the ardency of his passion, to disclose which, was his principal object in requesting the interview." "I again repeated, this was a subject to which I ought not to listen, unless sanctioned by the approbation and countenance of my parents, to whom I wished him to apply in an affair so interesting to their happiness, as well as my own. "I repeated my wishes for him to cultivate an acquaintance with them; and, when a fair understanding was promoted between them, I might be disposed to listen to his professions. CHAPTER VI. 66 MR. Bellamy appeared always shy of any personal intercourse with my father. "Whenever I hinted the propriety of making known to him the intimacy we had formed, he evaded the sub ject, and generally with such art and address, as prevented me from speedily resuming it. "His disinclination to such a measure at length alarmed me so much, that I protested I would immediately break off all correspondence with him, un less he would make me happy in this point. He, however, had the artifice to appear suddenly disposed to divulge his passion to my father, at length as, serting that such a step was quite congenial with his wishes; and, at the same time, insinuated that my anxiety on this point increased his very high opinion of me., "After this, he made one or two visits at our house; during which, as he informed me, he had acquired my father's most cordial approbation and consent. 66 -" I made myself exceedingly happy at this intelligence, and conducted myself with a partiality for him in the presence of my parents, which I thought they could not disapprove of. "But I was woefully mistaken: for though, at the first, my father exhibited no signs of a dislike to him, yet, when he saw things in so serious a train, he grew peevish, and, in a gentle rebuke, chided me for my conduct. "I appealed to the circumstance of his permitting Mr. Bellamy's visits at the first---to which he replied, "That he was induced to do so, from the high opinion he had formed of him; but that he had entertained different sentiments since that period, and now thought his views were not so honourable as he once imagined." "My father, seeing a gloom and dejection arise from what he said, exclaimed---"I am inexpressibly sorry, my dear child, to see things have gone so far, as to make a parent's advice irksome to you; but you should have acquainted me with the matter before, indeed you should---my persuasions would then have appeared kinder to you." "I entreated him to forgive a weakness which my incautious conduct had made me subject to; but that I would make any sacrifice rather than give him a moment's uneasiness. "This declaration gave him great pleasure; he embraced me with un usual fondness---and while the tear stole down his cheek, he uttered-- Oh, Louisa! you have relieved me of a burthen which I have not power to describe." "My father now appeared with an air of satisfaction, which gave me great delight. "I had, indeed, been so smitten with a sense of his uneasiness, that, for |