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miss Jones choose to stay at home, I wish you and your sister would accompany me and Mr. Beau

mont.'

The point was now gained: Harriet was so delighted that she could scarce refrain from betraying herself: I whispered her not to talk lest she should spoil all. Mr. Beaumont seems as much pleased, happy, I suppose, to escape for one evening from miss Jones.

Harriet desires me to say that she is much obliged to you for satisfying her curiosity; we could not but admire your spirits. Ah, madam! were all our sex like you. I want to resig my pen to Harriet, but she tells me her whole attention is engaged to keep Mrs. Wilson in good humour, and contrive her dress, which is to be very gay. As I know you can be entertained with trifles when occurrences of consequence are wanting, I make no apology for the length of my letter, which was at first only intended to express my gratitude for your last favour, and request a repetition of the same kindness.

I conclude with respectful compliments to the colonel, in which Harriet joins with your much obliged,

M. VERNON.

LETTER XXXII. Miss Vernon to Mrs. West.

My dear Madam,

ON every occasion where the advice of a sensible and kind friend is found necessary, it is my sister's and my happiness to experience in you that inestimable advantage: may we ever be guided by your advice, and profited by your

experience. I am requested by Harriet to write to you on a subject which she feels a reluctance to enter upon herself. I mentioned Mr. Beaumont as a sensible, agreeable young man: you are now prepared for what is to follow.

He is fallen in love with Harriet, but he is engaged to miss Jones. The utmost of his expectations is a curacy promised him of fifty pounds a-year. He had not been here many days before I discovered his partiality to my sister. I was uneasy, for I feared he was too pleasing not to be agreeable in the eyes of a woman disengaged in her affections.

This Mr. Beaumont,' said she to me, yesterday, is a charming young man! what think you sis

ter?'

He is certainly very agreeable,' said I, but I wish you were not so sensible of it. I fear miss Jones will be displeased at seeing you so much together; and I fearshall I say all I fear, dear Harriet?'

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Oh, yes; let me hear all your fears, and then I will tell you all my hopes.'

She turned from me to fetch her work which lay on the table, and I discovered strong marks of confusion in her averted face. She sat down, and in her intelligent countenance I read all I feared.

'Mr. Beaumont,' continued I, has been here a month; he is engaged to miss Jones; he is a young man of no property; his mother has set her heart on seeing him united to this lady on account of her large fortune; nor, indeed, has he any prospect of support by any other means. It is very visible to me that it is only her fortune that has induced him to think of the union; you have made the

same observation. In proportion as he has shunned her society I have observed that he has sought yours. During the last week his marked attention to you has, I am certain, been noticed by miss Jones. That he prefers you to her I have no doubt; but circumstanced as you both are, it is, in my opinion, high time that you should refrain from receiving those attentions from him which are due only to miss Jones. My Harriet is above reserve, and I know will answer me with her usual sincerity when I ask her if she has not given Mr. Beaumont too great a share of her regard and—'

Stop, stop, dear Maria!' interrupted she, I will tell you every thing. It was never my intention to conceal from you what has passed between Mr. Beaumont and me, although I know I shall incur your anger."

Impossible,' said I; your frankness will cancel, in my eyes, all your faults.'

She then proceeded thus:

I never in my life saw a young man so agreeable as Mr. Beaumont; I found my partiality increase every day, and felt that I envied miss Jones. I was pleased with every attention and prefer ence I received from her lover. Sure, thought I, if I were beloved by this man I should be happy; but it is not likely he should think of me when miss Jones' thousands are glittering in his eyes, though I cannot but think he likes me best. In this manner did my thoughts roam, and thus were they engaged; when one day last week, when you and every body had rode out, he suddenly entered the parlour where I was sitting leaning my elbows on the table in a profound reverie. He caught me by

the arm, and expressed a surprise at finding me alone, and in so profound a study. There was something in his manner inexpressibly tender, and in short, Maria, he that morning declared he loved me. This declaration was delivered with such warmth, and at the same time with so much respect, it was impossible to doubt his sincerity. I have told you my sentiments of him, tell me how I should have acted on this unexpected declaration.'

Undoubtedly,' replied I, 'you should have reminded him of his engagements to miss Jones.'

