and the chaste Queen of Night with her silver crescent faintly
illuminated the hemisphere. The mind of Montraville was hushed

into composure by the serenity of the surrounding objects.
"I will think on her no more," said he, and turned with an intention

to leave the place; but as he turned, he saw the gate which led
to the pleasure grounds open, and two women come out, who walked

arm-in-arm across the field.
"I will at least see who these are," said he. He overtook them,

and giving them the compliments of the evening, begged leave
to see them into the more frequented parts of the town:

but how was he delighted, when, waiting for an answer, he discovered,
under the concealment of a large bonnet, the face of Charlotte Temple.

He soon found means to ingratiate himself with her companion,
who was a French teacher at the school, and, at parting,

slipped a letter he had purposely written, into Charlotte's hand,
and five guineas into that of Mademoiselle, who promised she

would endeavour to bring her young charge into the field again
the next evening.

CHAPTER II.
DOMESTIC CONCERNS.

MR.Temple was the youngest son of a nobleman whose fortune was by no means
adequate to the antiquity, grandeur, and I may add, pride of the family.

He saw his elder brother made completely wretched by marrying
a disagreeable woman, whose fortune helped to prop the sinking dignity

of the house; and he beheld his sisters legally prostituted to old,
decrepid men, whose titles gave them consequence in the eyes of

the world, and whose affluence rendered them splendidly miserable.
"I will not sacrifice internal happiness for outward shew," said he:

"I will seek Content; and, if I find her in a cottage, will embrace
her with as much cordiality as I should if seated on a throne."

Mr. Temple possessed a small estate of about five hundred pounds
a year; and with that he resolved to preserve independence,

to marry where the feelings of his heart should direct him,
and to confine his expenses within the limits of his income.

He had a heart open to every generous feeling of humanity,
and a hand ready to dispense to those who wanted part of the blessings

he enjoyed himself.
As he was universally known to be the friend of the unfortunate,

his advice and bounty was frequently solicited; nor was it seldom
that he sought out indigent merit, and raised it from obscurity,

confining his own expenses within a very narrow compass.
"You are a benevolent fellow," said a young officer to him one day;

"and I have a great mind to give you a fine subject to exercise
the goodness of your heart upon."

"You cannot oblige me more," said Temple, "than to point out any way
by which I can be serviceable to my fellow creatures."

"Come along then," said the young man, "we will go and visit a man
who is not in so good a lodging as he deserves; and, were it

not that he has an angel with him, who comforts and supports him,
he must long since have sunk under his misfortunes."

The young man's heart was too full to proceed; and Temple,
unwilling to irritate his feelings by making further enquiries,

followed him in silence, til they arrived at the Fleet prison.
The officer enquired for Captain Eldridge: a person led them up several

pair of dirty stairs, and pointing to a door which led to a miserable,
small apartment, said that was the Captain's room, and retired.

The officer, whose name was Blakeney, tapped at the door,
and was bid to enter by a voice melodiously soft. He opened

the door, and discovered to Temple a scene which rivetted him
to the spot with astonishment.

The apartment, though small, and bearing strong marks of poverty,
was neat in the extreme. In an arm-chair, his head reclined upon

his hand, his eyes fixed on a book which lay open before him,
sat an aged man in a Lieutenant's uniform, which, though threadbare,

would sooner call a blush of shame into the face of those who could
neglect real merit, than cause the hectic of confusion to glow

on the cheeks of him who wore it.
Beside him sat a lovely creature busied in painting a fan mount.

She was fair as the lily, but sorrow had nipped the rose in her
cheek before it was half blown. Her eyes were blue; and her hair,

which was light brown, was slightlyconfined under a plain
muslin cap, tied round with a black ribbon; a white linen gown

and plain lawn handkerchiefcomposed the remainder of her dress;
and in this simple attire, she was more irresistibly charming

to such a heart as Temple's, than she would have been, if adorned
with all the splendor of a courtly belle.

When they entered, the old man arose from his seat, and shaking
Blakeney by the hand with great cordiality, offered Temple his chair;

and there being but three in the room, seated himself on the side
of his little bed with evidentcomposure.

"This is a strange place," said he to Temple, "to receive visitors
of distinction in; but we must fit our feelings to our station.

While I am not ashamed to own the cause which brought me here,
why should I blush at my situation? Our misfortunes are not our faults;

and were it not for that poor girl--"
Here the philosopher was lost in the father. He rose hastily

from his seat, and walking toward the window, wiped off a tear
which he was afraid would tarnish the cheek of a sailor.

Temple cast his eye on Miss Eldridge: a pellucid drop had
stolen from her eyes, and fallen upon a rose she was painting.

It blotted and discoloured the flower. " 'Tis emblematic,"
said he mentally: "the rose of youth and health soon fades when

watered by the tear of affliction."
"My friend Blakeney," said he, addressing the old man, "told me I

could be of service to you: be so kind then, dear Sir, as to point
out some way in which I can relieve the anxiety of your heart

and increase the pleasures of my own."
"My good young man," said Eldridge, "you know not what you offer.

While deprived of my liberty I cannot be free from anxiety
on my own account; but that is a trifling concern; my anxious

thoughts extend to one more dear a thousand times than life:
I am a poor weak old man, and must expect in a few years to sink

into silence and oblivion; but when I am gone, who will protect
that fair bud of innocence from the blasts of adversity, or from

the cruel hand of insult and dishonour. "
"Oh, my father!" cried Miss Eldridge, tenderlytaking his hand,

"be not anxious on that account; for daily are my prayers offered
to heaven that our lives may terminate at the same instant,

and one grave receive us both; for why should I live when deprived
of my only friend."

Temple was moved even to tears. "You will both live many years,"
said he, "and I hope see much happiness. Cheerly, my friend, cheerly;

these passing clouds of adversity will serve only to make
the sunshine of prosperity more pleasing. But we are losing time:

you might ere this have told me who were your creditors, what were
their demands, and other particulars necessary to your liberation."

"My story is short," said Mr. Eldridge, "but there are some particulars
which will wring my heart barely to remember; yet to one whose

offers of friendship appear so open and disinterested, I will relate
every circumstance that led to my present, painful situation.

But my child," continued he, addressing his daughter, "let me prevail
on you to take this opportunity, while my friends are with me,

to enjoy the benefit of air and exercise.
Go, my love; leave me now; to-morrow at your usual hour I will

expect you. "
Miss Eldridge impressed on his cheek the kiss of filial

affection, and obeyed.
CHAPTER III.

UNEXPECTED MISFORTUNES.
"MY life," said Mr. Eldridge, "till within these few years was marked

by no particular circumstance deserving notice. I early embraced
the life of a sailor, and have served my King with unremitted ardour

for many years. At the age of twenty-five I married an amiable woman;
one son, and the girl who just now left us, were the fruits of our union.

My boy had genius and spirit. I straitened my little income
to give him a liberal education, but the rapid progress he made

in his studies amply compensated for the inconvenience.
At the academy where he received his education he commenced an

acquaintance with a Mr. Lewis, a young man of affluent fortune:
as they grew up their intimacy ripened into friendship, and they