his pride, like to have thrown his daughter, a woman of high character, fine understanding, and an exalted mind, into the arms of a man who had neither fortune, nor education, nor yet good sense, nor generosity of heart, to countenance his pretensions to such a lady, or her for marrying beneath herself.

This is a copy of what Miss Grandison has written to send to Captain Anderson.

'HAD I had a generous man to deal with, I needed not to have exposed myself to the apprehended censures of a brother, whose virtues made a sister, less perfect than himself, afraid that he would think her unworthy of that tender relation to him, from the occasion. But he is the noblest of brothers.

He

pities me; and undertakes to talk with you, in the most friendly manner, at your own appointment, upon a subject that has long greatly distressed me; as well you know. I will not recriminate, as I might; but this assurance I must, for the hundredth time, repeat, That I never can, never will be to you, any other than

· CHARLOTTE GRANDISON,'

She is dissatisfied with what she has written: but I tell her, I think it will do very well.

LETTER XXXI.

MISS BYRON. IN CONTINUATION.

Thursday, March 16.

SIR Charles has already left us. He went to town this morning on the affairs of his executorship. He breakfasted with us first.

Dr. Bartlett, with whom already I have made myself very intimate, and who, I find, knows his whole heart, tells me he is always fully employed. That we knew before. No wonder then that he is not in love. He has not had leisure, I suppose, to attend to the calls of such an idle passion.

You will do me the justice to own, that in the round of employments I was engaged in at Selby House, I never knew any thing of the matter; but indeed there was no Sir Charles Grandison; first to engage my gratitude, and then my heart. So it is; I must not, it seems, deny it. If I did, ' a child in love-matters would detect me.'

O my Lucy! I have been hard set by these sisters. They have found me out; or rather, let me know, that they long ago found me out. I will tell you all as it passed.

I had been so busy with my pen, that, though accustomed to be first dressed wherever I was, I was now the last. They entered 'my dressingroom arm in arm; and I have since recollected, that they looked as if they had mischief in their hearts; Miss Grandison especially. She had said, she would play me a trick.

I was in some little hurry to be so much behindhand, when I saw them dressed.

Miss Grandison would do me the honour of as

sisting me, and dismissed Jenny, who had but just come in to offer her service.

She called me charming creature twice, as she was obligingly busy about me; and the second time said, Well may my brother, Lady L. say what he did of this girl!'

With too great earnestness, What, what,' said. I-I was going to add― did he say?-But, catching myself up, in a tone of less surprise-designing to turn it off- WHAT honour you do me, madam, in this your kind assistance.'

Miss Grandison leered archly at me; then turning to Lady L. 'This Harriet of ours,' said she,' is more than half a rogue.'

'Punish her then, Charlotte,' said Lady L. 'You have, though with much ado, been brought to speak out yourself; and so have acquired a kind of right to punish those who affect disguises to their best friends.'

'Lord bless me, ladies!' And down I satWhat,what-'I was going to say,' do you mean?' But stopt, and I felt my face glow.

"What, what?" repeated Miss Grandison-' My sweet girl can say nothing but, "What, what !”One of my fellows, Sir Walter Watkyns, is in her head, I suppose. Did you ever see Wat-Watkyns, Harriet ?

My handkerchief was in my hand, as I was going to put it on. I was unable to throw it round my neck. O how the fool throbbed and trembled! MISS GR. Confirmation, Lady L.! Confirmation!'

LADY L.' I think so, truly.-But it wanted none to me.'

HAR. I am surprised! Pray, ladies, what can you mean by this sudden attack?

MISS GR. And what, Harriet, can you mean

by these "What, what's," and this sudden emotion? Give me your handkerchief!-What doings are here!

She snatched it out of my trembling hand, and put it round my neck. Why this sudden palpitation?-Ah, Harriet! why won't you make confidents of your two sisters? Do you think we have not found you out before this?'

HAR. Found me out! How found me out?— Dear Miss Grandison, you are the most alarming lady that ever lived!

I stood up, trembling.

MISS GR. Am I so! But, to cut the matter short-[Sit down, Harriet. You can hardly stand.] -Is it such a disgraceful thing for a fine girl to be in love?'

HAR. Who, I! I, in love!'

MISS GR. (Laughing.) So, Lady L. you see that Harriet has found herself out to be a fine girl! -Disqualify now; can't you, my dear? Tell fibs. Be affected. Say you are not a fine girl, and so

forth.'

HAR. Dear Miss Grandison-It was your turn yesterday. How can you forget-'

MISS GR.Spiteful too! My life to a farthing you pay for this Harriet !-But, child, I was not in love. Ah! Harriet! that gentleman in Northamptonshire Did you think we should not find you out?'

This heartened me a little.

HAR. O, madam, do you think to come at any thing by such methods as these? I ought to have been aware of Miss Grandison's alarming ways.'

MISS GR. You pay for this also Harriet. Did you not say, that I should take the reins, Lady L.? I will have no mercy on our younger sister for this abominable affectation and reserve.'

1

HAR.' And so, ladies, I suppose you think that Mr. Orme-'

LADY L. Take the reins, Charlotte,' (making a motion with a sweet pretty air with her handker." chief, as if she tossed her something;) I myself, Harriet, am against you now. I wanted a trial of that frankness of heart for which I have heard you so much commended: and, surely, you might have showed it, if to any persons living, to your two sisters.'

MISS GR. No more, no more, Lady L. Have you not left her to me! I will punish her. You will have too much lenity.-And now tell me, Harriet-Don't you love Mr. Orme better than any man you ever yet saw?'

HAR. Indeed I do not.'

MISS GR. Whom do you love better, Harriet?" HAR. 'Pray, Miss Grandison!'

MISS GR. And pray, Miss Byron!'

HAR. Resume the reins, Lady L.-Pray do!Miss Grandison has no mercy! Yet met with a great deal yester-'

MISS GR. Yesterday?-Very well!-But then I was ingenuous-'

HAR. And am not I?-Pray Lady L.'

LADY L. 'I think not-'

And she seemed a little too cruelly to enjoy the flutter I was in.

MISS GR.' And you say, that there is no one gentleman in Northamptonshire-'

HAR. What is the meaning of this, ladies? But I do assure you, there is not

MISS GR. See Lady L. there are some questions that the girl can answer readily enough.'

I believe I looked serious. I was silent. Indeed my very soul was vexed.

MISS GR. Aye, Harriet, be sullen: don't an swer any questions at all. That's your only way