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beauty of his patron's young wife attracted his attention to such a degree, that it was obvious to the whole family, save only the blind zealot Sir John.

Lady Lambert blushed at the idea of encouraging the presumption of Cantwell; yet to save her husband and his children was a powerful inducement, and no other means appeared feasible. She therefore appointed him to an interview in her closetthe joy of which condescension threw him off his guard, and he betrayed his feelings towards her by an unequivocal declaration of love. The moderation of Lady Lambert would have made a prudent use of this discovery, had not the impetuosity of Colonel Lambett marred her intentions-by rushing from his hiding place, to the utter discomfiture of the villain as he imagined; but he was struck dumb with amazement, when, on his father bursting into the room to demand the cause of disturbance-Cantwell, with the most perfect composure, and unblushing effrontery, foiled the Colonel's indignant accusations by declaring that he spoke of his love for Miss Lambert-a subject on which he was commissioned to speak, by the desire, indeed at the request, of Sir John himself. Sir John confirmed the truth of this assertion; and said that it was by his request that Doctor Cantwell had waited upon his wife, to solicit her influence with Charlotte. In vain the Colonel pleaded; he was left to his own defence: for Lady Lambert, angry at his untimely interruption, before their schemes were ripe for execution, had quitted the room on Sir John's entrance, leaving him to fight his own battle.

Colonel Lambert was an excellent soldier: but not so good a general, as to be able to fight in ambush with such an expert enemy as Doctor Cantwell;-who wept, and entreated Sir John would permit him to quit his house-assuring him that he could not be at peace, while he was the cause,

though heaven could tell the innocent cause, of disunion between so good a son and so excellent a father. The moderation of Cantwell was like oil poured upon the flame of wrath, which the Colonel's violence had aroused in the bresst of his father; who forbade him to utter another sentence, and imperiously ordered him to quit his sight for ever; then taking the Doctor's hand, tenderly embraced, and led him to his library-declaring his intention of immediately signing the instrument, which should throw his rebellious son on the mercy of his insulted friend and favourite.

Cantwell, with well dissembled regret, begged Sir John to moderate his anger-to take time for reflection-not to be too hasty in discarding his son, who no doubt meant well-though he was impetuous but the more he pleaded, the more determined Sir John became. Seyward was therefore summoned, and ordered to produce the parchment : Sir John eagerly signed it-and Cantwell as eagerly received it, though to all outward appearance, he took it with reluctance.

Sir John's next step was to insist on Charlotte's acceptance of the Doctor's hand; and he bade her prepare to receive his visit immediately. Charlotte

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obeyed and the Doctor came: there was however little ceremony between them. Charlotte had no inducement whatever to disguise her feelings of hatred towards him; whilst he, fully invested with power, felt very little necessity for dissembling, and therefore refused most positively to give his consent to her marriage with Mr. Darnley; assigning as a reason, that their mutual extravagance would wantonly dissipate that money, which ought to be disposed of in a more useful and benevolent manner. Charlotte readily understood the hint, and agreed to divide the four thousand pounds equally with him; upon condition that he gave his free consent to her marriage with Darnley-and his influence to obtain her father's consent also. This she thought was one point gained towards a discovery of his character, when her father should learn he could thus vilely barter with the property invested in his power, and appropriate it to his own use.

Cantwell, true to his word, used his influence with Sir John in favour of Darnley's pretensions; an ap parent instance of noble minded generosity which endeared him more than ever to the heart of his patron; and more strongly fixed his determination of giving his daughter to him: but when Charlotte informed her father of the bargain, which she had entered into with the Doctor-it somewhat staggered him. Lady Lambert thinking the proper moment for discovery, was now arrived,-informed him his son's accusations were really true; that the unprincipled villain had dared to speak to her of love; and that if he would descend so far from the dignity of his character as to become a listener, she would lay the treachery of Cantwell open to his view at one glance. It was indeed, she observed, a mean and unworthy mode of proceeding; but desperate diseases required desperate remedies and she was painfully compelled to point out the only mode with

in her power to release him from the thraldom of an hypocritical scoundrel.

Sir John was tortured; and he dreaded the conviction which his wife offered to give him. Was Doctor Cantwell indeed a villain? If so, where was he-where was his son-in what a gulf of utter ruin had he involved himself and family? Trembling at the discovery which was about to be made, ashamed at the retrospect of his own weakness, should Lady Lambert's and Charlotte's accusations be really well founded, he suffered himself to be led to his hiding-place; there to await the full disclosure of Cantwell's hypocrisy.

The Doctor readily obeyed the summons of Lady Lambert; who received him most graciously, expressed her sorrow for the uneasiness which the Colonel's violence had caused, and played her part with so much skill, that the Doctor, completely deceived, threw off the mask of sanctity without constraint, and plainly displayed himself to the agonized dupe of his arts, in colours so glaring that to doubt any longer was impossible. Sir John at once rushed upon him; and, resisting all his efforts at vindication, ordered him to quit his house immediately. Cantweli, finding any further attempt at hypocrisy would be fruitless, stood forth at once, a daring "bold faced villain," insolently telling Sir. John that he was master there, and ordered him to quit a house which was no longer his, and over which he had not any authority.

"True, most true (replied the miserable man), whither shall I fly to hide me from the world !"

Overwhelmed with shame, remorse, and anguish, he was rushing out of the room; when Lady Lambert forcibly detained him; and, assuming a degree of spirit which he had never before on any occasion witnessed, she declared he should not stir hence, that possession still was theirs, and they would not

quit the house, unless compelled by law. The Doctor, alarmed at her firmness, left the roomloudly calling upon Seyward!

Presently the report of a pistol was heard, and Charlotte terrified, ran to her father, expressing her apprehensions that murder was committed. The alarm was however transient; for Cantwell, Darnley, and Seyward soon made their appearance, and the report of the pistol was accounted for. When the Doctor left the room, he called Seyward to the pavilion in the garden; where, in great perturbation of mind, he told him that a storm was gathered, which he was not prepared to meet ;-that his sole dependence was upon his fidelity, and that he must be ready, when called upon, to swear he had seen him pay to Sir John several large sums of money, as value for an estate. Seyward boldly refused to perjure himself--telling him, on the contrary, that he was well satisfied, he had obtained from Sir John several large sums, under pretence of charitable purposes, and which he had secretly converted to his own use. Stung to madness by this defiance of Seyward, he seized him by the throat; but Seyward's temper forsook him at this instant, and forgetting the disparity of their years, he gave him a

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