now. And then we go no further, you know. But tell me-Don't you repent that you have given a denial to Lady D.?'

HAR. "I won't be sullen, ladies. Yet I am not pleased to be thus—'

MISS GR.Then own yourself a woman, Harriet; and that in some certain instances you have both affectation and reserve. There are some cases, my dear, in which it is impossible but a woman must be guilty of affectation.'

6

HAR. Well, then, suppose I am. I never pretended to be clear of the foibles which you impute to the sex. I am a weak, a very weak creature: you see I am-’

.

And I put my hand in my pocket for my handkerchief.

MISS GR. Aye, weep, love. My sister has heard me say, that I never in my life saw a girl so lovely in tears.'

HAR. What have I done to deserve

MISS GR. Such a compliment!-hay! - But you shan't weep neither.-Why, why, is this subject so affecting, Harriet?'

HAR. You surprise me!-Parted with you but an hour or two ago-and nothing of these reproaches. And now, all at once, both ladies—' MISS GR. Reproaches, Harriet!'

HAR. I believe so. I don't know what else to call them.?'

MISS GR.What! is it a reproach to be taxed with love

HAR. But the manner, madanı—'

MISS GR.The manner you are taxed with it is the thing then. Well,'-putting on a grave look, and assuming a softer accent-you are in love, however: but with whom? is the question. we, your sisters, entitled to know with whom?'

Are

'Surely, ladies,' thought I, 'you have something to say that will make me amends for all this intolerable teasing:' and yet my proud heart, whatever it were to be, swelled a little, that they should think that would be such high amends, which, however, I by myself, communing only with my own heart, would have thought so.

LADY L. (Coming to me, and taking my hand) 'Let me tell you, our dearest Harriet, that you are the most insensible girl in the world, if you are not in love. And now what say you?'

HAR. Perhaps I do know, ladies, enough of the passion, to wish to be less alarmingly treated.' They then sitting down, one on either side of me; each took a hand of the trembling fool.

'I think I will resume the reins, Charlotte,' said the countess. 'We are both cruel.-But tell us, my lovely sister, in one word tell your Caroline, tell your Charlotte, if you have any confidence in our love, (and indeed we love you, or we would not have teased you as we have done) if there be not one man in the world whom you love above all men in it?'

I was silent. I looked down. I had, in the same moment, an ague, in its cold and in its hot fit. They vouchsafed each to press with her lips the passive hand each held.

'Be not afraid to speak out, my dear,' said Miss Grandison. Assure yourself of my love, my true sisterly love. I once intended to lead the way to the opening of your heart by the discovery of my own, before my brother, as I hoped, could have found me out-But nothing can be hid-'

'Madam!-ladies!' said I, and stood up in a hurry, and, in as great a discomposure, sat down again Your brother has not, could not-I would die before-'

MISS GR. But say you, Harriet, he could not?-If you would not be teased, don't aim at reserves-But think you, that we could not see, on a hundred occasions, your heart at your eyes? That we could not affix a proper meaning to those sudden throbs just here,' patting my neck; those half suppressed, but always involuntary sighs [I sighed]-Aye, just such as that!--[I was confounded] But, to be

Amiable delicacy!-He has not

serious, we do assure you, Harriet, that had we not thought ourselves under some little obligation to Lady Anne S. we should have talked to you before on this subject. The friends of that Lady have been very solicitous with us-And Lady Anne is not averse-'

HAR. Dear ladies!' withdrawing the hand that Miss Grandison held, and taking out my handkerchief; you say you love me!-Won't you despise whom you love?-I do own-',

There I stopt; and dried my eyes.

LADY L. What does my Harriet own?'

HAR. O, madam, had I a greater opinion of my own merit than I have reason to have (and I never had so little a one as since I have known you two) I could open to you, without reserve, my whole heart-But one request I have to make you -You must grant it.'

They both in a breath asked what that was.

HAR. It is, That you will permit your chariot to carry me to town this very afternoon-And long shall not that town hold your Harriet-Indeed, indeed, ladies, I cannot now ever look your brother in the face-And you will also both despise me! I know you will!'

Sweet, and as seasonable as sweet, (for I was very much affected) were the assurances they gave me of their continued love.

MISS GR. We have talked with our brother

this morning

HAR. About me! I hope he has not a notion that- There I stopt.

LADY L.

You were mentioned; but we in tend not to alarm you further. We will tell you what passed. Lady Anne was our subject.'

I was all attention.

MISS GR. We asked him if he had any thoughts of marriage. The question came in properly enough, from the subject that preceded it. He was silent: but sighed and looked grave.' [Why did Sir Charles Grandison sigh, Lucy?] We repeated the question. "You told us, bro ther," said I, "that you do not intend to resume the treaty began by my father for Lady Frances N. What think you of Lady Anne S.? We need not mention to you how considerable her fortune is; what an enlargement it would give to your power of doing good; nor what her disposition and qualities are: her person is far from being disagreeable; and she has a great esteem for yon."

"I think Lady Anne a very agreeable woman," replied he: "But if she honours me with a preferable esteem, she gives me a regret; because it is not in my power to return it."

"Not in your power, brother?"

"It is not in my power to return to it."

O Lucy! how my heart fluttered! the ague-fit came on again; and I was hot and cold as before, almost in the same moment.

They told me, they would not tease me further. But these are subjects that cannot be touched upon without raising emotion in the bosom of a person who hopes, and is uncertain. O the cru

elty of suspense!

How every new instance of it tears in pieces my before almost bursting heart! MISS GR. My brother went on

"You have often hinted to me at distance this subject. I will not, as I might, answer your question, now so directly put, by saying, that it is my wish to see you, Charlotte, happily married, before I engage myself. But, perhaps, I shall be better enabled some time hence, than I am at present, to return such an answer as you may expect from a brother."

• Now, my Harriet, we are afraid, by the words, "Not in his power;" and by the hint, that he cannot at present answer our question as he may be enabled to do some time hence; we are afraid that some foreign lady-'

They had raised my hopes; and now, exciting my fears by so well grounded an apprehension, they were obliged for their pains to hold Lady L.'s salts to my nose. I could not help exposing myself; my heart having been weakened too by their teasings before. My head dropt on the shoulder of Miss Grandison. Tears relieved me.

I desired their pity. They assured me of their love; and called upon me, as I valued their friend. ship, to open my whole heart to them.

I paused. I hesitated. Words did not immediately offer themselves. But, at last, I said, 'Could I have thought myself entitled to your excuse, ladies, your Harriet, honoured as she was, from the first, with the appellation of sister, would have had no reserve to her sisters. But a just consciousness of my own unworthiness overcame a temper, that, I will say, is naturally frank and unreserved. Now, however

There I stopt, and held down my head.