taken his note, to save
the expense of a bond, I expressed some surprise that a fellow of his
spirit should loiter away his time in idleness, and, asked why he did
not choose to make his fortune in the army. "What," said he, "throw
away money upon a subaltern's commission, and be under the command of
a parcel of scoundrels, who have raised themselves above me by the most
infamous practices. No, I love independency too well to sacrifice my
life, health, and pleasure, for such a pitiful consideration." Finding
him adverse to this way of life, I changed the subject, and returned
to Don Rodrigo, who had just received the following epistle from the
squire:

"Sir,--Concerning a letter which I received, subscribed R.
Random, this is the answer. As for you, I know nothing of you.
Your son, or pretended son, I have seen; if he marries my
sister, at his peril be it; I do declare that he shall not
have one farthing of her fortune, which becomes my property,
if she takes a husband without my consent. Your settlement,
I do believe, is all a sham, and yourself no better than
you should be; but if you had all the wealth of the Indies,
your son shall never match in our family with the consent of

"Orson Topehall"

My father was not much surprised at this polite letter, after having
heard the character of the author; and as for me, I was even pleased
at his refusal, because I had now an opportunity of showing my
disinterested love. By his permission I waited on my charmer: and
having imparted the contents of her brother's letter, at which she wept
bitterly, in spite of all my consolation and caresses, the time of our
marriage was fixed two days. During this interval, in which my soul
was wound up to the last stretch of rapturous expectation, Narcissa
endeavoured to reconcile some of her relations in town to her marriage
with me; but, finding them all deaf to her remonstrances, either out of
envy or prejudice, she told me with the most enchanting sweetness, while
the tears bedewed her lovely cheeks, "Sure the world will no longer
question your generosity when you take a poor forlorn beggar to your
arms?" Affected with her sorrow, I pressed the fair mourner to my
breast, and swore that she was more dear and welcome on that account,
because she had sacrificed her friends and fortune to her love for me.
My uncle, for whose character she had a great veneration,