senger, who brought him letters from town. He returned to us, his complexion heightened, and a little discomposed.

I intended, madam, said he to me, to have craved the honour of your company for half an hour in my lord's library, on the subject we were talking of; but these letters require my immediate attention. The messenger must return with my answers to two of them, early in the morning. You will have the goodness, looking round him, to dispense with my attendance on you at supper. But, perhaps, madam, (to me,) you will be so good, as, in one word, to say no, or yes, for Charlotte.

Miss Gr. What, sir, to be given up without a preface!-I beg your pardon Less than ten words shall not do, I assure you, though from my sister Harriet.

Sir Ch. Who given up, Charlotte? yourself? If so, I have my answer.

Miss Gr. Or Lord G; I have not said which. Would you have my poor lord rejected by a slighting monosyllable only?

Lady L. Mad girl!

Miss G. Why, Lady L, don't you see that Sir Charles wants to take me by implication? But my Lord Gis neither so soon lost, nor Charlotte so easily won. Harriet, if you would give up yourself at a first question, then I will excuse you if you give up me as casily; but not else.

Har. If Sir Charles thinks a conference upon the subject unnecessary-Pray don't let us give him the trouble of holding one. His time, you see, is very precious.

Can you guess, Lucy, at the humour I was in when I said this?-If you think it was a very good one, you are mistaken; yet I was sorry for it afterwards. Foolish self-betrayer! Why should I seem to wish for a conference with him? But that was not all-To be petulant with such a one, when his heart was distressed; for so it proved; but he was too polite, too great, shall I say? to take notice of my petulance. How little does it make me in my own eyes!

Had I, said he, ever so easily obtained a knowledge of my sister's mind, I should not have known how to depend upon it, were it not strengthened, madam, from your lips. The conference, therefore, which you gave me hopes you would favour me with, would have been absolutely necessary. I hope Miss Byron will allow me to invite her to it to-morrow morning. The intended subject of it is a very serious one with me. My sister's happiness, and that of a man not unworthy, are concerned in it, lightly as Charlotte has hitherto treated it. He bowed, and was going.

Miss Gr. Nay, pray, brother-You must not leave me in anger.

Sir Ch. I do not, Charlotte. I had rather bear with you, than you should with me. I see

you cannot help it. A lively heart is a great blessing. Indulge it. Now is your time.

Dear Doctor, said Miss Grandison, when Sir Charles was gone out, what can be the meaning of my brother's gravity? It alarms me.

Dr B. If goodness, madam, would make a heart lively, Sir Charles's would be as lively as your own; but you might have perceived by his air, when he entered, that the letters brought him affected him too much to permit him to laugh off a light answer to a serious question.

Miss Gr. Dear Doctor!-But I do now recollect, that he entered with some little discomposure on his countenance. How could I be so inattentive?

Har. And I, too, I doubt, was a little captious. Dr B. A very little. Pardon me, madam. Just then came in the excellent man. Dr Bartlett, I would wish to ask you one question, said he.

Miss Gr. You are angry with me, brother. Sir Ch. No, my dear!-But I am afraid I withdrew with too grave an air. I have been a thousand times pleased with you, Charlotte, to one time displeased; and when I have been the latter, you have always known it; I had something in my hand that ruffled me a little. But how could patience be patience, if it were not tried? I wanted to say a few words to my good Dr Bartlett; and, to say truth, being conscious that I had departed a little abruptly, I could not be easy till I apologized in person for it; therefore came to ask the favour of the Doctor's advice, rather than request it by message.

The Doctor and he withdrew together. In these small instances, said my lord, are the characters of the heart displayed, far more than in greater. What excellence shines out in full lustre, on this unaffected and seemingly little occasion! Fear of offending; of giving uneasiness; solicitude to remove doubts; patience recommended in one short sentence, more forcibly than some would have done it in a long discourse, as well as by example; censuring himself, not from a consciousness of being wrong, but of being taken wrong. Ah! my dear sister Charlotte, we should all edify by such an example—but I say no more.

Miss Gr. And have you nothing to say, Harriet?

Har. Very little, since I have been much to blame myself; yet let me remind my Charlotte, that her brother was displeased with her yesterday, for treating too lightly a subject he had engaged in seriously; and that he has been forced to refer to her friend, rather than to herself, to help him to the knowledge of her mind. O Charlotte! regret you not the occasion given for this expedient? And do you not [yes, I see you do] blush for giving it? Yet to see him come voluntarily back, when he had left us in a grave

humour, for fear the babies should think him angry with them; O how great is he ; and how little are we!

