CHAP. LXIV.

Mr. Archer the younger arrives in Yorkshire. -Another Vifitor calls upon them.-The four amiable Pair are married. Sir Walter's Surprise and Joy in discovering his Daughter.

He pays her Fortune, and makes over an Eftate to them.-Their Guests depart. Happiness that fucceeds Thompfon's Marriage.-Conclufion.

THE

HE next Day Mr. Archer brought up a Gentleman from his Houfe, that, to my great Satisfaction, I found to be his Son, whofe Prefence, on the prefent happy Occafion, was prodigiously agreeable to Sharpley and myfelf; and he was overjoyed when he heard how our Affairs ftood. My Father and Mother almoft overwhelmed him with Kindness; and, being prefented to all our good Friends, they conceived fo good an Opinion of him, as to give him, at once, a Place in their Efteem; but this was not the only unexpected Vifitor that arrived, for a Gentleman alighted at my Father's, attended by feveral Servants, and asked for me. I came to him, and he accofted me with great Gentility, and faid, That he had heard my Name mentioned at the next Town, as just arrived from Abroad, and that I was furrounded with numerous Friends; tho' unknown at present to me, he had formerly done me fome Services, and was refolved to leave the Road,

Road, and make one in our happy Society, and congratulate me on my Arrival in England. I returned him Thanks, and introduced him to our Company; at the fame Time telling him I was forry fo to forget my Obligations, as not even to have the Pleasure to recollect his Face. Madam Rich, who heard his Voice from the next Room, and what had paffed, with Serena and Louifa, none being present but thofe who were in the Secret of her being alive, preffing towards him, cried, Ah! Col. Williams! how lucky we are to see you here! This Name, and the Compliments that paffed between them, gave me to underftand, that it was that generous Gentleman Louifa had mentioned with so much Diftinction; nor was I miftaken; but he was fo furprifed to fee my Adorable, that, for fome Time, he could hardly recover himfelf, till, being let into the Heads of our Adventures, he broke forth into Congratulations upon our Happiness; and we perfuaded him to ftay with us, till our. Marriages were performed, to which, with Joy, he confented His Prefence put us upon talking about the 'Squire, who now lived a brutish, fottish Life, at his little Eftate at Doncafter: For my Part, I was fo eafy at prefent, that I feldom thought of him; and, when I did, 'twas not revengefully, but with abfolute Pity and Contempt; and we all agreed, that, if he remained quiet, 'twas not worth while to use him as he deserved, my Father concluding with the Poet,

'Tis

'Tis Punishment enough to be a Villain!

Now Morn, her rosy Steps in th' Eastern Clime Advancing, frew'd the Earth with Orient Pearl! 'The Morn! the gladfome Morn! that was to make the lovely Caufe of all my Cares and Pains for ever, ever, mine.-'Twas in the joyous Month of May, when Nature all around bloomed odorous Sweets, that forth iffued our blissful Brides, but chief my Louisa,

Dress'd in rich Array;

Fresh as the Month, and as the Morning fair; Adown her Shoulders fell her Length of Hair : Ribbands and Gems her braided Tresses bind, The reft hung loose, and wanton'd in the Wind. A Gown of white Damafk, richly embroidered, fhaded her transporting Beauties, which received ftill greater Luftre by the Crimson Blushes that overspread her lovely Face; and her Eyes put to Shame the Clufters of Diamonds that were spread all over her Hair and Bofom! Serena and Mils Bellair were as richly dreffed; but Fidele had, with becoming Modefty, contrived to fuit her Habit a little to her former Condition. We feized their willing yet reluctant Hands; and, followed by our admiring Friends, and wondering Neighbours, proceeded to the Church, Sir Walter, at my Defire, having once more caft off his Mourning, and dreffed himself in rich Cloaths, suitable to the Occafion. Louifa put on her Mafque, as foon as he appeared; which he wondering

wondering at, I told him I was forced to indulge her Modefty, by letting her be married thus veiled. He furveyed her Shape and Stature, as we walked along, and, fetching a fad Sigh, wiped his Eyes, endeavouring, however, to conceal his Emotion, under an Air of affected Gaiety. My Father joined our Hands in the holy Tye, and we were edified with the grave and truly apoftolical Air, with which he performed the Sacred Ceremony. After it was 9ver, Sir Walter infifting upon supplying the Marriage Feaft, we adjourned to his Houfe, where the whole Neighbourhood was alfo invited; and, juft before we fat down to Dinner, my Father called him afide into a Room, where only Louifa and her Aunt, both still masqued, and he and myfelf were, and addreffed him thus: Sir Walter,-Providence orders all Things for the best ;-and this Day, by Means no one ever could think of, has made us all happy. -If these young Folks have exercised a little Stratagem with you, it was to increase the Pleasure you will feel, I am fure, when, in my Son's Wife, in Mrs. Thompson, you will discover your long loft Louifa; upon which the unmasked, and we knelt before him, and intreated his Bleffing. He was motionlefs fome Time,-but foon discovered it was really his Daughter, and, without enquiring into the Affair, embraced us one after another, bleffed us, and jumped and danced about in fuch a Manner, that any one would have thought him diftracted. At length he resumed himself, and we fhed Tears in Concert;

and

and my Louifa hung about his Neck, whilft he held her faft in his Arms, crying, every now and then, 'Tis the herself, and I am happy,-bleffed for ever ;-and when his Sifter discovered herself, and had informed him fuccinctly of all this wonderous Turn of Fortune, he was amazed, and told her he'd love her better than himself as long as he lived. Nothing but Joy reigned throughout the whole Vicinity: The Houfe was full of Delight and Pleafure:-Abroad every green Sward was exercised by the Gambols of our Country Lads and Laffes : And, Louifa's Return being noifed Abroad, the Hearts of all that knew us ran over with Satiffaction. Sharpley was prefented to Sir Walter, as his Nephew, and he received him with the utmost Goodness,-buffed Serena, and was quite inebriated with his Felicity, You fee, Papa, faid my lovely Confort, I am as good as my Word, and have not only married with your Confent, but you have given me away with your own Hands: Yes, he replied, 'tis true, and, if I could, I'd give thee away, an hundred Times over, to that worthy Youth, my dear Joey! fo make Haste, my Boy, and make me a Grand-father. I bowed,-Louifa blushed. Oh! the delightful Moments I paffed this Night, in the Arms of this adorable End of all my Wishes, even luxuriant Fancy can't paint in Colours equal to the Truth! Oh! Life, how art thou improved, by a virtuous and lawful Intercourfe with thefe delightful Companions, thefe foft, melting Recompenfers of all our Pains and numerous Cares !

We