What business had Sir Thomas to say this, my Lucy?

SIR THO. Let me know, Caroline, what hopes you have given to Lord L——. Or rather, perhaps, what hopes he has given you?—Why are you silent? Answer me, girl.

CAR. I hope, sir, I shall not disgrace my father, in thinking well of Lord L

SIR THO. Nor will he disgrace himself, proud as are the Scottish beggars of their ancestry, in thinking well of a daughter of mine.

CAR. Lord L, though not a beggar, sir, would think it an honour, sir

SIRTHO. Well said! Go on: go on. Why stops the girl? -And so he ought. But if Lord L- is not a beggar for my daughter, let not my daughter be a beggar for Lord L-. But Lord L- — would think it an honour, you say-To be what? Your husband, I suppose. Answer my question; how stand matters between you and Lord L- -?

CAR. I cannot, such is my unhappiness! say any thing that will please my father.

SIR THO. How the girl evades my question!-Don't let me repeat it.

CAR. It is not disgraceful, I hope, to own, that I had rather be

There she stopt, and half-hid her face in her bosom, And I thought, said Miss Grandison, that she never looked prettier in her life.

SIR THO. Rather be Lord L-'s wife than my daughter-Well, Charlotte, tell me, when are you to begin to estrange me from your affections? When are you to begin to think your father stands in the way of your happiness? When do you cast your purveying eyes upon a

mere stranger, and prefer him to your father?--I have done my part, I suppose; I have nothing to do but to allot you the fortunes that your lovers, as they are called, will tell you are necessary to their affairs, and then to lie me down and die. Your fellows then, with you, will dance over my grave; and I shall be no more remembered, than if I had never been--except by your brother.

I could not help speaking here, said Miss Grandison. O sir! how you wound me!-Do all fathers-Forgive me,

sir

I saw his brow begin to lour.

SIR THO. I bear not impertinence. I bear not--There he stopt in wrath.-But why, Caroline, do you evade my question? You know it. Answer it.

CAR. I should be unworthy of the affection of such a man as Lord L—— is, if I disowned my esteem for him. Indeed, sir, I have an esteem for Lord L above any man I ever saw. You, sir, did not always disesteem him— My brother

SIR THO. SO! Now all is out!-You have the forwardness-What shall I call it ?-But I did, and I do, esteem Lord L-. But as what?-Not as a 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.

address, but Lord L-

you

left me

CAR. Sir, I admitted not Lord L- -'s conditionally, as you should approve of it. desired not my approbation upon other terms. SIR THO. What nonsense is this?-Have 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 not your approbation upon other 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.

terms.

CAR. Sir, it is not for me to argue with my father. Surely, I have not intended to be undutiful. Surely, I have not disgraced my family, by admitting Lord L▬▬'s conditional

SIR THO. Conditional!-Fool!-How conditional?Is it not absolute, as to the exclusion of me, or of my op tion? 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 farthest

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-

I'

SIR THO. None of your hopes-I will have certainty. May I-Come, I'll bring you to a point, if I can, woman as you are-May I receive proposals for you from any other man? Answer me, yes 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 no common father. I know the world. I know your sex. 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 choak 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?

Caroline answered only by her tears.

SIR THO. Damnably constant, I suppose!-So 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 I: 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 eye 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 shall I shew 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 trod on her toe. SIR THO. Hey-day! But what then?

CAR. I would say you are very cruel.