Miss Gr. Your servant, sister Harriet !You have made a dainty speech, I think; but, great and good as my brother is, we know how it comes to pass, that your pretty imagination is always at work to aggrandize the man, and to lower the babies!

Har. I will not say another word on the subject. You are not generous, Charlotte.

She took my hand; Forgive me, my dear-I touched too tender a string. Then turning to Miss Jervois, and with the other hand taking hers, why twinkles thus my girl ?—I charge you, Emily, tell me all you think.

I am thinking, said she, that my guardian is not happy. To see him bear with everybody; to have him keep all his troubles to himself, because he would not afflict anybody, and yet study to lighten and remove the troubles of everybody else did he not say, that he should be happy, but for the unhappiness of other people?

Excellent young creature! said Miss Grandison; I love you every day better and better. For the future, my dear, do not retire, whatever subjects we talk of; I see, that we may confide in your discretion. But, well as you love your guardian, say nothing to him of what women talk to women. My Lord L is an exception in this case; he is one of us.

Har. O Miss Grandison! what a mixed character is yours! How good you can be, when you please! and how naughty!

Miss Gr. Well, and you like me just now? -That's the beauty of it; to offend and make up, at pleasure. Old Terence was a shrewd man; the falling out of lovers, says he, (as Lord Lonce quoted him,) is the renewal of love. Are we not now better friends, than if we had never differed? And do you think that I will not, if I marry, exercise my husband's patience now and then for this very purpose?-Let me alone, Harriet ; now a quarrel; now a reconciliation; I warrant I shall be happier than any of the yawning see-saws in the kingdom. Everlasting summers would be a grievance.

Har. You may be right, if you are exceeding discreet in your perversenesses, Charlotte; and yet if you are, you will not lay out for a quarrel, I fancy. The world, or you will have better luck than your brother seems to have had, will find you opportunities enow, for exercising the tempers of both, without your needing to study

for occasions.

Miss Gr. Study for them, Harriet! I sha'n't study for them, neither; they will come of

course.

Har. I was about to ask a question-but 'tis better let alone.

Miss Gr. I will have it. What was your question? Don't you see what a good-natured

fool I am? You may say anything to me; I won't be angry.

Har. I was going to ask you, if you were ever concerned two hours together, for any fault you ever committed in your life?

Miss Gr. Yes, yes, yes; and for two and twenty hours; for sometimes the inconveniencies that followed my errors, were not presently over, as in a certain case, which I'll be hanged if you have not in your head, with that sly leer that shews the rogue in your heart; but when I got rid of consequences, no bird in spring was ever more blithe. I carolled away every care at my harpsichord.-But Emily will think me mad. -Remember, child, that Miss Byron is the woman by whose mind you are to form yours; never regard me, when she is in company.-But now, (and she whimsically arose, and opened the door, and saying, begone, shut it, and coming to her place,) I have turned my folly out of door.

Friday Morning, Seven o'clock. I HAVE written for these two days past at every opportunity; and, for the two nights, (hardly knowing what sleepiness was,) two hours, each night, have contented me. I wonder whether I shall be summoned by and by to the proposed conference; but I am equally sorry and apprehensive, on occasion of the letters which have given Sir Charles Grandison so much anxiety; foreign letters, I doubt not!-I wish this ugly word foreign were blotted out of my vocabulary; out of my memory, rather. I never, till of late, was so narrow-hearted-but that I have said before, twenty times.

I have written-how many sheets of papera monstrous letter-Packet, rather. I will begin a new one, with what shall offer this day. Adieu, till by and by, my Lucy.

LETTER CII.

MISS BYRON.

[In continuation.]

Friday, March 24. THE Conference, the impatiently expected conference, my Lucy, is over; and what is the result? Take the account of it, as it was brought on, proceeded with, and concluded. Miss Grandison and her lovers were not our only subjects. I will soon be with you, my dear.—But I'll try to be as minute as I used to be, notwithstanding.

Notwithstanding what?-
You shall hear, Lucy.

Sir Charles gave us his company at breakfast. He entered with a kind of benign solemnity in his countenance; but the benignity increased, and the solemnity went off, after a little while.

