would receive from the fond affection of the

heiress, and she might have the lucrative situation of co-partnery with the husband in the property of the wife, as a set off against her co-partnery with the wife, in the affections of the husband, proposing in the last case that the nominal chief of the firm should not be the acting partner. One objection the lady foresaw to the accomplishment of this scheme: without certainly knowing, she strongly suspected that Hamilton was very deeply attached to Maria, but measuring his sentiments by her own, she made little doubt that the very fine person of Maria was the sole object of his love. She well knew that Hamden was rapturously enamoured of Miss Mortimer, and readily guessed the reason of the young lady's coldness. Entertaining apprehensions that Hamilton was so fond of Maria, that to gratify his inclinations he might marry