Mirabel, gay and happy, ran on a wild career of pleasure, while poor Oriana was sorrowful, and seldom went abroad. Her brother Dugard, highly incensed, would have demanded satisfaction from Mirabel, but Oriana on her kuces besought him not to wound her reputation, by such a mistaken mode of defence; or destroy her peace of mind for ever, by hazarding the lives of the two beings upon earth who were most dear to her assuring him, that she had the most sanguine hopes her lover would prove faithful at last, and that she should be rewarded for all she now suffered.

Old Mirabel attacked his son, but could gain nothing from him: for with his usual levity he assured his father, he would marry when the time came, but when that time would be, whether this century or the next, it was impossible for him to give any positive information. Old Mirabel lamented that he had made his son independent of his authority, by having settled a very handsome income upon him; but it was now too late to retract.

Oriana was wretched, her health declined, she formed the resolution of quitting Paris, and by the utmost exertion of mind to banish from her heart a man whose inconstancy made her lament her own weakness; hope was at an end, and she looked forward to time as the only solace of her grief: but this resolution was put to flight by an unexpected discovery. Mirabel had left the key in his writing desk, and the curious Bisarre through frolic examined his papers, when she found that he had during his travels kept a diary, where Oriana's name perpetually occurred; with sonnets and verses innumerable to her beauty and her truth. His love appeared manifest in every line; but he disliked the trammels of matrimony, and would wait to prove her ever during constancy, before he sacrificed his

freedom.

This discovery raised Oriana from the brink of despair, and she determined patiently to await the time when her lover should renounce his errors, and come an humble penitent to her feet: but alas! this appeared very distant, every day brought to her ears some new intrigues of Mirabel; and she feared his morals would become tainted by vitiated society, as well as his health and fortune injured, if not ruined, by his various excesses. Sincerely attached to him, and thinking him worthy of her regard, she stooped to stratagems in hopes to save him. Bisarre, Old Mirabel, and her brother Dugard, all willingly lent their assistance, and the lovely Oriana was suddenly transformed into a nun. The moment Mirabel heard the news, his heart smote him as having caused this sacrifice of youth and beauty to the gloom of a cloister; but too proud to own his uneasiness, he formed the design of learning the true state of her feelings under disguise he therefore entered into a monastery, visited her as a friar to receive her confession, and prepare her mind to take the veil. She quickly discovered him through his disguise; he in despair at her resolution of quitting the world, declared himself, and on his knees owned his devoted attachment, entreating her to accept his hand.

At this important moment, when Oriana thought her cares at an end, Old Mirabel burst upon them, loudly calling for the "Counterfeit Nun." The busyheaded, officious Duretete had heard of Mirabel's visit to the monastery, and ran with the news to his father, declaring that Mirabel was turned friar, and had settled his whole fortune on the fraternity. The silly old man in his alarm hastened to the convent, and by his own impetuosity marred the very scheme he had himself entered into so eagerly.

Mirabel coughed at the words "Counterfeit Nun," and hastily threw off his disguise. Oriana vexed, reproached the old gentleman with his imprudence, belling him he had destroyed the hopes which were just ripening into perfection; when he immediately recanted, declaring "she was a nun."

"Oh! is she so?" replied young Mirabe putting on the habit," then I am a friar directly.

"Was ever an old fool so bantered by a pair of young ones?" returned the old gentleman, even settle your affairs yourselves, I'll have no inore to do with them :" so saying he left the convent.

Mirabel played off his wit upon Oriana; congrat ulated her on her release from captivity, and trusted when they next met it would be in happier times; rolled up their disguises in one heap; and said their cast skins might perhaps get better acquainted: and thus ended Oriana's first project.

She was disappointed, but not unhappy as heretofore; his warm declarations of love encouraged her to proceed, and she resolved to try again. He was at this time engaged in an intimacy with a woman of high rank, but a professed gambler; and one who seldom suffered a young man once in her power to escape with impunity. Oriana now assumed insanity, in the hope of drawing him from this disgraceful and probably fatal connexion. Mirabel was beset on every side by Bisarre's abuse,

his father's reproaches, and the resentment of Dugard, who loudly demanded satisfaction for his si3ter's wrongs. Mirabel bore all with patience, bade Dugard put up his sword, for he would rather bear with insult than offer injury to the brother of his beloved Oriana; and assured him of his sorrow for her sufferings, and his readiness to atone for his former neglect. At sight of Oriana, pale, dejected, and trembling, her beautiful auburn locks streaming about her shoulders, and her eye wild and restless, his heart was struck with remorse he addressed her with tenderness; she did not appear to know him; he knelt by her side, pressed her hand to his lips, and entreated her to behold his penitence, and bless him by returning recollection; she appeared affected by his kindness, waved them all to quit the room, and then fixing her eyes intently upon him,

burst into tears.

Mirabel kissed the tears away, while his own agitation was extreme; he swore to devote his future life to her happiness, declaring that he would gladly, bestow half his fortune on the man who should restore her to health. Oriana, delighted, thought herself now secure of her wavering lover, and ventured to disclose the cheat. Mirabel instantly sprung from his knees, and broke out into a rhapsody, on the sudden restoration of Oriana's health, bade the spheres tune all their instruments of joy, for the mad woman was dispossessed; but now she was well, and they were free. "How, Sir," said Oriana, "free ?"

"Free as air, my fair bedlamite, what would you have me marry a lunatic? Lookee, child, you have played it so well this bout, that you will be apt to counterfeit madness all your life long." He then called in their friends, bid them take the lunatic into their charge, that no mad doctor in Christendom could have performed a more effectual cure; but

that he could not answer for a relapse, and begged them to place the poor unfortunate under especial care, lest any future danger might occur.

The buoyancy of Mirabel's spirits struck them all dumb, and he quitted the field in triumph, leaving poor Oriana overwhelmed with shame and confusion.

Mirabel really loved Oriana, but did not like these perpetual attacks upon his heart, and this seeming determination to abridge him of his pleasures, by hastening him into the trammels of matrimony. He thought Oriana should be content with knowing that he loved her, and await his time and pleasure for the performance of their nuptial vows; and wishing to be rid for a time at least of these tricks and stratagems to entrap him into bondage, proposed to Duretete to go back to Italy, who was rejoiced at the proposal; for Bisarre took every opportunity to torment and turn him into ridicule, and succeeded so effectually that the poor crest-fallen captain would have flown to the antipodes to get rid of this she tormentor. Their resolutions were taken, and poor Oriana heard of her lover's intentions with sorrow and almost dismay.

The evening previous to the one intended for their departure from Paris, they went to the play, where Mirabel was caught by the beauty of a lady in one of the boxes. Duretete, who was always afraid of his getting into scrapes, tried to persuade him to return home immediately, and leave the lady to herself but Mirabel was not easily prevailed upon to give up the chase when he had started the game, making sure of success from an infallible guide, which was, that he seldom ever did fail; he therefore earnestly entreated Duretete to give him but three days, to devote to his lovely incognita, and then he was his to the world's end.