He insists upon Sir Charles's dining with him to-morrow; Mr Fenwick's also. Sir Charles is so desirous that the neighbourhood should conclude that he and these gentlemen are on a foot of good understanding, that he made the less scruple, for every one's sake, to accept of his invitation.

I am very, very thankful, my dearest Lady G, that the constant blusterings of this violent man, for so many months past, are so happily overblown.

Mr Fenwick, as I guessed he would, made proposals to my aunt and me for my Lucy. Lucy has a fine fortune: but if she had not, he should not have her: indeed he is not worthy of Lucy's mind. He must be related to me, he said: but I answered, No man must call Lucy Selby his who can have any other motive for his wishes but her merit.

We hourly expect your brother. The new danger he has been in on my account, endears him still more to us all. How, how will you forbear, said my uncle, throwing yourself into his arms at once, when he demands the result of our deliberations? If I follow Mr Deane's advice, I am to give him my hand at the first word; if Lucy's and Nancy's, he is not to ask me twice; if my grandmamma's and aunt's, They are always good, I am to act as occasion requires, and as my own confided-in prudence will suggest at the time; but to be sure not to be guilty of affectation. But still, my dear ladies, something sticks with me (and ought it not?) in relation to the noble Clementina!

LETTER CCXXIV.

MISS BYRON.

[In continuation.]

Saturday Night, Oct. 14. Now, my dear Ladies Land G-, let me lay before you, just as it happened, for your approbation or censure, all that has passed between the best of men and your Harriet. Happy shall I be if I can be acquitted by his sisters.

My grandmamma went home last night, but was here before Sir Charles; yet he came a little after eleven.

He addressed us severally with his usual politeness, and my grandmother, particularly, with such an air of reverence as did himself credit, because of her years and wisdom.

We all congratulated him on what we had heard from Mr Fenwick.

Mr Greville and I, said he, are on very good terms. When I have the presumption to think myself a welcome guest, I am to introduce him as my friend. Mr Greville, though so long your neighbour, modestly doubts his own wel

come.

Well he may, said my Aunt Selby, afterNo afters, dear madam, if you mean anything that has passed between him and me.

He again addressed himself to me. I rejoice, sir, said I, that you have so happily quieted a spirit always thought uncontrollable.

You must tell me, madam, replied he, when I can be allowed to introduce Mr Greville to you?

Shall I answer for my cousin, said Lucy?—I did not, Sir Charles, think you such a designer. -You were not, you know, to introduce Mr Greville, till you were assured of being yourself a very welcome guest to my cousin.

I own my plot, replied he: I had an intent to surprise Miss Byron into an implied favour to myself.

You need not, Sir Charles, thought I, take such a method.

On his taking very kind notice of my cousin James, Do you know, Sir Charles, said my uncle, (whose joy, when it overflows, seldom suffers the dear man to consult seasonableness,) that that boy is already in love with your Emily?-The youth blushed

I am obliged to everybody who loves my Emily. She is a favourite of Miss Byron-Must she not then be a good girl?

She is indeed a favourite, said I ; and so great a one, that I know not who can deserve her.

I said this, lest Sir Charles should think (on a supposition that my uncle meant something) that my cousin had my countenance.

Sir Charles then addressed himself to my grandmamma and aunt, speaking low-I hope, ladies, I may be allowed, in your presence, to resume the conversation of yesterday with Miss Byron ?

No, Sir Charles, answered my grandmamma, affecting to look serious, that must not be.

Must not be, madam! and he seemed surprised, and affected too. My aunt was a little startled; but not so much as she would have been, had she not known the lively turns which that excellent parent sometimes gives to subjects of conversation.

Must not be, I repeat, Sir Charles; but I will not suffer you to be long in suspense. We have always, when proposals of this kind have been made, referred ourselves to our Harriet. She has prudence: she has gratitude. We will leave her and you together, when she is inclined to hear you on the interesting subject. I know I am right. Harriet is above disguises. She will be obliged to speak for herself, when she has

not either her aunt or me to refer to. She and you are not acquaintance of yesterday. You, sir, I dare say, will not be displeased with the portunity

opNeither Miss Byron nor I, madam, could wish for the absence of two such parental relations. But this reference I will presume to construe as a hopeful prognostic. May I now, through your mediation, madam, [to my aunt, hope for the opportunity of addressing myself to Miss Byron?

