ed Dorriforth, with a sigh----

"That may be improved as well as the person," cried Miss Woodley.

"No, my dear," returned Lady Evans, "I never heard of a pad to make
straight an ill-shapen disposition."

"Oh, yes," answered Miss Woodley, "good company, good books, experience,
and the misfortunes of others, may have more power to form the mind to
virtue, than"----

Miss Woodley was not permitted to proceed, for Lady Evans rising hastily
from her seat, cried, "I must be gone--I have an hundred people waiting
for me at home--besides, were I inclined to hear a sermon, I should
desire Mr. Dorriforth to preach, and not you."

Just then Mrs. Hillgrave was announced. "And here is Mrs. Hillgrave,"
continued she--"I believe, Mrs. Hillgrave, you know Miss Milner, don't
you? The young lady who has lately lost her father."

Mrs. Hillgrave was the wife of a merchant who had met with severe
losses: as soon as the name of Miss Milner was uttered, she lifted up
her hands, and the tears started in her eyes.

"There!" cried Lady Evans, "I desire you will give your opinion of her,
and I am sorry I cannot stay to hear it." Saying this, she curtsied and
took her leave.

When Mrs. Hillgrave had been seated a few minutes, Mrs. Horton, who
loved information equally with the most inquisitive of her sex, asked
the new visitor--"If she might be permitted to know, why, at the mention
of Miss Milner, she had seemed so much affected?"

This question exciting the fears of Dorriforth, he turned anxiously
round, attentive to the reply.

"Miss Milner," answered she, "has been my benefactress and the best I
ever had." As she spoke, she took out her handkerchief and wiped away
the tears that ran down her face.

"How so?" cried Dorriforth eagerly, with his own eyes moistened with
joy, nearly as much as her's were with gratitude.

"My husband, at the commencement of his distresses," replied Mrs.
Hillgrave, "owed a sum of money to her father, and from repeated
provocations, Mr. Milner was determined to seize upon all our
effects--his daughter, however, by her intercessions, procured us time,
in order to discharge the debt; and when she found _that_ time was
insufficient, and her father no longer to be dissuaded from his
intention, she secretly sold some of her most valuable ornaments to
satisfy his demand, and screen us from its consequences."

Dorriforth, pleased at this recital, took Mrs. Hillgrave by the hand,
and told her, "she should nev