appears silly to me.]-He insisted upon a preference to Mr. Greville, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Orme, He resolved not to despair, as his sufferings for my sake had given him, (as he said he presumed to tell me) some merit in his own opinion, if not in mine ; and as his forgiveness of the man who had injured him ought, he thought, to have some weight in his favour.

He took leave of my cousins and me in a very respectful manner. I wish him no harm. But I hope I shall never see him again.

And now, Lucy, with the end of this very disagreeable visit I will conclude my letter; and shall haye another long one ready for the next post.

LETTER V.

MISS HARRIET BYRON TO MISS LUCY SELBY.

March 3,

I HAD not recovered myself after Sir Hargrave's visit, when Lady L. and Miss Grandison called, as they said, for a moment; however this agreeable moment lasted two hours. Miss Grandison, the instant she saw me, challenged me- Hey-day! what's the matter with our Harriet, Mrs. Reeves?' And, patting my neck-Why these flutters, child? -Perturbations delightful, or undelightful, Harriet, whether?

I told her who had been here, and but just left me; and, by the help of my cousins, gave them the particulars of what had passed.

They were greatly pleased; and the more, they said, as their brother, on seeing them uneasy, had acquainted them that all matters between him and

Sir Hargrave were accommodated; but had not had opportunity to tell them more.

'Let me reckon with you, Harriet,' said Miss Grandison, taking my hand with a schooling air; 'I am half jealous of you: Lady L. has got the start of me in my brother's affections; but she is my elder sister; first come first served; I can bear that; but I will not be cut out by a younger sister.'

'What is now to follow? thought I; and I fluttered like a fool; the more for her arch look, as if she would read my heart in my eyes.

Increased palpitation (O the fool!) made it look as if I took her jest for earnest. What a situation am I in?

'Dear Charlotte,' said Lady L. smiling, 'you shall not thus perplex our sweet sister.-My dear, don't mind her. You'll know her better in time.' 'Be quiet, Lady L. I shall have it all out.' 'O Miss Grandison,

'All what out?' said I.

how you love to alarm!'

Well, well, I'll examine further into these perturbations another time. I have beat the bush be fore now for one hare, and out have popt two. But all I mean is; a paper, a letter (my brother called it a paper) was brought to him sealed up. He rewarded the bringer; but sent it directly away unopened (that we found out) to you, Harriet. Now, child, if I allow of his reserves, I will not allow of yours. Pray answer me fairly and truly, what are the contents of that paper?'

They give the particulars of the conversation that passed in the alarming interview between Sir Charles

'And Sir Hargrave. That's my good girl.You see, Lady L. how this young thief will steal away the affections of our brother from us both.

He has showed us nothing of this. But if you would not have me jealous, Harriet, be sure keep no one secret of your heart from me

not.'

That relates merely to myself; I think I will

'Then you'll be a good girl: and I'll give my love for you the reins, without a pull-back."

Just then a servant came in with a card.

'LADY D.'s compliments to Mrs. Reeves and Miss Byron; and if it would be agreeable, she will wait on them presently, for one quarter of an hour, She is obliged to go out of town early in the morning.'

'What shall I do now?' said I. I was in a flutter; not being fully recovered from that into which Sir Hargrave's visit had thrown me.

'What now? What now?' said Miss Grandison. 'Ah! Harriet, we shall find you out by degrees.'

By the way, Lucy, you are fond of plays; and it is come into my head, that, to avoid all says I's and says she's, I will henceforth, in all dialogues, write names in the margin: so fancy, my dear, that you are reading in one of your favourite volumes.

HARRIET. Do you know Lady D.?

MISS GR. Very well; but I did not know that you did, Harriet.

LADY L. And I know she has a son: and I know she wants him to marry.

HARRIET. That I may keep no secrets from my two sisters, my aunt Selby has written to meMISS GR. Lately?

HARRIET. Very lately.

MISS GR. O! because you had not told me of that. MRS. REEVES. Aud pray, ladies, what is Lady D.'s character?

LADY L. She is a very sensible and prudent

woman.

MISS GR. I am not very intimate with her; but have seen her in two or three of my visits. I have always thought her so.-And pray, Harriet, don't you want to know what character my lord bears? HARRIET. My lord is nothing to me. I have answered. I have given my negative.

MISS GR. The deuce you have!-Why the man has a good 12,000l. a year. HARRIET. I don't care.

MISS GR. What a deuce ails the girl!

Then humorously telling on her fingers-Orme, one; Fenwick, two; Greville, three; Fowler, four : -I want another finger; but I'll take in my thumb -Sir Hargrave, five;-And now,' (putting the fore-finger of one hand on the thumb of the other) 'Lord D. six!-And none of them the man!Depend upon it, girl, pride will have a fall.'

What could she mean by that?-Sir Charles Grandison's sisters, I hope, will not-But I believe she meant nothing.

'Have I pride, Miss Grandison?' coldly and gravely asked I, as my cousin observed to me afterwards.

MISS GR. Have you pride?-Yes, that you have; or you have worse.

What could this mad lady mean by this? - And what could I mean? For I had tears in my eyes. I was very low spirited at that moment.

LADY L. Well, but Miss Byron, shall we be impertinent if we stay to see the lady?-I have a great value for her. She has been an admirable executrix and trustee for her son; and was as good a wife. I was just going; but, as she goes out of town to-morrow, will stay to pay my compliments

to her. We can withdraw till you have had your talk.

MISS GR. Does she come to persuade you, Harriet, to retract your refusal?

HARRIET. I know not her business. I wrote my mind to my aunt Selby. But I believe my aunt could not have written, and the countess received what she wrote, by this time. But do not go: we can have no private talk.

MISS GR. Well, but now I will tell you, without punishing your curiosity further, what Lord D.'s character is. He is as sober a man as most of the young nobility. His fortune is great. In sense, he neither abounds, nor is wanting; and that class of men, take my word for it, are the best qualified of all others to make good husbands to women of superior talents. They know just enough to induce them to admire in her what they have not in themselves. If a woman has prudence enough to give consequence to such a one before folks, and will behave as if she thought him her superior in understanding, she will be able to make her own will a law to him; by the way of- I will, shall I?

Or If you please, my dear, I will do what I think fit. But a fool and a wit are the extreme points, and equally unmanagable.-And now tell me, Harriet, what can be your motive for refusing such a man as this?

HARRIET. I wish, my dear, you would not talk to me of these men. I am sick of them all-Sir Hargrave has cured me

MISS GR. You fib, my dear-But did you ever see Lord D.?

HARRIET. No, indeed!

MISS GR. No, indeed!'-Why, then, you are a simpleton, child.-What, refuse a man, an earl