My aunt, taking me to the window, told me what had passed. I was a little surprised at my grandmamma's reference to myself only. I expostulated with my aunt: It is plain, madam, that Sir Charles expected not this compliment.

Your grandmamma's motion surprised me a little, my dear: it proceeded from the fulness of her joy she meant a compliment to you both there is now no receding. Let us withdraw together.

What, madam, at his proposal? As if expecting to be followed?-See how my uncle looks at me! Every one's eyes are upon me!-In the afternoon, if it must be-as by accident. But I had rather you and my grandmamma were to be present. I mean not to be guilty of affectation to him: I know my own heart, and will not disguise it. I shall want to refer to you. I shall be silly: I dare not trust myself.

I wish the compliment had not been made, replied my aunt. But, my dear, come along with me.

She went out. I followed her; a little reluctantly, however; and Lucy tells me, that I looked so silly, as was enough, of itself, to inform everybody of the intent of my withdrawing, and that I expected Sir Charles would follow me.

She was very cruel, I told her; and in my case would have looked as silly as I; while I should have pitied her.

I led to my closet. My aunt seating me there, was going from me. Well, madam, and so I am to stay here quietly, I suppose, till Sir Charles vouchsafes to come? Would Clementina have done so ?

No hint to him of Clementina in this way, I charge you: It would look ungrateful and girlish. I will introduce him to you

And stay with me, I hope, madam, when he is introduced. I tell you, Lady G———, all my foibles.

Away went my aunt; but soon returned, and with her the man of men.

She but turned herself round, and saw him take my hand, which he did with a compliment that would have made me proud at another time, and left us together.

I was resolved then to assume all my courage, and, if possible, to be present to myself. He was to himself; yet had a modesty and po

liteness in his manner, which softened the dignity of his address.

Some men, I fancy, would have begun with admiring or pretending to admire, the pieces of my own workmanship which you have seen hang there but not he. After another compliment made (as I presume, to reassure me) on my restored complexion, I did indeed feel my face glow, he spoke directly to his subject.

I need not, I am sure, said he, repeat to my dear Miss Byron what I said yesterday, as to the delicacy of my situation, with regard to what some would deem a divided or double love. I need not repeat to you the very great regard I have, and ever shall have, for the lady abroad. Her merit, and your greatness of mind, render any apology for so just a regard needless. But it may be necessary to say, what I can with truth say, that I love not my own soul better than I love Miss Byron. You see, madam, I am wholly free, with regard to that lady-free by her own choice, by her own will.-You see, that the whole family build a part of their happiness on the success of my address to a lady of my own country. Clementina's wish always was, that I would marry; and only be careful that my choice should not disgrace the regard she vouchsafed to own for me. Clementina, when she has the pleasure of knowing the dear lady before me, if that may be, by the name of Grandison, will confess that my choice has done the highest credit to the favour she honoured me with.

And will you not, my dear lady G -, be ready to ask, Could Sir Charles Grandison be really in earnest in this humble court (as if he doubted her favour) to a creature, every wish of whose heart was devoted to him? Did he not rather, for his own sake, in order to give her the consequence which a wife of his ought to have, resolve to dignify the poor girl, who had so long been mortified by cruel suspense, and who had so often despaired of ever being happy with the lord of her heart? O no, my dear, your brother looked the humble, the modest lover; yet the man of sense, of dignity, in love. I could not but be assured of his affection, notwithstanding all that had passed: And what had passed, that he could possibly have helped?-His pleas of the day before, the contents of Signor Jeronymo's letter, were all in my mind.

He seemed to expect my answer. He only, whose generously-doubting eye kept down mine, can tell how I looked, how I behaved-But hesitatingly, tremblingly, both voice and knees, as I sat; thus brokenly, as near as I remember, I answered, not withdrawing my hand, though, as I spoke, he more than once pressed it with his lips :-The honour of Sir Charles Grandison -Sir Charles Grandison's honour-no one ever did, or ever can, doubt.-I must own-I must confess-There I paused.

