to prevent the match taking place. She was helpleſs, and had not ſufficient courage to combat with poverty; to escape from it, ſhe married an old rake whom ſhe deteſted. He was ill-humoured, and his vicious habits rendered him a moſt dreadful companion. She tried in vain to pleaſe him, and baniſh the ſorrow that bent her down, and made wealth and all the pleaſures it could procure taſteleſs. Her tender father was dead—ſhe had lost her lover—without a friend or confident, ſilent grief conſumed her. I have told you friendſhip is only to be found amongſt the virtuous; her huſband was vicious.
Ah! why did she marry, ſaid Mary?
Because ſhe was timid; but I have not told you all; the grief that did not break her heart, diſturbed her reaſon; and her huſband confined her in a mad-houſe.
Charles heard of this laſt circumſtance; he viſited her. Fanny, ſaid he, do you recollect your old friend? Fanny looked at him, and reaſon for a moment reſumed her ſeat, and informed her countenance to trace