My lord said, he was very sorry that he had met with anything to disturb him, in the letters that were brought him yesterday. Emily joined by her eyes, though not in speech, her concern with his lordship's: Miss Grandison was sedately serious: Lady L had expectation in her fine face and Dr Bartlett sat like a man that was determined to be silent. I had apprehension, and hope, I suppose, struggling in mine, as I knew not whether to wish for the expected conference, or not.

Let us think of nothing, my lord, in this company, said he, but what is agreeable.

He inquired kindly of my health, and last night's rest, because of a slight cold that had affected my voice: of Emily, why she was so sad? Of Lady L- and my lord, when they went to town? Of Miss Grandison, why she looked so meditatingly? that was his word.-Don't you see, Miss Byron, said he, that Charlotte looks as if she had not quite settled the humour she intends to be in for the next half hour?

Charlotte looks, I believe, sir, replied she, as if she were determined to take her humour for the next half hour from yours, whether grave or airy. Then, returned he, I will not be grave, because I will not have you so.-May I hope, madam, by and by, addressing himself to me, for the honour of your hand, to my lord's library? Sir, I will-I will-attend you-hesitated the simpleton; but she can't tell how she looked.

Thus, Lucy, was the matter brought on :He conducted me to my lord's library.-How did I struggle with myself for presence of mind! What a mixture was there of tenderness and respect in his countenance and air!

me.

He seated me; then took his place over against I believe I looked down, and conscious, and silly; but there was such a respectful modesty in his looks, that one could not be uneasy at being now and then, with an air of languor, as I thought, contemplated by him: especially as, whenever I reared my eye lids to cast a momentary look at him as he spoke, I was always sure to see his eye withdrawn: this gave more freedom to mine, than it possibly otherwise could have had. What a bold creature, Lucy, ought she to be who prefers a bold man! If she be not bold, how silly must she look under his staring confident eye! How must her want of courage add to his self-consequence !

Thus he began the subject we were to talk of. I will make no apology for requesting the favour of this conference with one of the most frank and open-hearted young ladies in the world: I shall have the honour, perhaps, of detaining your ear on more than one subject: How my heart throbbed! But that which I shall begin with relates to my Lord G and our sister Charlotte. I observe, from hints thrown out by herself, as well as from what Lady Lsaid, that she intends to encourage his addresses; but it is easy to see that she thinks but slight

ly of him. I am indeed apprehensive that she is rather induced to favour my lord, from an opinion that he has my interest and good wishes, than from her own inclination. I have told her, more than once, that hers are, and shall be, mine: but such is her vivacity, that it is very-difficult for me to know her real mind. I take it for granted that she prefers my lord to Sir Walter. I believe, sir-But why should I say believe, when Miss Grandison has commissioned me to own, that Lord G―is a man whom she greatly prefers to Sir Walter Watkyns?

Does she, can she, do you think, madam, prefer Lord G not only to Sir Walter, but to all the men whom she at present knows? In other words, is there any man that you think she would prefer to Lord G? I am extremely solicitous for my sister's happiness; and the more, because of her vivacity, which, I am afraid, will be thought less to become the wife than the single woman.

I dare say, sir, that if Miss Grandison thought of any other man in preference to Lord G, she would not encourage his addresses upon any account.

I don't expect, madam, that a woman of Charlotte's spirit and vivacity, who has been disappointed by a failure of supposed merit in her first love, (if we may so call it,) should be deeply in love with a man who has not very striking qualities. She can play with a flame now, and not burn her fingers. Lord G- is a worthy, though not a very brilliant, man. Ladies have eyes; and the eye expects to be gratified. Hence men of appearance succeed often, where men of intrinsic merit fail. Were Charlotte to consult her happiness, possibly she would have no objection to Lord G. She cannot, in the same inan, have everything. But if Lord G-consulted his, I don't know whether he would wish for Charlotte. Excuse me, madam, you have heard, as well as she, my opinion of both men. Sir Walter, you say, has no part in the question; Lord G wants not understanding: he is a man of probity; he is a virtuous man, a quality not to be despised in a young nobleman: he is also a mild man : he will bear a great deal. But contempt, or such a behaviour as should look like contempt, in a wife, what husband can bear? I should much more dread, for her sake, the exasperated spirit of a meek man, than the sudden gusts of anger of a passionate one.

