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〃Ride where you may； Be Candid where you can；〃 she added；〃 I rode once； but it is many years agoShe spoke this in so low and tremulous a Voice； that I was silent。 Struck with her Manner of speaking I could make no reply。 〃I have not ridden； continued she fixing her Eyes on my face； since I was married。〃 I was never so surprised〃Married； Ma'am！〃 I repeated。 〃You may well wear that look of astonishment； said she； since what I have said must appear improbable to youYet nothing is more true than that I once was married。〃
〃Then why are you called Miss Jane？〃
〃I married； my Sophia without the consent or knowledge of my father the late Admiral Annesley。 It was therefore necessary to keep the secret from him and from every one； till some fortunate opportunity might offer of revealing it。 Such an opportunity alas！ was but too soon given in the death of my dear Capt。 DashwoodPardon these tears； continued Miss Jane wiping her Eyes； I owe them to my Husband's memory。 He fell my Sophia； while fighting for his Country in America after a most happy Union of seven years。 My Children； two sweet Boys and a Girl； who had constantly resided with my Father and me； passing with him and with every one as the Children of a Brother （tho' I had ever been an only Child） had as yet been the comforts of my Life。 But no sooner had I lossed my Henry； than these sweet Creatures fell sick and died。 Conceive dear Sophia what my feelings must have been when as an Aunt I attended my Children to their early Grave。 My Father did not survive them many weeksHe died； poor Good old man； happily ignorant to his last hour of my Marriage。'
〃But did not you own it； and assume his name at your husband's death？〃
〃No； I could not bring myself to do it； more especially when in my Children I lost all inducement for doing it。 Lady Bridget； and yourself are the only persons who are in the knowledge of my having ever been either Wife or Mother。 As I could not Prevail on myself to take the name of Dashwood （a name which after my Henry's death I could never hear without emotion） and as I was conscious of having no right to that of Annesley； I dropt all thoughts of either； and have made it a point of bearing only my Christian one since my Father's death。〃 She paused〃Oh！ my dear Miss Jane （said I） how infinitely am I obliged to you for so entertaining a story！ You cannot think how it has diverted me！ But have you quite done？〃
〃I have only to add my dear Sophia； that my Henry's elder Brother dieing about the same time； Lady Bridget became a Widow like myself； and as we had always loved each other in idea from the high Character in which we had ever been spoken of； though we had never met； we determined to live together。 We wrote to one another on the same subject by the same post； so exactly did our feeling and our actions coincide！ We both eagerly embraced the proposals we gave and received of becoming one family； and have from that time lived together in the greatest affection。〃
〃And is this all？ said I； I hope you have not done。〃
〃Indeed I have； and did you ever hear a story more pathetic？〃
〃I never didand it is for that reason it pleases me so much； for when one is unhappy nothing is so delightful to one's sensations as to hear of equal misery。〃
〃Ah！ but my Sophia why are YOU unhappy？〃
〃Have you not heard Madam of Willoughby's Marriage？〃
〃But my love why lament HIS perfidy； when you bore so well that of many young Men before？〃
〃Ah！ Madam； I was used to it then； but when Willoughby broke his Engagements I had not been dissapointed for half a year。〃
〃Poor Girl！〃 said Miss Jane。
LETTER the THIRD From a YOUNG LADY in distressed Circumstances to her freind
A few days ago I was at a private Ball given by Mr Ashburnham。 As my Mother never goes out she entrusted me to the care of Lady Greville who did me the honour of calling for me in her way and of allowing me to sit forwards； which is a favour about which I am very indifferent especially as I know it is considered as confering a great obligation on me 〃So Miss Maria （said her Ladyship as she saw me advancing to the door of the Carriage） you seem very smart to night MY poor Girls will appear quite to disadvantage by YOU I only hope your Mother may not have distressed herself to set YOU off。 Have you got a new Gown on？〃
〃Yes Ma'am。〃 replied I with as much indifference as I could assume。
〃Aye； and a fine one too I think（feeling it； as by her permission I seated myself by her） I dare say it is all very smartBut I must own； for you know I always speak my mind； that I think it was quite a needless piece of expenceWhy could not you have worn your old striped one？ It is not my way to find fault with People because they are poor； for I always think that they are more to be despised and pitied than blamed for it； especially if they cannot help it； but at the same time I must say that in my opinion your old striped Gown would have been quite fine enough for its Wearerfor to tell you the truth （I always speak my mind） I am very much afraid that one half of the people in the room will not know whether you have a Gown on or notBut I suppose you intend to make your fortune to night。 Well； the sooner the better； and I wish you success。〃
〃Indeed Ma'am I have no such intention〃
〃Who ever heard a young Lady own that she was a Fortune…hunter？〃 Miss Greville laughed but I am sure Ellen felt for me。
〃Was your Mother gone to bed before you left her？〃 said her Ladyship。
〃Dear Ma'am； said Ellen it is but nine o'clock。〃
〃True Ellen； but Candles cost money； and Mrs Williams is too wise to be extravagant。〃
〃She was just sitting down to supper Ma'am。〃
〃And what had she got for supper？〃 〃I did not observe。〃 〃Bread and Cheese I suppose。〃 〃I should never wish for a better supper。〃 said Ellen。 〃You have never any reason replied her Mother； as a better is always provided for you。〃 Miss Greville laughed excessively； as she constantly does at her Mother's wit。
Such is the humiliating Situation in which I am forced to appear while riding in her Ladyship's CoachI dare not be impertinent； as my Mother is always admonishing me to be humble and patient if I wish to make my way in the world。 She insists on my accepting every invitation of Lady Greville； or you may be certain that I would never enter either her House； or her Coach with the disagreable certainty I always have of being abused for my Poverty while I am in them。When we arrived at Ashburnham； it was nearly ten o'clock； which was an hour and a half later than we were desired to be there； but Lady Greville is too fashionable （or fancies herself to be so） to be punctual。 The Dancing however was not begun as they waited for Miss Greville。 I had not been long in the room before I was engaged to dance by Mr Bernard； but just as we were going to stand up； he recollected that his Servant had got his white Gloves； and immediately ran out to fetch them。 In the mean time the Dancing began and Lady Greville in passing to another room went exactly before meShe saw me and instantly stopping； said to me though there were several people close to us；
〃Hey day； Miss Maria！ What cannot you get a partner？ Poor Young Lady！ I am a