While the venerable vicar and his children were thus entertaining themselves about his grand-children, our hero had reached the house that contained his adored Maria; he found his sister and young Mortimer in the parlour, and inquiring with the most tender anxiety for Maria, learned that she was somewhat better, but did not think she would be well enough to go to the ball that evening; “but, cannot I see her?” “She will be down in half an hour.” At this time the door opened, and Mr. Richard Scribble was announced, who entered the room with a face of joy and exultation. “Congratulate, my dear Hamilton.”--“Congratulate you on what?” Scribble took out a card, and presenting it, Hamilton read--“Dr. Scribble,”--“Who the devil made you a doctor?” “The learned university of Aberdeen; but not without expence: it costs three pounds six shillings and eight pence,--I have got the news by this very post.” “Dr. Scribble, I congratulate not only you, but the university of Aberdeen itself, that has got such an accession to its doctorial dignitaries.” “What became of you,” replied Scribble, “yesterday, that I did not see you the whole day?” Charlotte looked in her brother’s face. “Yesterday,” said Mortimer, “did not you spend the evening together?” “No,” answered the doctor. John perceiving our hero colour, saw that there was some mystery. Soon after, Charlotte went out, and sending for her brother, explained the real cause of Maria’s indisposition, and the whole circumstances, as have been already narrated. “Now, I dare say you know me too well, to suppose I wish to dive into any secrets; but for the peace of Maria, whom I know you love to distraction, give some account respecting the letter, that may be satisfactory; even a little invention may be excuseable for such a purpose.” “Invention,” said Hamilton, “is not necessary; the letter came from a female that I did not know, and from whom I found a letter, on our return from Worthing. I went out, merely to explain to her, without offending her pride, that, however amiable she might be, it was totally impossible for me to make any return to her partiality; I saw her in company with her confidant, and found her to be a lady of great fortune. She was very much affected; but said, that since it was so, she would immediately leave this place, and bury herself in the country.” This story imposed on the unsuspicious Charlotte, and she hastily ran to report it to Maria, who, wishing it true, was the more easily persuaded; her eyes brightened; she soon descended, and found our hero alone in the drawing-room. She confessed she had been extremely affected and angry; but he now tasted, on her charming lips, the sweets of reconciliation. While he held her encircled in his enraptured arms, he implored her to consent to an immediate marriage. Her denials were fainter than formerly, and at last she promised, that, whenever he could procure the consent of her friends, hers should not