Miss Grandison, sir, has authorized me to say, that if you approve of Lord G's addresses, and will be so good as to take upon yourself the direction of everything relating to settlements, she will be entirely governed by you. Miss Grandison, sir, has known Lord G time: his good character is well known: and I dare answer, that she will acquit herself with honour and prudence, in every engagement, but more especially in that which is the highest of all worldly ones.

some

Pray, madam, may I ask, if you know what she could mean by the questions she put in relation to Mr Beauchamp? I think she has never seen him. Does she suppose, from his character, that she could prefer him to Lord G? I believe, sir, what she said in relation to that gentleman, was purely the effect of her vivacity, and which she never thought of before, and, probably, never will again. Had she meant anything by it, I dare say she would not have put the questions about him in the manner she

did.

I believe so. I love my sister, and I love my friend. Mr Beauchamp has delicacy. I could not bear, for her sake, that were she to behold him in the light hinted at, he should imagine he had reason to think slightly of my sister, for the correspondence she carried on, in so private a manner, with a man absolutely unworthy of her. But I hope she meant nothing, but to give way to that vein of raillery, which, when opened, she knows not always how to stop.

My spirits were not high: I was forced to take out my handkerchief-O my dear Miss Grandison! said I; I was afraid she had forfeited, partly, at least, what she holds most dear, the good opinion of her brother!

Forgive me, madam, it is a generous pain that I have made you suffer: I adore you for it. But I think I can reveal all the secrets of my heart to you. Your noble frankness calls for equal frankness: you would inspire it, where it is not. My sister, as I told her more than once in your hearing, has not lost any of my love. I love her, with all her faults, but must not be blind to them. Shall not praise and dispraise be justly given? I have faults, great faults, myself: What should I think of the man who called them virtues? How dangerous would it be to me, in that case, were my opinion of his judgment, joined to self-partiality, to lead me to believe him, and acquit myself!

This, sir, is a manner of thinking worthy of Sir Charles Grandison.

It is worthy of every man, my good Miss By

ron.

But, sir, it would be very hard that an indiscretion (I must own it to be such) should fasten reproach upon a woman who recovered herself so soon, and whose virtue was never sullied, or in danger.

Indeed it would: and therefore it was in tenderness to her that I intimated, that I never could think of promoting an alliance with a man of Mr Beauchamp's nice notions, were both to incline to it.

I hope, sir, that my dear Miss Grandison will run no risk of being slighted, by any other man, from a step which has cost her so dear in her peace of mind-I hesitated, and looked down.

I know, madam, what you mean. Although I love my friend Beauchamp above all men, yet would I do Lord G, or any other man, as

much justice, as I would do him. I was so apprehensive of my sister's indifference to Lord G, and of the difference in their tempers, though both good, that I did my utmost to dissuade him from thinking of her: and when I found that his love was fixed beyond the power of dissuasion, I told him of the affair between her and Captain Anderson; and how lately I had put an end to it. He flattered himself that the indifference, with which she had hitherto received his addresses, was principally owing to the difficulty of her situation; which being now so happily removed, he had hopes of meeting with encouragement; and doubted not, if he did, of making a merit with her by his affection and gratitude. And now, madam, give me your opinion-Do you think Charlotte can be won (I hope she can) by indulgence, by love? Let me caution her by you, madam, that it is fit she should still be more careful to restrain her vivacity, if she marry a man to whom she thinks she has superior talents, than she need to be if the difference were in his favour.

Permit me to add, that if she should shew herself capable of returning slight for tenderness; of taking such liberties with a man who loves her, after she had given him her vows, as should depreciate him, and, of consequence, herself, in the eye of the world; I should be apt to forget that I had more than one sister: for, in cases of right and wrong, we ought not to know either relation or friend. Does not this man, Lucy, shew us, that goodness and greatness are synonimous words? I think, sir, replied I, that if Lord G prove the good-natured man he seems to be; if he dislike not that brilliancy of temper in his lady, which he seems not to value himself upon, though he may have qualities at least equally valuable; I have no doubt but Miss Grandison will make him very happy. For has she not great and good qualities? Is she not generous, and perfectly good-natured? You know, sir, that she is; and can it be supposed, that her charming vivacity will ever carry her so far beyond the bounds of prudence and discretion, as to make her forget what the nature of the obligation she will have entered into requires of her?

Well, madam, then I may rejoice the heart of Lord G-, by telling him, that he is at liberty to visit my sister, at her coming to town; or, if she come not soon, (for he will be impatient to wait on her,) at Colnebrook?

I dare say, you may, sir.

As to articles and settlements, I will undertake for all those things; but be pleased to tell her, that she is absolutely at her own liberty, for me. If she shall think, when she sees farther of Lord G's temper and behaviour, that she cannot esteem him as a wife ought to esteem her husband; I shall not be concerned if she dismiss him; provided that she keeps him not in suspense, after she knows her own mind; but

behaves to him according to the example set her by the best of women.

