Hay! Why, you know, Sir, I am her mother: and 1 have a mind to have the care of her person myself. You must (so her father directed) have the care of her fortune: but I have a mind, for her repu-tation-sake, to take the girl out of the hands of so voung a guardian. I hope you will not oppose me?

If this be all your business, madam, I must be excused. I am preparing, as you see, to dress.

Where is Emily? I ivill see the girl.

If your motive be motherly love, httle, madam, sin CHARLES GRANDISON. 25 as you have acted the mother by her, you shall see her when she is in town. But her person, and repu-tation, as well as fortune, must be ray care.

I am married, Sir: and my husband is a man of honour.

Your marriage, madam, gives a new reason why Emily must not be in your care.

Let me tell you, Sir, that my husband is a man of honour, and as brave a man as yourself; and he will see me righted.

Be he who he will, he can have no business with Emily. Did you come to tell me you are married, madam?

I did, Sir. Don’t you wish me joy?

Joy, madam! I wish you to deserve joy, and you will then perhaps have it. You’ll excuse me I shall make my friends wait.

I could not restrain my indignation. This woman marries, as she calls it, twice or thrice a year.

Well, Sir, then you will find time, perhaps, to talk with Major O’Hara. He is of one of the best families in Ireland. And he will not let me be rob-bed of my daucrhter.

Major O’Hara, madam, has nothingto do with the daughter of my late unhappy friend. Nor have I any-thing to say to him. Emily is in my protection; and I am sorry to say, that she never had been so, were not the woman who calls herself her mother, the per-son least fit to be entrusted with her daughter. Per — mit me the favour of leading you to your chair.

She then broke out into the language in which she always concludes these visits. She threatened me with the resentments of Major O’Hara; and told me, he had been a conqueror in half a dozen duels.

I offered my hand. She refused it not. I led her to her chair.

I will call again tomorrow afternoon, said she (threatening with her head); perhaps with the ma-jor, Sir. And I expect you will produce the little harlotry.

I left her in silent contempt. Vile woman!