count lately given me of a gentleman, who had been happily cured of his jealousy without any of those melancholy circumstances, which too frequently result from that fatal passion, even when it is groundless as this gentleman's jealousy was of that description, I am the rather tempted to relate the story (under proper caution as to names and persons) because there is a moral justice in its catastrophe, which is pleasing even in fiction, but more particularly so when we meet it in the real occurrences of life.

Sir Paul Testy in his forty-eighth year married the beautiful Louisa in her eighteenth there are some parents, who seem to think a good settlement can atone for any disparity of age, and Louisa's were of this sort. Sir Paul had a maiden sister several years younger than himself, who had kept his house for some time before his marriage with Louisa, and as this lady was in fact an admirable œconomist, and also in possession of a very considerable independent fortune, the prudent baronet took his measures for her continuance in his family, where, under pretence of assisting the inexperience of his young bride, she still maintained her government in as absolute authority as ever: as Miss Rachel would have been better pleased with her brother, had he chosen a wife with less beauty and more fortune than Louisa brought into the family, it may well be doubted if she would have remained with him after his marriage, had she not been pretty far advanced in an affair of the heart with a certain young gentleman, whose attentions though in fact directed to her purse, she was willing to believe had been honourably addressed to her person this young gentleman, whom I shall call Lionel, was undoubtedly an object well deserv

ing the regards of any lady in Miss Rachel's predicament; with a fine person and engaging address he had the recommendation of high birth, being a younger son of the lord Mortimer, a venerable old peer, who resided at his family mansion within a few miles of Sir Paul, and lived upon the most friendly terms with him in a frequent intercourse of visits: Lionel had given this worthy father great uneasiness from his early dissipation and extravagance; considerable sums had been paid for him to clear his debts, but the old lord's estate being a moderate one, and entailed upon his eldest son, Lionel had been obliged to sell out of the army, and was now living at home upon the bounty of his father on a reduced and slender allowance.

It is not to be wondered at that Lionel, who felt his own embarrassments too sensibly to neglect any fair means of getting rid of them, should be willing to repair his shattered fortunes by an advantageous match; and though Miss Rachel was not exactly the lady he would have chosen, yet he very justly considered that his circumstances did not entitle him to chuse for himself; he was also strongly urged to the measure by his father, to whose wishes he held himself bound to conform, not only on the score of duty but of atonement likewise: at this time the affair was in so promising a train, that there is little doubt but it would have been brought to a conclusion between the parties, had not Sir Paul's marriage taken place as it did; but as Miss Rachel, for reasons which are sufficiently explained, determined upon remaining with her brother, the intercourse between the lovers was renewed, as soon as Sir Paul had brought home his bride, and was sufficiently settled to receive the visits of his friends and neighbours on the occasion.

Now it was that the unhappy Rachel became a victim to the most tormenting of all human passions her sister-in-law had a thousand charms, and she soon discovered, or fancied she discovered, that Lionel's attentions were directed towards a fairer object than herself: she had now the strongest of all motives for keeping a watchful eye upon Louisa's behaviour, and it is the property of jealousy to magnify and discolour every thing it looks upon; for some time however she kept herself under prudent restraint; a hint now and then, cautiously introduced in the way of advice, was all she ventured upon; but these hints were so little attended to by Louisa, whose innocent gaiety lent no ear to such remonstrances, that they were occasionally repeated in a graver tone; as these grew more and more peevish, Louisa began to take a little mischievous pleasure in teazing, and was piqued into a behaviour, which probably she would never have in. dulged herself in towards Lionel, had not Rachel's jealousy provoked her to it; still it was innocent, but so far imprudent, as it gave a handle to Rachel's malice, who now began to sow the seeds of discontent in her brother's irritable bosom.

In one of those sparring dialogues, which now frequently passed between the sisters, Rachel, after descanting upon the old topic with some degree of asperity, concluded her lecture with many professions of zeal for Louisa's happiness, and observed to her, as an apology for the freedom of her advice, that she had a right to some little experience of the world more than had yet fallen to the other's lot; to which Louisa replied with some tartness

True! for you have lived more years in it than I have.'- -A few perhaps,' answered Rachel.As few or as many as you chuse to acknowledge,' added Louisa: 'It is one amongst a variety of ad

vantages over me,

which you are too generous to boast of, and I am too humble to repine at.'—' Be that as it may,' said the other damsel, you will give me leave to observe that you have a double call upon you for discretion; you are a married wo

man.'

Perhaps that very circumstance may be a proof of my indiscretion.'

How so, madam! I may venture to say my brother Sir Paul was no unseasonable match for your ladyship; at least I can witness some pains were employed on your part to obtain him.'

Well, my dear sister, replied Louisa with an affected nonchalance, after so much pains is it not natural I should wish to repose myself a little ?'Indiscretion admits of no repose; health, honour, happiness are sacrificed by its effects; it saps the reputation of a wife; it shakes the affections of a

husband.'

Be content!' cried Louisa,' if you will give no cause for disturbing the affections of the husband, I will take care none shall be given for attainting the reputation of the wife.'

At this moment Sir Paul entered the room, and perceiving by the countenance of the ladies, that they were not perfectly in good-humour with each other, eagerly demanded of Louisa why she looked so grave.

I would look grave, if I could,' she replied out of compliment to my company; but I have so light a conscience and so gay a heart, that I cannot look gravity in the face without laughing at it.'

This was delivered with so pointed a glance at Rachel, that it was not possible to mistake the application, and she had no sooner left the room, than an explanation took place between the brother and sister, in the course of which Rachel artfully

Contrived to infuse such a copious portion of her own poisonous jealousy into the bosom of Sir Paul, that upon the arrival of lord Mortimer, which was at this crisis announced to him, he took a sudden determination to give him to understand how necessary it was become to his domestic happiness, that Lionel should be induced to discontinue his visits in his family.

Under these impressions, and in a very awkward state of mind Sir Paul repaired to his library, where lord Mortimer was expecting him in a situation of no less embarassment, having conned over a speech for the purpose of introducing a proposal for an alliance between the families, and with a view to sound how Sir Paul might stand affected towards a match between his son Lionel and Miss Rachel.

As soon as the first ceremonies were over, which were not very speedily dismissed, as both parties were strict observers of the old rules of breeding, his lordship began, after his manner, to wind about by way of reconnoitring his ground, and having composed his features with much gravity and deliberation, began to open his honourable trenches as follows-In very truth, Sir Paul, I protest to you there are few things in life can give me more fleasure than to find my son Lionel so assiduous in his visits to this family.'-The baronet, whose mind at this moment was not capable of adverting to any other idea but what had reference to his own jealousy, stared with amazement at this unexpected address, and was staggered how to reply to it; at last, with much hesitation, in a tone of ill counterfeited raillery, he replied, that he truly believed there was one person in his family, to whom Mr. Lionel's visits were particularly acceptable: and as this was a subject very near his heart, nay, that alone upon which the honour and happiness of him