I could not but know to whom he designed this compliment; and had like to have bowed; but was glad I did not.

Well, madam, and now I think this subject is concluded. I have already written a letter to Sir Walter, as at the request of my sister, to put an end, in the civillest terms, to his hopes. My Lord G- will be impatient for my return to town. I shall go with the more pleasure, because of the joy I shall be able to give him.

You must be very happy, sir; since, besides the pleasure you take in doing good for its own sake, you are entitled to partake, in a very high manner, of the pleasures of every one you know.

He was so nobly modest, Lucy, that I could talk to him with more confidence than I believed, at my entrance into my lord's study, would fall to my share: and I had, besides, been led into a presence of mind, by being made a person of some consequence in the love case of another. But I was soon to have my whole attention engaged in a subject still nearer to my heart; as you shall hear.

Indeed, madam, said he, I am not very happy in myself. Is it not right, then, to endeavour, by promoting the happiness of others, to entitle myself to a share of theirs?

If you are not happy, sir-and I stopt: I believe I sighed; I looked down: I took out my handkerchief, for fear I should want it.

There seems, said he, to be a mixture of generous concern, and kind curiosity, in one of the loveliest and most intelligent faces in the world. My sisters have, in your presence, expressed a great deal of the latter. Had I not been myself in a manner uncertain as to the event, that must, in some measure, govern my future destiny, I would have gratified it; especially as my Lord L has of late joined in it. The crisis, I told them, however, as perhaps you remember, was at hand.

F

I do remember you said so, sir. And indeed, Lucy, it was more than perhaps. I had not thought of any words half so often, since he spoke them.

The crisis, madam, is at hand; and I had not intended to open my lips upon the subject till it was over, except to Dr Bartlett, who knows the whole affair, and indeed every affair of my life; but, as I hinted before, my heart is opened by the frankness of yours. If you will be so good as to indulge me, I will briefly lay before you a few of the difficulties of my situation; and leave it to you to communicate or not, at your pleasure, what I shall relate, to my two sisters and Lord L―. You four seem to be animated by one soul.

I am extremely concerned, sir-I am very much concerned-repeated the trembling simpleton, Lone cheek feeling to myself very cold, the other glowingly warm, by turns; and now

pale, now crimson, perhaps to the eye,] that anything should make you unhappy. But, sir, I shall think myself favoured by your confidence.

I am interrupted in my recital of his affecting narration. Don't be impatient, Lucy; I almost wish I had not heard it myself.

a

LETTER CIII.

MISS BYRON.

[In continuation.]

I Do not intend, madam, to trouble you with history of all that part of my life which I was obliged to pass abroad from about the seventeenth to near the twenty-fifth year of my age; though, perhaps, it has been as busy a period as could well be, in the life of a man so young, and who never sought to tread in oblique or crooked paths. After this entrance into it, Dr Bartlett shall be at liberty to satisfy your curiosity in a more particular manner; for he and I have corresponded for years, with an intimacy that has few examples between a youth and a man in advanced life. And here let me own the advantages I have received from his condescension; for I found the following questions often occur to me, and to be of the highest service in the conduct of my life-" What account shall I give of this to Dr Bartlett ?"- How, were I to give way to this temptation, shall I report it to Dr Bartlett?"-Or, "Shall I be a hypocrite, and only inform him of the best, and meanly conceal from him the worst ?"

Thus, madam, was Dr Bartlett in the place of a second conscience to me. And many a good thing did I do, many a bad one did I avoid, for having set up such a monitor over my conduct. And it was the more necessary that I should, as I am naturally passionate, proud, ambitious; and as I had the honour of being early distinguished (pardon, madam, the seeming vanity) by a sex, of which no man was ever a greater admirer; and possibly the more distinguished, as, for my safety sake, I was as studious to decline intimacy with the gay ones of it, however dignified by rank, or celebrated for beauty, as most young men are to cultivate their favour.

Nor is it so much to be wondered at that I had advantages which every one who travels has not. Residing for some time at the principal courts, and often visiting the same places, in the length of time I was abroad, I was considered, in a manner, as a native, at the same time that I was treated with the respect that is generally paid to travellers of figure, as well in France as Italy. I was very genteelly supported: I stood in high credit with my countrymen, to whom I had many ways of being serviceable. They