss Melvyn to the
mortification of hearing her depravity witnessed by, perhaps, the last
person whom she expected should acknowledge it. Besides, that by such an
eclat the disgrace must infallibly become public, and she be deprived of
the only means left her of rescuing her reputation from that infamy, to
which, in a very short time, it must have been irrecoverably condemned;
for it could not be supposed that Mr Morgan would accept as his wife a
woman with a sullied character.

Miss Melvyn was almost distracted, at being both so injuriously accused
and denied the liberty of defending herself; she begged, she intreated,
on her knees, that Sir Charles would not suffer her to fall a prey to
such undeserved malice. She asserted her innocence in the strongest and
most persuasive terms, and insisted so warmly on her demand of being
confronted with her accusers, that her father grew inclined to grant her
just request. Lady Melvyn, perceiving he began to comply, repeated her
refusal in the most peremptory manner, and declaring to Miss Melvyn that
she had no other choice left her but either to resolve to marry Mr
Morgan or to be exposed to shame in being publicly disclaimed by her
parents, who would no longer suffer her to remain in their house, led
Sir Charles out of the room; and he, though reluctant, dared not refuse
to accompany her.

Miss Melvyn was now left to reflect on this dreadful alternative. Filled
with horror a