lous dupe with ineffable fondness, and affecting to be alarmed at his undisguised frenzy, she pretended to believe that Avondel might be persuaded by mild measures to retract his slanders, and desist from his lawless pursuit. Her own prudence and virtue would, she said, soon rid her of this intruder without any dangerous risk. The general agreed it would, and folding her in what she hoped and believed was intended for a farewell einbrace, complained that the house was hotter than Bencoolen, and he must walk out for air. Paulina accompanied him to the door, as well to prevent the attendance of Villars as to fan his rage by those mock alleviations and warnings of danger, which she knew would whet his courage to desperation.

On returning to her own apartment with somewhat of the delight which

Medea might be supposed to feel when she had immolated her children on the shrine of revenge, she was met by Villars, who, in the terror of real affection, inquired where his master was gone? Paulina upbraided him severely for having violated the confidence she had reposed in him, by discovering the baseness of Lord Avondel, and by an affectation of extreme displeasure at having the general thus exposed to danger, she contrived to withdraw the well-disposed young man from his first design of following his master, by engaging him in a vindication of his own conduct. She then assured him that she trusted her prudence had warded off the evils his want of secrecy might have occasioned; that she had reasoned with Monthermer till he was quite calm, and laughing at the earl's effrontery was gone out to dinner. Having thus

detained him till it was improbable his interference could prevent her hopes, she pardoned and dismissed him, giv ing him as a sign of restored grace a collection of canzonets and sonnets to be transcribed into her common-place book.

She now ruminated alone on the alternatives which her sanguinary views presented. Both the gentlemen were men of determined courage, it was therefore highly probable one would fall. Suppose it was Lord Avondel? her revenge would then be gratified. But considering his superior skill and calmness, the more likely, and far more cherished, expectation was, that his arm would release her from the disgusting fondness of a husband for whom her hatred and contempt was increased, even by the facility with which he fell into her snares, Thus, though slighted, re

jected, reproved, and as she believed, insulted, by Lord Avondel, his virtue and dignity commanded her admiration, and the recollection of his graceful manners, superior conversation, and elegant tenderness, while she held him in her chains, was so dear to her susceptibility, and so flattering to her vanity, that she still considered him as the first of mankind, and even while she framed a scheme for his destruction, wished success to his arm.

CHAP. XXXII.

The soul no more on mortal good relies,
But nobler objects urge her hopes and cares,
And sick of folly views no tempting prize
Beneath the radiant circle of the stars.

MRS. CARTER.

WHILE these scenes passed in London, Lady Selina Delamore, reflecting on those traits of settled malice and deep design which were so apparent in Paulina's character, entertained painful apprehensions for Lord Avondel's safety. By way of convincing her, that there was no reason to appre