eard nothing since he last
saw her. He thought of the difficulties which surrounded him. He
thought of the barriers which were opposed to his happiness and the
felicity of Melissa, and he set out for the house of Vincent.

Alonzo arrived at the residence of Vincent near the close of the
day. Vincent and his lady were at tea with several young ladies who
had passed the afternoon with Mrs. Vincent. Alonzo cast an active
glance around the company, in hopes to find Melissa, but she was not
there. He was invited and accepted a seat at table.]

After tea was over, Raymond led Theodore into an adjoining room. "You
have come in good time," said he. "Something speedily must be done, or
you lose Alida forever. The day after you were here, her father received
a letter from Bonville, in which, after mentioning the circumstances of
your father's insolvency, he hinted that the consequence would probably
be a failure of her proposed marriage with you, which might essentially
injure the reputation of a lady of her standing in life; to prevent
which, and to place her beyond the reach of calumny, he offered to marry
her at any appointed day, provided he had her free consent.

[_A&M_:

After tea Vincent led him into an adjoining room.--"You have come in
good time, [said he] something must speedily be done, or you lose
Melissa forever. The day after you were here, her father received a
letter from Beauman, in which, after mentioning the circumstance of
your father's insolvency, he hinted that the consequence would
probably be a failure of her proposed marriage with you, which might
essentially injure the reputation of a lady of her standing in life;
to prevent which, and to place her beyond the reach of calumny, he
offered to marry her at any appointed day, provided he had her free
consent.]

As Bonville, by the recent death of his father, had been put in
possession of a splendid fortune, the proposition might possibly allure
the father of Alida, to use his endeavour to bring his daughter to yield
implicit obedience to his wishes.

[_A&M_:

"As Beauman, by the recent death of his father, had been put in
possession of a splendid fortune, the proposition allured her
father, who wrote him a complaisant answer, with an invitation to
his house. He then strove to extort a promise from Melissa, that she
would break off all connexion with you, see you no more, and admit
the addresses