any of the inhabitants. The secrecy observed by Solon, who never was seen abroad, added to the droll appearance of his friend Linton, who knocked and obtained admission at all hours, soon attracted the notice, and excited the curiosity, of the neighbouring gossips, and Solon was generally spoken of as the "Invisible Gentleman."

As for the unmarried ladies of Grimstead, they were annoyed beyond the power of utterance, and many were the epithets (I am sorry to say, sometimes abusive ones) lavished on the devoted head of poor Solon, who had dared to treat with contempt the charms of so many amiable creatures; and yet he was certainly an object for pity rather than contempt, nor was his heart so cold and insensible as it was supposed to be.

All persons acquainted with the miseries of a bachelor's life, will readily conceive, that poor Mr. Sensitive must be any thing but happy in his solitary abode. He had, indeed, entertained a

thought, which soon kindled into a warm desire, to unite his fate with that of one of the tender sex, but how could he own the "soft impeachment?" for, to make love in person, would have killed him outright. In this dilemma, he again had recourse to Linton, to whom he opened up the secrets of his heart, and who promised him, if it were possible, to "make him a happy man" in less than a month! From this time, Linton began to enter freely into society, and attended all the quadrille, card, and other parties, that were given by the old maids. He had thus an excedent opportunity for observing their tempers, manners, dispositions, &c. Of all his acquaintance, however, not one lady seemed at all likely to suit the peculiar habits of his friend, and he had almost given up in despair, when a new arrival was announced in the village; it was that of Mrs. Amelia Muggins, a widow lady, of ample dimensions, and who prided herself on bei

called "fat, fair, and forty." She was a native of Grimstead, but had been staying on a visit for some months past with a friend at Worthing, and had returned to her coterie. Jack, now on the qui vive, was anxious to obtain an introduction to the gay widow, who he fondly thought might be the very person he was in search of. He found her affable, polite, and agreeable in her conversation, and by no means diffident, for she told him one day that, having been once married, and having lived happily with her husband, she should have no objection again to repeat the words "love, honour, and obey !”— This she said with the most perfect good-humour, and seemed to enjoy the idea vastly. Linton now thought himself secure of his prize, and his heart began to beat high with expectation; but how could he introduce his mission? A thought struck him, and he knocked it down. Mrs. Amelia Muggins had a female friend and com

panion, or toady, as they are sometimes called; her name was Miss Nancy Nixon. To this moving automaton did Linton apply himself; and so entirely did he insinuate himself into her good graces, that he found her an excellent person for his purpose. He was continually speaking to her of his friend Sensitive's virtues, and lauding him up to the skies, at the same time artfully hinting that he thought a suitable match might be formed between Mr. S. and Mrs. M. Having said thus much, he gave an expressive glance at Miss Nixon, and left the room; nor did he revisit Mrs. Muggins' mansion for some days afterwards.

One morning, early, he received a note from Mrs. Muggins, requesting the pleasure of his company that day to dinner. At the hour of four, Linton was punctual in his attendance, and soon gleaned from the countenance of his hostess, that there was good news in reserve for his friend Solon.

After the cloth was removed, Mrs. Muggins drew her chair up to the fire, and requested a few moments' private conversation with Mr. Linton. She began by saying she had heard much of his friend Mr. Sensitive's accomplishments, and was much surprised that he had never introduced her to so amiable a man. She also hinted that she knew well how to appreciate good and amiable qualities in the male sex, and regretted much that she was doomed to lead a life of "single blessedness." She then paused; on which Jack Linton, who had fortified himself for the occasion by taking several extra glasses of wine during dinner, resumed the conversation, He told her of Mr. Sensitive's anxious desire to enter on the marriage state-he expatiated at much length upon his virtues and accomplishments, and went so far as to hint that he had been commissioned to look out for a lady who would be likely to render his

friend happy; "because," added Linton, he is so