What does my dear Miss Byron own?-What confess?—Assure yourself, madam, of my honour, of my gratitude. Should you have doubts, speak them. I desire your favour but as I clear up your doubts. I would speak them for youI have spoken them for you. I own to you, madam, that there may be force in your doubts, which nothing but your generosity, 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 whose heart I should hope an interest, to have been circumstanced as I was, my own delicacy would have been hurt; owing, indeed, to the high notion I have of the true female delicacy.-Now say, now own, now confess, my dear Miss Byron-what you were going to confess.

This, sir, is my confession-and it is the confession of a heart which I hope is as sincere as your own-That I am dazzled, confounded, shall I say? at the superior merits of the lady you so nobly, so like yourself, glory still in esteeming as she well deserves to be esteemed.

Joy seemed to flash from his eyes-He bowed on my hand, and pressed it with his lips; but was either silent by choice, or could not speak. I proceeded, though with a hesitating voice, a glowing cheek, and down-cast eyes-I fear not, sir, any more than she did, your honour, your justice, no, nor your indulgent tenderness -Your character, your principles, sir, are full security to the woman who shall endeavour to deserve from you that indulgence-But so just ly high do I think of Lady Clementina, and her conduct, that I fear-Ah, sir, I fear-that it is impossible

I stopt-I am sure I was in earnest, and must look to be so, or my countenance and my heart were not allied.

What impossible!-What fears my dear Miss Byron is impossible?

Why, (thus kindly urged, and by a man of unquestionable honour,) shall I not speak all that is in my mind? The poor Harriet Byron fears, she justly fears, when she contemplates the magnanimity of that exalted lady, that with all her care, with all her endeavours, she never shall be able to make the figure to HERSELF, which is necessary for her own tranquillity, (however you might generously endeavour to assure her doubting mind.) This, sir, is my doubt-And all my doubt.

Generous, kind, noble Miss Byron ! in a rapturous accent-And is this all your doubt? Then must yet the man before you be a happy man; for he questions not, if life be lent him, to make you one of the happiest of women. Clementina has acted gloriously, in preferring to all other considerations her religion and her country: I can allow this in her favour, against myself: and shall I not be doubly bound in gratitude to her sister excellence, who, having not those trials, yet the most delicate of human minds, shews in

my favour a frankness of heart, which sets her above little forms and affectation, and at the same time a generosity with regard to the merits of another lady, which has few examples? He then, on one knee, taking my passive hand between both his, and kissing it, once, twice, thrice-Repeat, dear, and ever-dear, Miss Byron, that this is all your doubt-I bowed assentingly I could not speak-A happy, an easy task is mine! Be assured, dearest madam, that I will disavow every action of my life, every thought of my heart, every word of my mouth, which tends not to dissipate that doubt. I took out my handkerchief.

My dear Miss Byron, proceeded he, with an ardour that bespoke his heart, you are goodness itself. I approached you with diffidence, with more than diffidence, with apprehension, because of your known delicacy; which I was afraid, on this occasion, would descend into punctiliousness.-May blessings attend my future life, as my grateful heart shall acknowledge this goodness!

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

He saw me greatly affected, and indeed my emotion increased on reflection. He considerately said, I will leave you, my dear Miss Byron, to entitle myself to the congratulations of all our friends below. From this moment, after a thousand suspenses, and strange events, which, unsought 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 shadow was grateful to me, as he went down stairs. And there, it seems, he congratulated himself, and called for the congratulations of every one present, in so noble a manner, that every eye ran over with joy.

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

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

My aunt came up to me. She found me in a very thoughtful mood. I had sometimes been accusing myself of forwardness, and at others was acquitting myself, or endeavouring to do so -yet mingling, though thus early, a hundred delightful circumstances with my accusations and acquittals, which were likely to bless my future lot: such as his relations and friends being mine, mine his; and I run them over all by name. But my Emily, my dear Emily! I considered as my ward, as well as his. In this way

my aunt found me. She embraced me, applaudeď me, and cleared up all my self-doubtings, as to forwardness; and told me of their mutual congratulations below, and how happy I had made them all. What self-confidence did her approbation give me!-And as she assured me, that my uncle would not rally, but extol me, I went down with spirits much higher than I went up with.

