The National Register.
London, England, 1822-06-10 00:00:00

scanty maintenance by her needle, but finding it prove
insattic eat, she determined to try whether the labour
eh the pen would not be more profitable. However,
before the could succeed in disposing of her work she
was obliged to go in arrears with her landlady: the sum
was small, but as the woman was destitute of principle,
she availed herself of the circumstance to plead the cause
of a libertine of fashion, who was struck with Mrs.
Clayton's person. In vain did the unfortunate widow
spurn his dishonourable proposals, he continued to insult
her with his licentious offers. The thought that she
now had it in her power to escape his iiiipirtuitities,added
to the delight which the success of her work gave her—
she resolved to seek for another lodging in the morning;
and after she had put her little girl to bed, she sat down
to form plans for the future, with an alacrity of spirit to
which she had knig been a stranger, when the door
opened, and Sir Harry entered. She saw at a glance
that lie was half intoxicated, arid though terrified at a
freedom which he had never before presumed to take,
she had presence of mind enough to conceal her alarm.
She ruin with apparent composure, and desired he would
leave her apartment. " Pray," cried he, with a scorn-
ful laughs. " what is the penalty, my pretty inflex:ble,
if I don't chose to comply? You are about to rid your-
self of the' detestable mail,' you know,' but et least you
shalt first hear what he has to say." Grasping her hand,
he wiliged her to sit down, and placing himself at her
side, he began to offer her what he called better terms,
intermingled with threats of vengeance if they were not
accep.cd. Irritated by her struggles to disengage herself
tile brute threw his arms round her. She screamed in
terror, and the next moment an old mail, very plainly
dressed, entered the room. Sir harry quitted his des-
tined prey, and athalieing with a fierce air to the stranger,
toad hum to retire. " Not unless the lady wishes it,"
phed he coolly. " On, no no l" exclaimed my mis-
tress," for Heaven's sake, sir, do not go! "I'lte baronet
then changed his ground ; he declared that the lady was
his wife, but unluckily for him, the maid servant who
admitted him in the lady's absence, entered at that mo-
ment, and began clamorously to reproach him with
breaking his promise to her, by insulting lily mistress.—
This unexpected attack from tits accomplice totally dis-
concerted him, and with a dreadful ex.cration upon her
and himself. he quitted the room.
My mistress, whose terror had by this time a little
subsided, warmly thanked the stranger. " You owe me
no acknowledgments, madam," replied he, drily: I found
the street door ajar; my entrance was therefore easy; but
even if it had been otherwise, I could not disregard the
voice of a woman in distress. If I can be of any further
use to you command time; if not, I will take my leave."
Atter what has passed, sir," said Mrs. Clayton, " I do
not dare to remain here ; could you but stay till 1 pay
this woman and remove my things, it would tie indeed a
favour." servant, on being summoned. declared
that her mistress was absent, but finding that ,N.lrs.
Cayton persisted in going immediately, she offered to
fetch the landlady. When she quitted the room fur
that purpose, the stranger asked my mistress rather
abruptly, to what family of thee Claytons she belonged.—
Perceiving that she blushed and hesitated, he added in a
salter tone, " 1 did not mean to distress you, madam, by
an itoutry that you may not wish to answer, but nine
is nut au idle curiosity. Clayton, the merchant, of
whose mournful catastrophe you must have heard, was
my nephew: 1 have beets long absent rout England,
and did not return till after his death, but 1 find that he
has left a widow and a childes.---"—" Alt ! yes," cried
Mrs. Clayton, bursting into tears, " I am that unfortu-
nate widow." The stranger seemed affected. " Had I
returned to England sooner," said he, " 1 might have
alerted poor George's unhappy fate, as well as prevented
my own ruin: but what, my dear child, is your actual
situation?" She answered Min without reset ve. He
shook his head at die sanguine hope she scented to enter-
tain of her success as an author. You have heard your
husband speak of me, no doubt," cried lie " 1 quitted
liogland belore his birth, but lor many years afterwards
1 kept up a correspondence ith my family. It was my
inteution to return to England at a much earlier period,
but various encounter ces occurred to prevent me
degrees I ceased to hear hum my relations, but 1 did nut
forget them, and it WaS always my intention to return
at last, and share my fortune with them ; but alas ! au
ill-placed confidence has deprived me of that for which
I ease toiled so many years! I returned possessed as I
thought of i ))))) keine property, but the villain in whose
hauls 1 placed it has absconded, and I ant literally a
beggar." " ;tio," cried my mistress with vivacity,
" Heaven forbid that the only stirs iving relation of my
dear lust limband should be reduced to that abject state
while I can earn bread I Cheer up, my dear uncle, let
us think that our 'fleeting is not the tilect of chance, but
the interposition of Providence- for our mutual column :
be to isle as a father, and receive me as your
But how, my dear generous Oil, Call I impose the bur-
men of my necessitivs--" " Talk nut of that : lions
this 11101tariit OW fortunes are united. See" continued
she, stiewitig Initi the money which the bookseller had
given! her, " the greatest part of this is mine: are we slot
then at present rich enough, and shall we doubt that etc
this is exhausted, Providence will send us more i" The
pour uld mill burst into tears of gratitude, butt lie checked
his emotions at the sight of the landlady, is ho now
entered with a most obsequious air. She declared that
sue was totally ignorant of the vile attempt of Sir Ilarry,
and vowed that she won't! 'icier again siv a word in his
Issolir : however, When she found that my mistress per-
sisted in quitting the house, all her civility %entailed, and
she was as insolent as she hid been
benne fawning.—
A tew uunutrs .Milted to settle her demand, and :%lrs.
Clayton, making her little girl rise and dress, packed tilt
her slender wardrobe. and quitted the house ltl ce.stipany
with her new-found uncle.

She took refuge for me night at the lodging of a poor
woman who had been oar of her uoder servants, and
who attended her with exemplary fidelity in all her mis-
btriuttes. Air. Clayton then quitted her with a promise
of coming early next idly to go with her in search of an
appiuttutut. I'he moruttig, however, stole ou without