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from his protection, whose own feelings of delicacy and respect for you teach him not to appear in these his generous proceedings. He pours in wealth upon me, that from me you may receive every comfort and assistance you can require, without the shadow of impropriety. I stand as the agent between your generous friend and you: I am enriched solely to be your guardian and your banker. A most sacred and most honourable trust is confided to me; and I hope and believe my heart will prove worthy of the precious deposit."

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The tears which trickled down the cheeks of Julia, as she pressed with fervour the hand of Mr. Goodwin to her lips, expressed most accurately the feelings his conduct had awakened in her breast, where such generosity, integrity, and kindness, could not fail of making a deep and indelible impression; and most awfully penetrated she found herself by the care of her future destiny, which, with Mr. Goodwin, she now believ-, ed Divine Providence had delegated to the benevolent stranger; and, from this belief, she now promised Mr. Goodwin to rest contented for the present, nor to seek further for a situation for her to earn her sub

sistence in, unless that in the course of one year, they should find cause to change their present opinion relative to the source of Mr. Goodwin's amended fortune.

The gratified pride of Mrs. Goodwin soon conquered the tenderness of her maternal feelings, and reconciled her to the prospect of so long a separation from her favourite child. Mr. Goodwin was reconciled to it, because it was for his son's advantage; but the distant prospect of again beholding him, surrounded by all that affluence could bestow, which cheered the sanguine mother, the father's advanced age denied. Mr. Goodwin felt convinced that when he parted from his boy, it would be an eternal adieu; yet he brought his mind to something like resignation; while Mrs. Goodwin, elated with a variety of long-estranged prosperity, wrote to her only sister (with whom, of late, she seldom corresponded) a full account of Mr. Goodwin's miraculous increase of business, and the great appointment of her eldest son. The answer to this letter brought a very polite and pressing invitation to Mrs. Goodwin, Miss De Clifford, and Charles, to spend the period of an approaching election at Z. the county town

of, about thirty miles from London, at doctor Hargrave's, Mrs. Goodwin's brother-in-law, who was rector of the principal parish at Z.

Mrs. Goodwin was a native of Ireland. Her father, doctor O'Neil, had been a clergyman, who, unfortunately fancying himself the first theological writer in Europe, directed his whole time and thoughts to his pen, neglected his parochial duties and his domestic concerns, and by degrees deranging his affairs so completely from his neglect, that he was at length compelled to give up every thing he possessed to his creditors; and with all that death had spared to him of a once large family, two very pretty daughters, came over to England to publish his works, astonish the world, and make his fortune.

Part only of this golden dream was realized. He published his works, with little profit and less fame; and very shortly after died, leaving his daughters in very distressed circumstances, far from their own friends, and at that moment unable to command a sum sufficient to take them back to their native country.

Mr. Goodwin, at that period, was mar

ried to a very excellent woman, of an age congenial to his own; was in high prosperity, had a capital house in the city, a coach, and a beautiful villa at Highgate; and, by being considered a judicious critic, possessed such influence over his brothers in the trade, and was of such known integrity, that his patronage was sought for and courted by incalculable myriads of authors. In the way of business Mr. Goodwin became acquainted with doctor O'Neil: and, although he would not purchase his works, he liked the man, and invited him to his house, by which means Mrs. Goodwin was introduced to his daughters, and soon became so attached to the eldest, that she felt almost unhappy out of her society; and Miss O'Neil (who was all good-nature) kindly condescended to ride about in a tradesman's coach, and to pass months at a time at Highgate, surrounded by every luxury that wealth could purchase.

Upon the death of doctor O'Neil, Mrs. Goodwin invited both his orphans to live with her, as long as they found it agreeable or convenient to them. This truly kind and benevolent invitation was thankfully accepted; and shortly after, Mrs. Goodwin,

who had long been in a delicate state of health, fell seriously ill, and afforded Miss O'Neil an opportunity of evincing the goodness of her heart, and strength of her gratitude. She proved to her true and beloved friend, Mrs. Goodwin, a most tender, kind, and attentive nurse; nor did she quit the bedside of her friend, night or day, until that valuable friend's existence terminated; when the sincerely-afflicted Miss O'Neil, and her sister Matilda, returned to their former obscure lodging at Lambeth.

In the last moments of Mrs. Goodwin, she particularly recommended Harriot O'Neil to her disconsolate husband as her successor." You are of too domestic a turn,” she said, "to live happily in a state of widowhood; and though she is young enough to be your daughter, persuade her, if you can, to be your wife, for she will make you happy."

According to the predictions of his lamented wife, Mr. Goodwin soon found his house a forlorn, comfortless abode, without a domestic partner to cheer it, when, fatigued with the toils of the day, he returned to an unsocial dinner there; and as soon as decorum would permit, and solely in com

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