Sir Charles and my grandmamma were talking together, sitting side by side, when I entered the room. All the company stood up at my entrance. O my dear! what a princess in every one's eye will the declared love of such a man make me! How will all the consequence I had before, among my partial friends and favourers, be augmented!

My uncle said, sideling by me, (kindly intending not to dash me,) My sweet sparkler! [That was the name he used to call me, before Sir Charles Grandison taught me a lesson that made me thoughtful] 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 seat between himself and my grand

mamma.

My ever dear Harriet, said she, and condescended to lift my hand to her lips, I will not abash you; but must just say, that you have acquitted yourself as I wished you to do. I knew I could trust to a heart that ever was above affectation or disguise.

Sir Charles Grandison, madam, said I, has the generosity to distinguish and encourage a doubting mind.

Infinitely obliging Miss Byron, replied he, pressing one hand between both his, as my grandmamma held the other, your condescension attracts both my love and reverence. Permit me to say, that had not Heaven given a Miss 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, resumed my grandmamma: it is, that you will never use the word abroad, or express persons by their countries; in fine, that you will never speak with reserve, 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 so. She has given an example to all her sex, of a passion properly subdued-Of temporal considerations yielding to eternal !

Sir, said I, bowing as I sat, I join in this request.

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

My aunt came to us, and sat down by Sir

Charles, refusing his seat, because it was next me. Let me, said she, enjoy your conversation: I have heard part of your subject, and subscribe to it, with all my heart. Lady G—— can testify for us all three, that we cannot be so mean, as to intend you a compliment, sir, by what has been said.

Nor can I, madam, as to imagine it. You exalt yourselves even more than you do Clementina. I will let my Jeronymo know some of the particulars which have given joy to my heart. They will make him happy; and the excellent Clementina (I will not forbear her name) will rejoice in the happy prospects before me. She wanted but to be assured, 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 sufferer by her declining his address.

May nothing now happen, my dear Lady G, to overcloud-But I will not be apprehensive. I will thankfully enjoy the present moment, and leave the future to the All-wise Disposer of events. If Sir Charles Grandison be mine, and reward by his kindness my love, what can befall me, that I ought not to bear with resignation?

But, my dear ladies, let me here ask you a question, or two.

Tell me, Did I ever, as you remember, suffer by suspenses, by any-thing?-Was there ever really such a man as Sir Hargrave Pollexfen?

Did I not tell you my dreams, when I told you of what I believed I had undergone from his persecuting insults! It is well, for the sake of preserving to me the grace of humility, and for the sake of warning, (for all my days preceding that insult had been happy,) that I wrote down at the time an account of those sufferings, those suspenses, or I should have been apt to forget now, that I ever was unhappy.

And, pray, let me ask, ladies, Can you guess what is become of my illness? I was very ill, you know, when you, Lady G-, did us the honour of a visit; so ill, that I could not hide it from you, and my other dear friends, as fain I would have done. I did not think it was an illness of such a nature, as that its cure depended on an easy heart. I was so much convinced of the merits of Lady Clementina, and that no other woman in the world ought to be Lady Grandison, that I thought I had pretty tolerably quieted my heart in that expectation. I hope I brag not too soon. But, my dear, I now feel so easy, so light, so happy-that I hardly know what's the matter with me-But I hope nobody will find the malady I have lost. May no disappointed heart be invaded by it! Let it not travel to Italy! The dear lady there has suffered enough from a worse malady: nor, if it stay in the island, let it come near the sighing heart of my Emily! That dear girl shall be happy, if it be in my power to make her so. Pray, ladies,

tell her she shall.-No, but don't: I will tell her so myself by the next post. Nor let it, I pray God, attack Lady Anne S-, or any of the half-score ladies, of whom I was once so unwilling to hear.