"She never entered my head at that time. I could make him no answer; but after a silence of a few minutes I told him that his mother must be consulted on the subject. "And may I then," said he, "obtain your consent to consult my mother? Have I been so happy as to gain your favourable opinion?"-I recollected myself, but it was too late; for he exclaimed, taking my hand, "Yes; I am that happy being!" I withdrew my hand, but was wholly incapable of knowing what to say: what could I say, Maria? He had now formed, indeed, the right conclusion. Had the world been depending I could not have contradicted him. I believe he had as well as myself forgot miss Jones, I, however, recollected myself, and mentioned her." Name her not," said he, "I detest her; never shall my heart be enslaved by golden fetters. I will this day undeceive her, and acquaint my mother."

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Hold, hold,' said I, I have a sister to consult:' I dared not say my own heart, for he had discovered that already. You shake your head, Maria; did I not say you would be angry with me? I left

the room, and have since avoided being alone with him. He this morning accused me of shunning him. How can I do otherwise,' I replied, when I consider your engagements to miss Jones,' " I only," said he, "want your permission to lay all before her, yet why should I want permission? My heart informs me that she has no place there: this day will I make to her that avowal." I

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am a poor weak girl, Mr. Beaumont,' said I, but I have a sister who is capable of advising me; to her I will communicate what has passed, and will request her to talk with you on the subject.' He urged me to stay longer with him, but I told him I would not hear another word until I had informed you; and now, my dear sister, I have told you all.'

Dear, ingenuous girl! How did her artless tale affect me: what a lustre does a frank and open mind reflect on the character of a young woman. I see, dear Harriet,' said I, this gentleman has impressed your mind too deeply for me to hope that my persuasions against indulging your passions will avail any thing: indeed I am the last person who can, with propriety, advise you to a conduct I am myself incapable of pursuing. We are too apt to ask advice too late. Had you and I reflected on the consequences of indulging a partiality for persons we'

Do not recriminate,' interrupted she, 'I trust we shall neither of us repent our past conduct; for my part I am gone too far to recede. I have not acted prudent, but that virtue is, I fear not, implanted in my disposition. I will tell you what I purpose, with your approbation, to do. In the first

place I think miss Jones should be wrote to, or somehow informed as you and Mr. Beaumont may think best: Mrs. Beaumont no doubt should be consulted.'

'And then,' interrupted I, smiling, the wedding may take place between you and her son. Upon my word, Harriet, you lay down a very easy plan, but I must confess I see many difficulties in the execution; I fear Mrs. Beaumont's consent will not easily be obtained for her son's union with a woman destitute of fortune, more especially considering his situation with miss Jones. But suppose her consent and even approbation could be procured, how are you ta be supported?'

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You talk, Maria,' replied she, as if an immediate marriage was my wish how can you entertain such an idea? The utmost I think of at present is the obtaining Mre Beaumont's approbation of her son's choice; the emancipating him from his engagements to miss Jones; and a mutual promise of being united, some years hence, when circumstances will admit.'

'I was going, dear Harriet,' said I, to give you my advice as well as opinion; but, as I before ob served, I fear the former will be too late. You interrupted me, and I thought by your manner you was unwilling to hear it.'

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By no means,' replied she; 'I promise attention to all you may say, and, if possible, a compliance with all you wish.'

Well then,' said I, your ac quaintance with Mr. Beaumont is very short. His character, as we have heard it from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, is good; his temper-(far be it from me to suppose it unamiable,) but I cannot but observe

it must be very much so indeed if it was discoverable to us; a very indifferent temper will appear a good one when seen only in company, where it is a person's interest to appear amiable. Mr. Beaumont is no doubt sensible, and elegant in his manners and person; but are these the only qualities to be sought for in a husband? A plain understanding, joined to a good temper, and a knowledge of the world are, in my opinion, preferable to all the graces of a court, and learning of a college without them. You are young and volatile, and it is not to be wondered at that you are pleased with the attention of such a man as Mr. Beaumont, and feel a partiality to such apparent perfections. That they are only apparent I will not even suppose; but I think a longer time necessary to determine their reality. Surely when my Harriet considers calmly she will not fetter herself by engagements of so serieus a nature with a young man she has not known longer than a month. Circumstanced as Mr. Beaumont and you are, it is for both your interests that you should each endeavour to overcome a partiality, which indulged there is little prospect of having a happy termination. An attachment so much in its infancy I should suppose might be overcome. Time and absence I should think would wear away the impressions of excellencies known only for a few weeks. I am, perhaps, as I have before said, the last person who should speak thus on the subject, yet I cannot but think my own case different. An acquaintance of four years justifies me, in my own eyes at least, for a conduct I am condemning in you. I have now

spoken my sentiments, and have only to entreat that my dear sister will thoroughly consider and weigh the subject before she conferred so great a blessing as the promise of her heart on Mr. Beaumont.'

