rising blush overspread her countenance and gave her new beauties, "your judgment is almost infallible. I confess that I love Sir Henry Moreton-it is not merely from his conduct, and the service he did me at the masquerade, but the character of his virtues has augmented an attachment which I feel for him. I have not acquired the art of disguising my sentiments.-Indeed," and the lovely Emma deeply sighed, "though left an orphan in my early years, I have felt that loss, great and afflicting as it was, diminished by your kindness. O, my dear protectress, my amiable friend, may I ever continue to shew myself sensible of your maternal kindness! Your commands, your wishes, shall direct me, and I shall endeavour to anticipate them as far as possible."

CHAPTER IX.

A MORNING OCCUPATION.-HUMANITY IS NOT UNBECOMING FEMALE BEAUTY OR FASHION A SCENE OF DISTRESS, WHICH IS HUMBLY RECOMMENDED BY THE AUTHOR TO THE OPULENT FOR THEIR PERUSAL.

PREVIOUS to her departure for the Continent, Emma one morning was employed in purchasing necessary articles, or, in the language of the metropolis, shopping; a custom which needs explanation, in order to make it intelligible to fair residents in the country.

Shopping, then, is an amusement in which many fashionable females, wives and daughters, are daily occupied in the forenoon, to the great profit of the civil tradesman, who employs, behind his counter, powdered

jessamies, who take the bread from the mouths of the indigent female; measuring out linen when they should be handling a musquet; and cutting ribands, and selling lavender, when they should be adding to the British flag, fresh trophies on the seas, increasing our security at home, and our national glory, instead of being tools for the luxurious.

Her attention was arrested by a bustle in the street. A remarkable handsome and genteel young man, whose appearance was prepossessing, as well as afflicting, on account of his visible misfortune, was arrested by two bailiffs, who had just familiarly tap ped him on the shoulder, as he was endeavouring to elude their salute.

So does Grimalkin, insatiate as the grave, wily as the Egyptian crocodile, rush on her helpless prey, whom she has espied from afar, capering and gambolling, enjoying thoughts of home and tender fainily. Alas! be no more will nibble old Cheshire or rich

Stilton, or wet his whiskers in excellent hash, or frisk his tail in the crouded pantry. She taps him gently with her claws, but so as to make him feel her power. He is already under the grasp and in the clutch of a sanguinary and stern foe, more implacable than Pelides, more sanguinary than he who fed his horses with human gore.

Thus fared it with this young gentleman. Fruitless were his attempts to go home to his wife and children. He offered the small sum of five shillings, all the money he had, to be allowed the sad indulgence of taking a farewell of those unhappy sufferers.

One of the fellows, in a sneering manner, told him that the money was too little, laughed in his face, and said that he was his prisoner, and that the law must have its

course.

"It won't do, Master; five shillings now a-days goes little towards house-keepinga crown will barely drive the wolf from the

door; however, such gemmen as you should be better treated, and I am main sorry; but times, you must know to be sure, are main ticklish."

Emma, who had a heart feelingly alive to the distress of every fellow-creature, a hand as liberal as the fruitful stream, cannot be imagined to have viewed this scene with callous apathy, or the indifference of some pretty females, whom fashion will not permit to perform the vulgar duties of charity.

"I know not," observed she, "whether the law sanctions deeds of cruelty and treachery; but of this I am confident, gentlemen, nothing ought to prevent us from ministering to the unfortunate. I perceive that you are going to enforce the power which the law gives you on that unhappy young man ; I will be bail for your prisoner-will you take the bail of Miss Tankerville, friend?"

If, to command greater respect from one's