OUR discourse at table was on various subjects. My cousin James was again very inquisitive after the principal courts, and places of note, in Italy.

What pleasure do I hope one day to receive from the perusal (if I shall be favoured with it) of Sir Charles's LITERARY JOURNAL, mentioned to Dr Bartlett, in some of his letters from Italy! For itincludes, I presume, a description of places, cities, cabinets of the curious, diversions, amusements, customs of different nations. How attentive were we all, to the answers he made to my cousin James's questions! My memory serves but for a few generals; and those I will not trouble you with. Sir Charles told my cousin, that if he were determined on an excursion abroad, he would furnish him with recommendatory letters.

Mr Greville and his insult were one of our subjects after dinner, when the servants were withdrawn. Lucy expressed her wonder, that he was so soon reconciled to Sir Charles, after the menaces he had for years past thrown out against any man who should be likely to succeed with me.

My uncle observed, that Mr Greville had not for a long time had any hopes; that he always was apprehensive, that if Sir Charles Grandison were to make his addresses, he would succeed: that it had been his and Fenwick's custom, to endeavour to bluster away their competitors. He possibly, my uncle added, might hope to intimidate Sir Charles; or at least, knowing his principles, might suppose he ran no risk in the attempt.

Mr Deane said, Mr Greville had told him, that the moment he knew Miss Byron had chosen her man, he would give up his pretensions; but that, as long as she remained single, he was determined to persecute her, as he himself called it. Perseverance he had known do everything, after an admired woman had run through a circle of humble servants, and perhaps found herself disappointed in her own choice: and for his part, but with her, he had no fondness for the married life; he cared not who knew it.

Sir Charles spoke of Mr Greville with candour. He thought him a man of rough manners, but not ill-natured. He affected to be a joker; and often, therefore, might be taken for a worse man than he really was. He believed him to be careless of his reputation, and one who seemed to think there was wit and bravery

in advancing free and uncommon things; and gloried in bold surprises. For my part, continued he, I should hardly have consented to cultivate his acquaintance, much less to dine with him to-morrow, but as he insisted upon it, as a token of my forgiving in him a behaviour that was really what a gentleman should not have pardoned himself for. I considered him, proceeded Sir Charles, as a neighbour to this family, with whom you had lived, and perhaps chose to live, upon good terms. Bad neighbours are nuisances, especially if they are people of fortune: It is in the power of such to be very troublesome in their own persons; and they will often let loose their servants to defy, provoke, insult, and do mischief to those they love not. Mr Greville, I thought, added he, deserved to be more indulged, for the sake of his love to Miss Byron. He is a proud man, and must be mortified enough in having it generally known that she had constantly rejected his suit.

Why, that's true, said my uncle. Sir Charles, you consider everybody. But I hope all's over between you

I have no doubt but it is, Mr Selby. Mr Greville's whole aim now, seems to be, to come off with as little abatement of his pride as possible. He thinks, if he can pass to the world as one who, having no hope himself, is desirous to promote the cause of his friend, as he will acknowledge me to be, it will give him consequence in the eye of the world, and be a gentle method of letting his pride down easy.

Very well, said my uncle; and a very good contrivance for a proud man, I think.

It is an expedient of his friend Fenwick, replied Sir Charles; and Mr Greville is not a little fond of it. And what, ladies and gentlemen, will you say, if you should see me come to church to-morrow with him, sit with him in the same pew, and go with him to dinner in his coach! It is his request that I will. He thinks this will put an end to the whispers which have passed, in spite of all his precaution, of a rencounter between him and me: for he has given out, that he strained his wrist and arm by a fall from his horse. Tell me, dear ladies, shall I, or shall I not, oblige him in this request? He is to be with me to-night, for an answer.

My grandmamma said, that Mr Greville was always a very odd, a very particular man. She thought Sir Charles very kind to us, in being so willing to conciliate with him. My uncle declared, that he was very desirous to live on good terms with all his neighbours, particularly with Mr Greville, a part of whose estate being intermixed with his, it might be in his power to be vexatious, at least to his tenants. Mr Deane thought the compromise was a happy one; and he supposed entirely agreeable to Sir Charles's