to think that he often paid interest for his own money.

On his settling with Filmer, the treaty with Miss Obrien came out. Mr. Filmer had, by surprise, brought that beautiful girl into Sir Charles's presence; and he owned to his sisters, that she was a very lovely creature.

But when the mother and aunt found that he only admired her as a man would a fine picture, they insisted that Sir Thomas had promised to marry Miss Obrien privately; and produced two of his letters to her, that seemed to give ground for such an expectation. Sir Charles was grieved, for the sake of his father's memory, at this transaction; and much more on finding that the unhappy man went down to his seat in Essex, his head and heart full of this scheme, when he was struck with his last illness.

A meeting was proposed by Filmer, between Sir Charles, the mother, the aunt, and himself, at the aunt's house in Pall Mall. Sir Charles was very desirous to conceal his father's frailty from the world. He met them; but before he entered into discourse, made it his request to be allowed half an hour's conversation with Miss Obrien by herself; at the same time praising, as it deserved, her beauty.

They were in hopes that she would be able to make an impression on the heart of so young and lively a man, and complied. Under pretence of preparing her for so unexpected a visit, her aunt gave her her cue; but instead of her captivating him, he brought her to such confessions as sufficiently let him into the baseness of their views.

He returned to company, the young woman in his hand. He represented to the mother the wickedness of the part she had come over to act in such

strong terms that she fell into a fit. The aunt was terrified. The young creature wept, and vowed that she would be honest.

Sir Charles told them, that if they would give him up his father's two letters, and make a solemn promise never to open their lips on the affair, and would procure for her an honest husband, he would give her 1000l. on the day of marriage; and if she made a good wife, would be further kind to her.

Filmer was very desirous to clear himself of having any hand in the blacker part of this plot. Sir Charles did not seem solicitous to detect and expose him but left the whole upon his conscience. And having made before several objections to his account, which could not be so well obviated in England, he went over to Ireland with Filmer, and there very speedily settled every thing to his own satisfaction; and, dismissing him more genteely than he deserved, took upon himself the management of that estate, directing several obvious improvements to be made, which are likely to turn to great account.

On his return, he heard that Miss Obrien was ill of the small-pox. He was not, for her own sake, sorry for it. She suffered in her face; but still was pretty and genteel: and she is now the honest and happy wife of a tradesman near Golden Square, who is very fond of her. Sir Charles gave with her the promised sum, and 1007. more for wedding clothes.

One part of her hapiness and her husband's is, that her aunt, supposing she had disgraced herself by this match, never comes near her; and her mother is returned to Ireland to her husband, greatly dissatisfied with her daughter on the same

account.

While these matters were agitating, Sir Charles

forgot not to inquire what steps had been taken with regard to the alliance proposed between himself and Lady Frances N.

He paid his first visit to the father and brother of that lady.

All that the sisters know of the matter is, that the treaty was on this first visit entirely broken off. Their brother, however, speaks of the lady, and of the whole family, with great respect. The lady is known to esteem him highly. Her father, her brother, speak of him every where with great regard : Lord N. calls him the finest young gentleman in England. And so, Lucy, I believe he is. 'Sir Charles Grandison,' Lord N. once said, 'knows better by non-compliance how to create friendships than most men do by compliance.'

Lady L. and Miss Grandison, who, as I have before intimated, favour another lady, once said to him, that the earl and his son Lord N. were so constantly speaking in his praise, that they could not but think that it would at last be a match between him and Lady Frances. His answer was— 'The lady is infinitely deserving; but it cannot be.'

I am ready to wish he would say what can be that we need not-Ah, Lucy! I know not what I would say: but so it will always be with silly girls, that distinguish, not between the would and the should; one of which is your

HARRIET BYRON.

LETTER XXIV.

MISS BYRON. IN CONTINUATION.

I WILL proceed with the family-history.

Sir Charles forgot not, on his arrival in England, to pay an early visit to Lord W. his mother's brother, who was then at his house near Windsor.

I have told you that my Lord had conceived a dislike to him, and that for no other reason than because his father loved him. Lord W. was laid up with the gout when he came; but he was instantly admitted into his stately presence. The first salutations on one side were respectful, on the other coldly civil. My lord often surveyed his kinsman from head to foot as he sat, as if he were loth to like him, I suppose; yet knew not how to help it. He found fault with Sir Thomas. Sir Charles told him, that it was a very ingrateful thing to him to hear his father spoken slightly of. He desired his lordship to forbear reflections of that sort. 'My father,' said he, is no more. I desire not to be made a party in any disputes that may have happened between him and your lordship. I come to attend you as a duty which I owe to my mother's memory; and I hope this may be done without wounding that of my father.'

'You say well,' said my lord; but I am afraid, kinsman, by your air and manner, and speech too, that you want not your father's proud spirit.'

'I revere my father for his spirit, my lord. It might not always be exerted as your lordship and his other relations might wish; but he had a manly As to myself, I will help your lordship to my character at once. I am, indeed, a very proud man. I cannot stoop to flatter, and least of all

one.

men, the great and the rich: finding it difficult to restrain this fault, it is my whole study to direct it to laudable ends; and I hope that I am too proud to do any thing unworthy of my father's name, or of my mother's virtue.'

Why, sir, (and looked at him again from head to foot) your father never in his whole life said so good a thing.'

"Your lordship knew not my father as he deserved to be known. Where there are misunderstandings between two persons, though relations, the character of either is not to be taken from the other. But, my lord, this is, as I said before, a visit of duty: I have nothing to ask of your lordship but your good opinion; and no longer than I deserve it.'

My lord was displeased. You have nothing to ask of me!'-repeated he. 'Let me tell you, independent sir, that I like not your speech. You may leave me, if you please; and when I want to see you again, I will send for you.'

"Your servant, my lord. And let me say, that I will not again attend you till you do. But when you do, the summons of my mother's brother shall be cheerfully obeyed, notwithstanding this unkind treatment of Lord W.

The very next day my lord, hearing he was still at Windsor, viewing the curiosities of the place, sent to him; he directly went. My lord expressed himself highly pleased with his readiness to come, and apologized to him for his behaviour of the day before. He called him nephew, and swore that he was just such a young man as he had wished to see. Your mother used to say,' proceeded he, that you could do what you would with her, should you even be unreasonable; and I beg of you to ask me no favour but what is fit for me to

4