chatham-place.

My past engagements, my friend, will, I know, successfully plead my apology in your breast for this long, very long silence; I will therefore lay them before you. In pursuance of the measures I had planned, to effect a conquest/ over my tender attachment to Miss Bertills, I returned to Fir-grove a few days aft er I had written to Augustus. When there, I revolved my conduct again and again, and was much dissatisfied with myself for leaving Scarborough so abruptly. Every plea suggested by prudence was ineffectual to restore me to peace. I was conscious of having, in appearance, been guilty of ingratitude, where I owed the highest obligation. The thought distressed me beyond expression, and added considerably to the misery I felt, in contrasting my solitary situation with the happiness I had so lately enjoyed in the converse of my beloved Rhoda. In vain did I strive to combat my feelings with philosophy; they were too powerful; and the result of every effort was an increase of wretchedness. Thus perplexed, I knew not what course to take, till the arrival of your friendly letter once more raised my hopes; and, tho’ in direct opposition to the opinion my fears had formed, I determined to adopt your advice. It concurred, indeed, too strongly with my wishes to leave me the power of resisting, for a moment, my propensity to/ follow it. Shame for the folly I had discovered, now rose, and opposed my inclination for going again to Scarborough without first announcing my intention by a letter. I therefore enclosed that from Miss Melworth in one from myself to Miss Bertills. She favored me with an early reply, informing me, that Mr. Bertills was gone home; and that she was going the next day with Mr. and Mrs. Clements to spend a month at Leeds. You will not doubt but I flew thither on the wings of love to meet her; she received me with her accustomed cordiality, and I experienced a return of happiness.