son-in-law. He came to me as my son's friend. I invited him down in that character: he, at that time, knew nothing of you. But no sooner came a single man into a single woman's company, but you both wanted to make a match of it. You were dutiful; and he was prudent: prudent for himself. I think.you talked of his prudence a while ago. He made his application to you, or you to him, I know not which-[Then how poor Caroline wept! And I,' said Miss Charlotte, 'could hardly forbear saying "Barbarous !"] And when he found himself sure of you, then was the fool of the father to be consulted: and for what? Only to know what he would do for two people, who had left him no option in the case. And this is the trick of you all, and the poor father is to be passive, or else to be accounted a tyrant.

CAR. Sir, I admitted not Lord L.'s address, but conditionally, as you should approve of it. Lord L. desired not my approbation upon other terms.

SIR THO. What nonsense is this?-Have you left me any way to help myself?-Come, Caroline, let me try you. I intend to carry you up to town: a young man of quality has made overtures to me. I believe I shall approve of his proposals. I am sure you will, if you are not prepossessed. Tell me, Are you, have you left yourself at liberty to give way to my recommendation?-Why don't you answer me?-You know, that you received Lord L.'s addresses but conditionally, as I should approve of them. And your spark desired your approbation upon other terms. Come, what say you to this?-What! are you confounded?-Well you may, if you cannot answer me as I wish! If you can, why don't you? You see, I put you but to your own test.

CAR. Sir, it is not for me to argue with my fa ther. Surely, I have not intended to be undutiful. Surely, I have not disgraced my family by admit ting Lord L.'s conditional

SIR THO. Conditional! - Fool!- How condi tional!-Is it not absolute, as to the exclusion of me, or of my option? But I have ever found, that the man who condescends to argue with a woman, especially on certain points, in which nature, and not reason, is concerned, must follow her through a thousand windings, and find himself furthest off when he imagines himself nearest; and at last must content himself, panting for breath, to sit down where he set out; while she gambols about, and is ready to lead him a new course.

CAR. I hope

Yes

SIR THO. None of your hopes-I will have cer tainty. May I-Come, I'll bring you to a point if I can, woman as you are.-May I receive propo sals for you from any other man? Answer me, or No. Don't deal with me as girls do with common fathers.-Don't be disobedient, and then depend upon my weakness to forgive you. I am nơ common father. I know the world. I know your sex. I have found more fools in it than I have made. Indeed, no man makes, or needs to make you fools. You have folly deep rooted within you. That weed is a native of the soil. A very little watering will make it sprout, and choke the noble flowers that education has planted. I never knew a woman in my life that was wise by the experience of other people. But answer me: Say-Can you receive a new proposal, or can you not?

So

Caroline answered only by her tears.' SIR THO. Damnably constant, I suppose! you give up real virtue, give up duty to a father, for

fidelity, for constancy, for a fictitious virtue, to a lover! Come hither to me, girl-Why don't you come to me when I bid you?

LETTER XVII.

MISS BYRON. IN CONTINUATION.

MISS CAROLINE arose: four creeping steps, her handkerchief at her eyes, brought her within her father's reach. He snatched her hand, quickened her pace, and brought her close to his knees. "Poor sister Caroline," thought 1: "O the ty-" and I had like, at the time, to have added the syllable "rant" to myself. · He pulled the other hand from her eye. The handkerchief dropt: he might see that it was wet and heavy with her tears. Fain would she have turned her blubbered eyes from him. He held both her hands, and burst out into a laugh

And what cries the girl for?-Why, Caroline, you shall have a husband I tell you. I will hasten with you to the London market. Will you be offered at Ranelagh market first? the concert, or breakfasting? Or will I show you at the opera, or at the play? Ha, ha, hah!-Hold up your head, my amorous girl! You shall stick some of your mother's jewels in your hair, and in your bosom, to draw the eyes of fellows. You must strike at once, while your face is new; or you will be mingled with the herd of women who prostitute their faces at every polite place. Sweet impatient soul!Look at me, Caroline." Then he laughed again.

CAR. Indeed, sir, if you were not my father

"Well said, Caroline," thought I; and trode on ber toe.

SIR THO. Hey-day! But what then?

CAR. I would say you are very cruel.

SIR THO. And is that all you would say, poor soft thing! in such circumstances, to any other man? -Well, but all this time, you don't tell me (still holding her hands) whether any other man will not do as well as your Scotchman?

CAR. I am not kindly used Indeed, sir, you don't use me kindly. I hope I am not an amorous creature, as you call me. I am not in haste to be married. I am willing to wait your time, your pleasure: but, as I presume that there can be no ob. jection to Lord L. I wish not to be carried to any London market.

SIR THO. (Gravely.) If I am disposed to railly you, Caroline; if I am willing to pass off in a plea. sant manner a forwardness that I did not expect in my daughter; and for which, in my heart, I have despised the daughters of other men; though I have not told the wenches so; I will not be answered pertly. I will not have you forget yourself.

CAR. (Curtseying.) Good sir, permit me to withdraw. I will recollect myself, and be sorry

SIR THO. And is it necessary for you to withdraw to recollect your duty?—But you shall answer my question-How stand you and Lord L.? Are you resolved to have him, and none other?Will you wait for him, will he wait for you, till death has numbered me with my ancestors?

CAR. O sir! [And she looked down after her dropt handkerchief. She wanted it, and would have withdrawn one of her hands to reach it; and when she could not, the big tears running down her cheeks, (yet she looked pretty) down she dropt on her knees:]-Forgive me, sir-I dread

your displeasure-But must say, that I am not an amorous girl: and, to convince you that I am not, I never will marry any man living, if it be not Lord L.

I all this time was in agitations for my poor sister. I tired three chairs; and now looked at her; now from her; then at my fingers' ends, wishing them claws, and the man a husband, instead of a father.-Indeed, Miss Byron, I could not but make Caroline's treatment my own--and, in fancy, not so very remote as you imagined, Lady L. Once I said to myself" If some Lord L. tenders himself to me, and I like him, I will not stand all this. The first moonlight night, if he urge me heartily, and if I am sure the parson is ready, I will be under another protection, despicably as I have always thought of runaway daughters!"-Should I have done right, Miss Byron?"

'The example, Miss Grandison,' replied I-'Such a mother as you were blessed with! The world, that would have sat in judgment upon the flight of the daughter, would not have known the cruel treatment of the father. I believe, my dear, you are glad you had not the trial: and you see how Lady L. is rewarded for her patient duty.'

"That's my good Harriet!" said Lady L. 'I love you for your answer. But, sister, you leave me in too much distress. You must release me from my knees, and send me up to my chamber as fast as you can.'

A little patience, Lady L.-But what say my minutes? Miss Byron seems all attention. This is a new subject to her. She never had any body to control her.'

'I think I could have borne any thing from a father or mother,' said I, had it pleased God to continue to me so dear a blessing.'