What does my dear Mifs Byron own?-What confefs?-Aflure yourself, madam, of my honour, of my gratitude. Should you have doubts, fpeak them. I defire your favour but as I clear up your doubts. I would fpeak them for you-I have spoken them for you. I own to you, madam, that there may be force in your doubts, which nothing but your generofity and affiance in the honour of the man before you, can induce you to get over. And thus far. I will own against myself, that were the lady in whofe heart I fhould hope an intereft, to have been circumftanced as I was, my own delicacy would have been hurt; owing, indeed, to the high notion I have of the true female delicacy. -Now fay, now own, now confefs, my dear Mifs Byron-what you were going to confefs

This, Sir, is my confeffion-and it is the confeffion of a heart which I hope is as fincere as your own-That I am dazzled, (confounded, fhall I fay?) at the fuperior merits of the lady you fo nobly, fo like yourself, glory still in esteeming as fhe well deferves to be esteemed.

Joy feemed to flash from his eyes-He bowed on my hand, and pressed it with his lips; but was either filent by choice, or could not speak.

I proceeded, though with a hefitating voice, a glowing cheek, and down-caft eye-I fear not, Sir, any more than he did, your honour, your justice, no nor your indulgent tenderness-Your character, your principles, Sir, are full fecurity to the woman who fhall endeavour to deserve from you that indulgence-But fo juftly high do I think of Lady Clementina and her conduct, that I fear -ah, Sir, I fear-that it is impoffible

I ftopt-I am fure I was in earnest, and must look to be fo, or my countenance and my heart were not allied.

What impoffible!-What fears my dear Mifs By∙ron is impossible?..

Why

Why (thus kindly urged, and by a man of unqueftionable honour) fhall I not fpeak all that is in my mind? The poor Harriet Byron fears, the justly fears, when the contemplates the magnanimity of that exalted lady, that with all her care, with all her endeavours, the never shall be able to make the figure to HERSELF, which is neceffary for her own tranquillity (however you might generously endeavour to affure her doubting mind). This, Sir, is my doubt—and all my doubt.

Generous, kind, noble Mifs Byron! in a rapturous accent-And is this all your doubt? Then muft yet the man before you be a happy man; for he queftions not, if life be lent him, to make you one of the happiest of women. Clementina has

acted gloriously in preferring to all other confiderations her religion and her country: I can allow this in her favour against myself: And fhall I not be doubly bound in gratitude to her fifter excellence, who, having not those trials, yet the most delicate of human minds, fhews in my favour a frankness of heart which fets her above little forms and affectation, and at the fame time a generofity with regard to the merits of another lady which has few examples?

He then on one knee, taking my paffive hand between both his, and kiffing it once, twice, thrice -Repeat, dear, and ever-dear Mifs Byron, that this is all your doubt (I bowed affentingly: I could not fpeak)-A happy, an eafy task is mine! Be affured, deareft madam, that I will disavow every action of my life, every thought of my heart, every word of my mouth, which tends not to dif fipate that doubt,

I took out my handkerchief.:

My dear Mifs Byron, proceeded he, with an ardour that bespoke his heart, you are goodness itfelf. I approached you with diffidence, with more than diffidence, with apprehenfion, because of your

known

known delicacy, which I was afraid, on this occafion, would defcend into punctilioufnefs.-May bleffings attend my future life, as my grateful heart fhall acknowledge this goodnefs!

Again he killed my hand, rifing with dignity. I could have received his vows on my knees; but I was motionlefs; yet how was I delighted to be the cause of joy to him!-Joy to your brother! to Sir Charles Grandifon!

He faw me greatly affected, and indeed my emotion increased on reflection. He confiderately faid, I will leave you, my dear Mifs Byron, to intitle myself to the congratulations of all our friends. below. From this moment, after a thousand sufpenfes and strange events, which, unfought-for, have chequered my past life, I date my happiness. He most respectfully left me.