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The dear girl said she would retire and consider all I had said; she left the room but soon returned.I have not taken long to consider,' said she; the point of view you have placed the subject in has convinced me that I ought not to engage myself to Mr. Beaumont: I will endeavour that my affections shall not be engaged. I hope I shall not be classed among the romantic girls who give away their hearts to external merit only, and plunge into matrimony, destitute of the means of living. think he should marry miss Jones as well from honourable considerations as interested ones; but I have unfortunately given him reason to think that he is not indifferent to me. Had I checked him in his first address, perhaps he might at once have relinquished all thoughts of me: I see I have acted wrong, and have let myself down in his eyes, no doubt, as well as in my own.'

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It is not yet too late,' replied I, 'to retrieve this step you regret. If you inform him that you have considered the matter, and are resolved to conquer the partiality you have permitted him to discover in his favour, and if you have he roism enough to urge him to fulfil his engagements with miss Jones, your uneasiness will subside, and you will bring him to the test; for, if he relinquishes all hopes of your favour and pursues his first engagements, I doubt not but you will easily overcome your affection for him, and will have the pleasure

of reflecting that you have acted honourably by miss Jones; but if the reverse is the case you will then be left at liberty to act as you please.'

She approved of this advice, but said she was sure she could not support such a conversation. I proposed her writing, but she entreated me to see Mr. Beaumont and inform him of her sentiments. I told her I by no means liked the office; perhaps she might alter her sentiments, or, perhaps, I might say more or less than she could wish. She entreated me so earnestly to comply with her request, that I would talk with him, that at length I was overcome, and consented to enter on the disagreeable task in the afternoon: in the mean time I proposed acquainting Mrs. Wilson with all particulars: this Harriet opposed at first, but I thought it absolutely proper there should be no reserve, and she consented that I should do as I pleased.

I went to Mrs. Wilson's dressing-room, and was fortunate to find her in high good humour from the circumstance of a becoming cap just put on. I dismissed her maid, desiring I might finish dressing the lady, and informed her briefly of all that had passed. She heard me with more attention than I expected, and approved the purposed conversation between Mr. Beaumont and me. I always thought Mr. Beaumont liked Harriet,' said she, for he has once or twice said to me that he thought her almost as handsome as I was at her age. I am delighted to think how miss Jones will be mortified, for I dare say he won't marry her now.'

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'But, madam,' replied I, what prospect is there for my sister?'

Oh! she will have a lover for a few months,' said Mrs. Wilson, it is time enough for her to marry; but how shall we contrive to give you and the gentleman an opportunity of talking this afternoon? I think, as I am pretty tolerable to day in my looks, I will drink tea with iny sister Meadows, and take Mr. Wilson, miss Jones, and Harriet with me.'

I knew Mrs. Wilson's advice would be of no value on the present occasion, so only thanked her for her intention, and requested secrecy. She seemed much pleased with the confidence I had reposed in her, and we separated till dinner, which Harriet and myself wished over. We took our

seats at table with as different thoughts and sentiments as, perhaps, ever occupied the minds of six people: Mrs. Wilson at the head, opposite a large lookingglass, had her ideas occupied by the captivating figure it presented of her person. Miss Jones declared she never was more fatigued in her life than at present, having spent the morning in translating select passages from Epictetus, (which she had brought with her for that purpose) in order to do that fine writer justice after the injustice done him by miss Carter, whose translation she held in contempt.

Mr. Wilson (who is an excellent judge of cooking) was occupied in examining the stuffing of a fine hare before him, which he said had not a grain of pepper or salt in it. Mr. Beaumont, absent, and out of spirits, called for wine every minute, and complained of a bad head-ach. Harriet looked pale one moment and blooming the next; her chief solicitude being to avoid the ing to avoid the eyes of Mr. Beaumont her own, were fixed

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