t she should some time or other behold the
real person whose semblance she had seen in her dream, she has never
since been perfectly at ease in her mind. Her father, who has but two
children, one beside herself, being dotingly fond of her, has promised
that if ever she meets this unknown stranger, he will not oppose their
union, provided he is respectable, and that, if worthy of her hand,
he will make him independent.

"On my return from the inn the evening I first saw you, I told my
sister--I beg pardon, sir--I was wandering from my subject--after I
first met you at the inn, I fell in company with the lady, and in a
rallying way told her that I had seen her _invisible beau_, as we used
to call the gentleman of the dream. I superficially described your
person, and descanted a little on the embellishments of your mind. She
listened with some curiosity and attention; but I had so often jested
with her in this manner, that she thought little of it. At the play last
night, I had just been speaking to her when I came to your box: her eyes
followed me, but no sooner had they rested on you, than she fainted!
This was the cause of my leaving you so abruptly, and not returning. We
conveyed her home, when she informed me that you was the person she had
seen in her dream!

"To me only, she preferred disclosing the circumstance at present, for
reasons which must be obvious to your understanding.--Even her father
and mother are not informed of it, and should my mission prove
unsuccessful, none except you, sir, she and myself, I hope and trust,
will ever know any thing of the matter.

"Now, sir, it is necessary for me farther to explain. As singular as the
circumstances which I have related may appear to you, to me they must
appear as strange.--One valuable purpose is, however, answered thereby;
it will exclude the imputation of capriciousness----the freakish whim of
_love at first sight_, which exists only in novels and romances. You,
sir, are young, unmarried, unaffianced, your affections free: such is
the condition of the lady. She enquires not into the state of your
property! she asks not riches:--If she obtains the object of her choice,
on him, as I have told you, will her father bestow
affluence.----Whatever, sir, may be your pretensions to eminence, and
they may be many, the lady is not your inferior. Her education also is
such as would do honour to a gentleman of taste.

"I will not extend my remarks; you perfectly unders