scheme which had doubtless long possessed your imagination? A
secret Union will at once secure the felicity of both."

The amiable M'Kenrie, whose modesty as he afterwards assured us
had been the only reason of his having so long concealed the

violence of his affection for Janetta, on receiving this Billet
flew on the wings of Love to Macdonald-Hall, and so powerfully

pleaded his Attachment to her who inspired it, that after a few
more private interveiws, Sophia and I experienced the

satisfaction of seeing them depart for Gretna-Green, which they
chose for the celebration of their Nuptials, in preference to any

other place although it was at a considerable distance from
Macdonald-Hall.

Adeiu
Laura.

LETTER the 13th
LAURA in continuation

They had been gone nearly a couple of Hours, before either
Macdonald or Graham had entertained any suspicion of the affair.

And they might not even then have suspected it, but for the
following little Accident. Sophia happening one day to open a

private Drawer in Macdonald's Library with one of her own keys,
discovered that it was the Place where he kept his Papers of

consequence and amongst them some bank notes of considerable
amount. This discovery she imparted to me; and having agreed

together that it would be a proper treatment of so vile a Wretch
as Macdonald to deprive him of money, perhaps dishonestly gained,

it was determined that the next time we should either of us
happen to go that way, we would take one or more of the Bank

notes from the drawer. This well meant Plan we had often
successfully put in Execution; but alas! on the very day of

Janetta's Escape, as Sophia was majestically removing the 5th
Bank-note from the Drawer to her own purse, she was suddenly most

impertinently interrupted in her employment by the entrance of
Macdonald himself, in a most abrupt and precipitate Manner.

Sophia (who though naturally all winningsweetness could when
occasions demanded it call forth the Dignity of her sex)

instantly put on a most forbidding look, and darting an angry
frown on the undaunted culprit, demanded in a haughty tone of

voice "Wherefore her retirement was thus insolently broken in
on?" The unblushing Macdonald, without even endeavouring to

exculpate himself from the crime he was charged with, meanly
endeavoured to reproach Sophia with ignobly defrauding him of his

money . . . The dignity of Sophia was wounded; "Wretch (exclaimed
she, hastily replacing the Bank-note in the Drawer) how darest

thou to accuse me of an Act, of which the bare idea makes me
blush?" The base wretch was still unconvinced and continued to

upbraid the justly-offended Sophia in such opprobious Language,
that at length he so greatly provoked the gentle sweetness of her

Nature, as to induce her to revenge herself on him by informing
him of Janetta's Elopement, and of the active Part we had both

taken in the affair. At this period of their Quarrel I entered
the Library and was as you may imagine equally offended as Sophia

at the ill-grounded accusations of the malevolent and
contemptible Macdonald. "Base Miscreant! (cried I) how canst

thou thus undauntedly endeavour to sully the spotless reputation
of such bright Excellence? Why dost thou not suspect MY

innocence as soon?" "Be satisfied Madam (replied he) I DO suspect
it, and therefore must desire that you will both leave this House

in less than half an hour."
"We shall go willingly; (answered Sophia) our hearts have long

detested thee, and nothing but our freindship for thy Daughter
could have induced us to remain so long beneath thy roof."

"Your Freindship for my Daughter has indeed been most powerfully
exerted by throwing her into the arms of an unprincipled Fortune-

hunter." (replied he)
"Yes, (exclaimed I) amidst every misfortune, it will afford us

some consolation to reflect that by this one act of Freindship to
Janetta, we have amply discharged every obligation that we have

received from her father."
"It must indeed be a most gratefull reflection, to your exalted

minds." (said he.)
As soon as we had packed up our wardrobe and valuables, we left

Macdonald Hall, and after having walked about a mile and a half
we sate down by the side of a clear limpid stream to refresh our

exhausted limbs. The place was suited to meditation. A grove of
full-grown Elms sheltered us from the East--. A Bed of full-

grown Nettles from the West--. Before us ran the murmuring brook
and behind us ran the turn-pike road. We were in a mood for

contemplation and in a Disposition to enjoy so beautifull a spot.
A mutual silence which had for some time reigned between us, was

at length broke by my exclaiming--"What a lovely scene! Alas why
are not Edward and Augustus here to enjoy its Beauties with us?"

"Ah! my beloved Laura (cried Sophia) for pity's sake forbear
recalling to my remembrance the unhappy situation of my

imprisoned Husband. Alas, what would I not give to learn the
fate of my Augustus! to know if he is still in Newgate, or if he

is yet hung. But never shall I be able so far to conquer my
tender sensibility as to enquire after him. Oh! do not I

beseech you ever let me again hear you repeat his beloved name--.
It affects me too deeply --. I cannot bear to hear him mentioned

it wounds my feelings."
"Excuse me my Sophia for having thus unwillingly offended you--"

replied I--and then changing the conversation, desired her to
admire the noble Grandeur of the Elms which sheltered us from the

Eastern Zephyr. "Alas! my Laura (returned she) avoid so
melancholy a subject, I intreat you. Do not again wound my

Sensibility by observations on those elms. They remind me of
Augustus. He was like them, tall, magestic--he possessed that

noble grandeur which you admire in them."
I was silent, fearfull lest I might any more unwillinglydistress

her by fixing on any other subject of conversation which might
again remind her of Augustus.

"Why do you not speak my Laura? (said she after a short pause)
"I cannot support this silence you must not leave me to my own

reflections; they ever recur to Augustus."
"What a beautifull sky! (said I) How charmingly is the azure

varied by those delicate streaks of white!"
"Oh! my Laura (replied she hastily withdrawing her Eyes from a

momentary glance at the sky) do not thus distress me by calling
my Attention to an object which so cruellyreminds me of my

Augustus's blue sattin waistcoatstriped in white! In pity to
your unhappy freind avoid a subject so distressing." What could I

do? The feelings of Sophia were at that time so exquisite, and
the tenderness she felt for Augustus so poignant that I had not

power to start any other topic, justly fearing that it might in
some unforseen manner again awaken all her sensibility by

directing her thoughts to her Husband. Yet to be silent would be
cruel; she had intreated me to talk.

From this Dilemma I was most fortunately" target="_blank" title="ad.幸运地">fortunately releived by an accident
truly apropos; it was the lucky overturning of a Gentleman's

Phaeton, on the road which ran murmuring behind us. It was a
most fortunate accident as it diverted the attention of Sophia

from the melancholyreflections which she had been before
indulging. We instantly quitted our seats and ran to the rescue

of those who but a few moments before had been in so elevated a
situation as a fashionably high Phaeton, but who were now laid

low and sprawling in the Dust. "What an ample subject for
reflection on the uncertain Enjoyments of this World, would not

that Phaeton and the Life of Cardinal Wolsey afford a thinking
Mind!" said I to Sophia as we were hastening to the field of

Action.
She had not time to answer me, for every thought was now engaged

by the horridspectacle before us. Two Gentlemen most elegantly
attired but weltering in their blood was what first struck our