hired chaise, without any attendant, who were to occupy the same sitting-room, and dine at the same table with themselves, and whose whole appearance probably, bore some vestiges of the pelting storm," they had left behind.

At first, the whole party eyed us askance, with the exception however, of one gentleman, a dignitary of the church, remarkable always for his urbanity and politeness, and who behaved to us, and particularly to my mother, with the greatest civility and attention. For my own part, knowing that at a public ordinary, all are on the same footing; conscious that there had been nothing in our conduct, whatever there might be in our appearance, which should degrade us from the station which education and habit entitled us to occupy, I felt perfectly at ease, and took my own place as a thing of course; and it was diverting to observe from their manner, that this was considered by some of the party as a species of impertinence; and that far from entering into conversation on any general subject, they would hardly deign to return an answer to any trifling question that might happen to occur. This humiliation however, did not last long; in a very few days, we were joined by two amiable and accomplished young ladies, the eldest daughters of Sir George and lady Strickland, who came thither on purpose to meet us; also by Mr. L., who was already well known, as a highly respectable London merchant. The arrival of these friends, as if by magic, so altered the predicament in

which we stood, that we were henceforth considered as agreeable people and suitable companions; and one lady in particular, who had been very obdurate, even condescended to change her place to the bottom of the table, where, as the latest arrived, we were of course seated, to be nearer to us.

I mention these trivial circumstances, as supplying a proof how liable those are, who mix much in the world, notwithstanding they may possess many amiable qualities, and may upon the whole, be very worthy characters, to view persons and things, through the false and delusive medium of fashion and prejudice, with which that world encircles them; and insensibly to adopt a mode of conduct, not always consistent with their superior mental, and moral endowments.

With one of the ladies who composed this party, and who is eminently distinguished for her varied talents and accomplishments, and especially for her colloquial powers, I have ever since that time, enjoyed a particular intimacy; and with another of them, now lately deceased, I have acted for many years in our schools, and other charitable undertakings in this city, with great harmony and satisfaction.

One circumstance of frequent occurrence, I particularly recollect, as somewhat embarrassing. We were repeatedly asked by these strangers respecting our place of abode, a question to which it was not easy to return a very satisfactory answer; for it was at that time literally true, that although we were not, like our first pa

rents, turned out of Paradise, yet with us, as with them, "the world was all before us," and "where to choose," we knew not.

The remainder of the summer was spent by my mother, with my aunts in York, and by myself in the country, with different friends, as had been proposed, and particularly at Boynton, where it so happened, that various occurrences took place, of considerable importance to the parties concerned; in which I had the satisfaction to be of material use. And thus again it was, and I can never reflect upon it without sentiments of the warmest gratitude to the disposer of all the circumstances, and dispenser of all the powers of every individual of his mighty family, that under all our pecuniary and other difficulties and trials, my mind was constantly relieved from dwelling too much upon them, by the allotted privilege of being serviceable to others.

It now became necessary that we should decide on the difficult question, so long depending, where we should fix our abode? Leeds or its neighbourhood, would have been our choice, but in the way of this, there were many insurmountable obstacles. My aunts were very desirous we should determine upon York; and particularly that we should engage a small house, the next door to their own, which happened to be at liberty; dilating much upon the happiness of our being near neighbours, so that we could join them in their parties; accompany them in their visits, and enjoy a great deal of genteel company, at a

very little expense. But it happened unfortu tunately, that the prospect of all these advantages, operated upon the mind of my mother and my. self, in a manner exactly contrary to what was intended; for we knew that it would require a great deal of resolution, and a considerable portion of self-government, to live at the next door, to meet every day, and to be expected to appear at the same parties, without sometimes betraying a little impatience, which might eventually interrupt the harmony of the two families. At length, however, the determination was made, owing principally to the following circumstance.

Happening one day, to hear a very distressing account of the mismanagement of the Grey-Coat School in York, and of the ruinous effects produced by it upon the children, from a very worthy man, who was at that time, the attending apothecary,-it struck me, that if I could be instrumental to its better regulation, I might perhaps, be more usefully employed in this, than in any other place; and upon mentioning the subject to my mother, she entirely concurred in the opinion, and we determined to agree for the house in question, and to enter it in the ensuing spring.

It may perhaps be thought, that this was not my only inducement, and that I was still more powerfully influenced by the wish of becoming a regular member of Mr. Cappe's congregation, whose chapel I had constantly attended, whenever I was in York, since the time of Mr. Lindsey's resignation of Catterick; and whose ministry

I certainly preferred to that of every other person. But if on the one hand, this would have been a strong inducement, there were difficulties on the other, respecting our future intercourse, which inclined the balance to the opposite scale; and I determined, therefore, not to be swayed myself, or to endeavour to influence my mother, by any consideration, in which a regard to him could possibly have any share.

CHAPTER 28.

The Author visits her young friend Miss Winn, in London. ....Her. declining health....Her uncommon mental and moral progress....Her very striking and lamented death.

SOON after we had finally determined to fix in York, I received a letter from my young friend, the daughter of Sir George Allanson Winn, to say, that for some time, she had been ill, and to solicit earnestly in her own name, and in that of her father, whose attention to her had always been most affectionate and unremitting, that I would go to them immediately. I did not hesitate to comply with the request, according to the promise formerly made, and joined them in Brook-street, the beginning of December. She was in transports of joy on my arrival. "Will you promise me," she said, as she flew into my arms, that you will not go away again, until I am quite grown up?"-" I will promise you, my love, that I will not leave you, until you are però