I was glad he did: Yet my eyes followed him. His very fhadow was grateful to me as he went down ftairs. And there, it feems, he congratu lated himself, and called for the congratulations of every one prefent, in fo noble a manner, that every eye ran over with joy.

Was I not right, faid my grandmamma to my aunt (you half-blamed me, my dear), in leaving Sir Charles and my Harriet together? Harriet ever was above difguife. Sir Charles might have gueffed at her heart; but he would not have known it from her own lips, had the had you and me to refer to.

Whatever you do, madam, anfwered my aunt, must be right.

My aunt came up to me. She found me in a very thoughtful mood. I had fometimes been ac cufing myfelf of forwardnefs, and at others was acquitting myself, or endeavouring to do fo-yet mingling, though thus early, a hundred delightful circumstances with my accufations and acquit tals, which were likely to blefs my future lot: Such as his relations and friends being mine, mine his

and

But my

Emi

and I run them all over by name. ly, my dear Emily! I confidered as my ward as well as his. In this way my aunt found me. She embraced me, applauded me, and cleared up all my felf doubtings as to forwardness; and told me of their mutual congratulations below, and how happy I had made them all. What felf-confidence did her approbation give me!—And as the affured me that my uncle would not rally, but extol me, I went down with fpirits much higher than I went up with.

Sir Charles and my grandmamma were talking. together, fitting fide by fide, when I entered the room. All the company ftood up at my entrance.

O my dear! what a princefs in every one's eye will the declared love of fuch a man make me ! How will all the confequence I had before, among my partial friends and favourers, be augmented!

My uncle faid, fideling by me (kindly intending not to dafh me), My sweet sparkler! (that was the name he used to call me before. Sir Charles Gran. dison taught me a leffon that made me thoughful) You are now again my delight and my joy. I thank you for not being a fool-that's all. Egad, I was afraid of your femality, when you came face to face.

Sir Charles came to me, and, with an air of the most respectful love, taking my hand, led me to a feat between himself and my grandmamma.

My ever dear Harriet, faid fhe, and condefcended to lift my hand to her lips, I will not abash you; but muft juft fay, that you have acquitted yourself as I wished you to do. I knew I could truft to a heart that ever was above affectation or disguise.

*

Sir Charles Grandifon, madam, faid I, has the generofity to diftinguish and encourage a doubting mind.

Infinitely obliging, Miss Byron, replied he, preffing one hand between both his, as my grandmamma held the other, your condescension attracts both

my

my love and reverence. Permit me to fay, that had not Heaven given a Mifs Byron for the object of my hope, I had hardly, after what had befallen me abroad, ever looked forward to a wedded love.

One favour I have to beg of you, Sir, refumed my grandmamma: It is, that you will never use the word abroad, or exprefs perfons by their countries; in fine, that you will never speak with referve when the admirable Clementina is in your thoughts. Mention her name with freedom, my dear Sir, to my child, to me, and to my daughter Selby-you may-We always loved and reverenced her: Still we do fo. She has given an example to all her fex, of a paffion properly fubduedOf temporal confiderations yielding to eternal!

Sir, faid I, bowing as I fat, I join in this request.

His eyes gliftened with grateful joy. He bowed low to each, but spoke not.

Let me,

My aunt came to us, and fat down by Sir Charles, refusing his feat, because it was next me. faid the, enjoy your converfation: 1 have heard part of your fubject, and fubfcribe to it with all my heart. Lady G. can testify for us all three, that we cannot be fo mean as to intend you a compliment, Sir, by what has been faid.

Nor can I, madam, as to imagine it. You exalt yourselves even more than you do Clementina. I will let my Jeronymo know fome of the particulars which have given joy to my heart. They willmake him happy; and the excellent Clementina (I will not forbear her name) will rejoice in the happy profpects before me. She wanted but to be affured that the friend she so greatly honoured with her regard, was not likely (either in the qualities of the lady's mind, or in her family-connections) to be a fufferer by her declining his address.

May