fore, as you force me to it, I shall explain every thing which has passed to your connections, and abide by their decision, and whatever the result may prove, you must allow that you have forced me to this expedient; and I assure you, if only my own interest was at stake, I should never take any steps to come to an explanation, but in my ruin that of my children is involved.

I remain, Sir, your obedient, &c. &c. HUBERTINE MORTIMER.

CHAP. IV.

Virtue may be assail'd, but never hurt;
Surpris'd by unjust force, but not inthrall'd:
Yea, even that which mischief meant most harm,
Shall in the happy trial prove most glory;
But evil on itself shall back recoil,

And mix no more with goodness, when, at last,
Gather'd like scum, and settled in itself,
It shall be in eternal restless change,
Self-fed, and self-consum'd: if this fail,
The pillar'd firmament is rottenness,
And earth's base built on stubble.

MILTON.

To the great affliction of Mrs. Mortimer, her servant put this letter into her hand two days after Mr. Charles Stanton had departed from Sussex:

Madam,

I have received instructions for making application to you for the imme

diate payment of two hundred and ninety pounds to Mr. Chissel, on account of Sir Timothy Flight, being for monies advanced to you, as per account delivered, and admitted by you. As my directions herein are peremptory, I trust you will have the goodness to pay either myself or Mr. Chissel the above amount, which may perhaps save much trouble and expence. I am, Madam,

Your most obedient, &c. &c.
JAMES BATCH.

Princes-place, 1810.

Mrs. Mortimer sent to request Mr. Batch would call on her, that he might see all her accounts and concerns with the Baronet, when he would find that the balance of accounts was very considerably in her favour; but, in the following note from Mr. Batch, he declined so doing.

Madam,

I should have replied to your's

before, but I have been exceedingly taken
up to-day. With respect to the account
in dispute, I certainly do not pretend to
judge, nor is it in my province to inves-
tigate. Mr. Chissel states a claim which
he says you have admitted, and which he
is ready to verify by affidavit. If the
balance is so decidedly on your side as
you state, I trust you will see the neces-
sity of conferring with Mr. Chissel im-
mediately on the subject, and having sa-
tisfied him as to the error, the matter is
brought to a close at once: but I must
beg leave to remind Mrs. Mortimer that
my instructions are peremptory, and trust
therefore that no delay will take place.
I am, Madam,

Your most obedient servant,
JAMES BATCH.

Princes-place, 1810.

Mrs. Mortimer was at a loss to know how such a demand could be made on her, for she had never received even the half of the sum specified from Mr. Chis

sel, either for salary or otherwise; therefore she was determined to ask the Baronet for information on the subject, as she had never had any accounts delivered, or seen any, consequently could not have admitted that she was indebted either to Sir Timothy Flight or Mr. Chissel; she therefore wrote to the Baronet as follows:

Sir,

To my great astonishment, I this evening received a letter from Mr. Batch, the solicitor, for the immediate payment of two hundred and ninety pounds to "Mr. Chissel, on account of Sir Timothy Flight, being monies advanced to you as per account delivered, and admitted by you.

Now, Sir, you perfectly well know that when I came to superintend your concerns at Brighton, the agreement was that you were to find me a house; and told me that I might draw upon you

Mr.