"Captain," says he, " has just huddled a lady into a "chair, at the door of a bagnio near Spring-Gar"dens." He soon perceived, that this speech was received with emotions very different from those he intended to produce; and, therefore, added, “that "she need not, however, be jealous, for notwith"standing the manner in which he had related the "incident, the lady was certainly a woman of cha66 racter, as he instantly discovered by her mien and "appearance:" This particular confirmed the sus picion it was intended to remove; and the Doctor finding that he was not so good company as usual, took his leave, but was met at the door by the Captain, who brought him back. His presence, however insignificant, imposed some restraint upon the rest of the company; and Sir James, with as good an appearance of jocularity as he could assume, asked the Captain, "What he had done with his wife." The Captain, with some irresolution, replied, that " he had left her early in the morning at her father's; "and that having made a point of waiting on her "home, she sent word down that her cousin Mea"dows was indisposed, and had engaged her to break"fast." The Captain, who knew nothing of the anecdote that had been communicated by the Doctor, judged by appearances that it was prudent thus indirectly to lie, by concealing the truth both from Sir James and his wife he supposed, indeed, that Sir James would immediately enquire after his wife at her father's, and learn that she did not stay there to breakfast; but as it would not follow that they had been together, he left her to account for her absence as she thought fit, taking for granted that what he had concealed she also would conceal, for the same reasons; or, if she did not, as he had affirmed nothing contrary to truth, he might pretend to have concealed it in jest. Sir James, as soon as he had received this intelligence, took his leave with some appear

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ance of satisfaction, and was followed by the Doctor. As soon as Mrs. Freeman and the Captain were alone, she questioned him with great earnestness about the lady whom he had been seen to put into a chair. When he had heard that this incident had been related in the presence of Sir James, he was greatly alarmed lest lady Forrest should increase his suspicions, by attempting to conceal that which, by a series of enquiry to which he was now stimulated, he would probably discover: he condemned this conduct in himself, and, as the most effectual means at once to quiet the mind of his wife and obtain her assistance, he told her all that had happened, and his apprehension of the consequences: he also urged her to go directly to Miss Meadows, by whom his account would be confirmed, and of whom she might learn farther intelligence of Sir James; and to find some way to acquaint lady Forrest with her danger, and admonish her to conceal nothing.

Mrs. Freeman was convinced of the Captain's sincerity, not only by the advice which he urged her to give to lady Forrest, but by the consistency of the story and the manner in which he was affected. Her jealousy was changed into pity for her friend, and apprehension for her husband. She hasted to Miss Mea dows, and learnt that Sir James had enquired of the servant for his lady, and was told that she had been there early with Captain Freeman, but went away soon after him she related to Miss Meadows all that had happened, and thinking it at least possible that Sir James might not go directly home, she wrote the following letter to his lady :

"My dear Lady Forrest,

"I AM in the utmost distress for you. Sir James "has suspicions which truth only can remove, and “of which my indiscretion is the cause. If I had "not concealed my desire of the Captain's return,

"your design to disengage yourself from him, which "I learn from Miss Meadows would have been ef"fected. Sir James breakfasted with me in the “Haymarket; and has since called at your father's, "from whence I write: he knows that your stay "here was short, and has reason to believe the Cap"tain put you into a chair some hours afterwards at “Spring-Gardens. I hope, therefore, my dear lady, "that this will reach your hands time enough to

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prevent your concealing any thing. It would have "been better if Sir James had known nothing, for then 66 you would not have been suspected; but now he "must know all, or you cannot be justified. For"give the freedom with which I write, and believe 66 me most affectionately

"Yours,

"MARIA FREEMAN:

"P. S. I have ordered the bearer to say he came "from Mrs. Fashion the milliner."

This letter was given to a chairman, and he was ordered to say he brought it from the milliners; because, if it should be known to come from Mrs. Freeman, and should fall by accident into Sir James's hands, his curiosity might prompt him to read it, and his jealousy to question the lady, without communicating the contents.