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on her plate, the contents of which diminished but slowly. As for my thoughts, they were fully occupied by the expected conversation.

Little passed at dinner, and when the cloth was removed Mrs. Wilson said she had a proposal to make to which there must be no objections made by any of the company.

Upon my word,' said miss Jones, you are very arbitrary in your proposals, you give us no option, quite a dogmatist.'

None of your hard words,' replied Mrs. Wilson; I propose going this afternoon to see my sister, and I desire that you, Mr. Wilson, and miss Harriet, will accompany me: Mr. Beaumont and miss Vernon must entertain each other, for there is not room for them in the coach.' I thought miss Jones looked pleased at finding Harriet was going, but that might be my fancy. Harriet blushed extremely, Mr. Beaumont looked at me, bowed, and said he should be honoured by my company.

*

All settled then,' said Mrs. Wilson; we have nothing to do but to order the carriage. Miss Jones said she had no objection to this visit as a relaxation to her morning studies; and in about half an hour they set out, leaving Mr. Beaumont and me in the parlour.

We were both at a loss for a few minutes what to say; at length I began, and acquainted him I had that morning been informed by my sister what had passed between them during the last few days. He appeared confused, and answered he was very unhappy in not being permitted to have an opportunity of conversing with my sister, which he plainly saw was

purposely avoided by her, but that she had given him hopes that if, on consulting me, she found I was not averse to his wishes, she would consent to hear him on a subject in which his heart was deeply interested.

And to what purpose, Mr. Beaumont, should she hear you?' said I: what prospect can you have in uniting yourself to a woman without fortune, circumstanced as you are? My sister, with a frankness that does her the highest credit, has consulted me on the subject, and I have given her my opinion, which is, that you should endeavour to conquer your partiality for each other, and pursue your engagements with miss Jones.'

And is this her opinion?' said he, with great earnestness; why did she give me hopes of her favour?"

That she gave you those hopes is what, on consideration, she blames herself for; but such is the openness of her conduct and disposition, that she found it, at the time, impossible to dis guise those sentiments of regard for you which she felt on your declaration.'

And has she so soon changed those sentiments?"

No, Mr. Beaumont; my sister is not fickle, although she may be irresolute.'

Pardon me, miss Vernon+ I meant not to reflect on your sister, but why did she not conde scend in person to inform me of this change in her sentiments?"

That she did not, sir,' said I, is a convincing proof that the change arose from circumstances, not from fickleness of disposition. She candidly acknowledged that she felt herself unequal to the task of desiring you to forget her. You

are, I doubt not, a man of too anuch honour to take advantage of an acknowledged weakness; and if on considering your views in life you are convinced it will not be in your power to provide for a wife in a comfortable manner I hope, and doubt not, that you will coiucide with her wishes, in rooting from your heart a growing attachment where a happy termination cannot be expected. This, Mr. Beaumont, is what I am commissioned by my sister to say; these are her sentiments. I informed Mrs. Wilson of the affair, as thinking it improper to have reserve to that lady, and am obliged to her for this opportunity of speaking.

He remained silent some time, then starting, as it were, from his reverie, No; it is impossible I can forget your sweet sister! My mother loves me, she has an income of three hundred a-year, which will be mine at her death; I am promised a curacy of fifty pounds a-year. We will live with my mother.'

I told him I saw no alternative between a slender maintenance, joined to its attendant distresses, and renouncing all thoughts of my sister. But,' added I, you seem not to consider miss Jones: I understand you have been long engaged to her.'

I have,' replied he; but my heart was never in the connexion, nor is miss Jones capable of affection for any object independent of her books and learning. Her father, by going out of the common course of things, in bestowing on her an education suited only to a learned profession, has rendered her unfit for the society of her own sex, and made her the burlesque of ours.'

With these sentiments of the
VOL. XXXVIII,

lady,' said I, you surely cannot think of marrying her; but it by no means follows that, by relin quishing my sister, you plunge yourself into the unhappiness of marrying a woman you dislike.'I went on talking for some time, and thought I discovered in his countenance marks of confusion and vexation; he traversed the room, seemingly at a loss what to say.

At length- Permit me,' said he, to request your interest with your charining sister; that she will not withdraw her favour from me until I have written to my mother, and consulted her on the subject. I cannot, without her knowledge, acquaint miss Jones with the change in my sentiments; for I promised, at her earnest request, that if any such change should take place, I would previously acquaint her. Why she exacted this promise I know not; but I think myself bound to obey her.'

I told him I would inform my sister of his wishes, and if she, his mother, and himself, concurred in the propriety of the union, I certainly had no right to be averse. He retired to write to his mother, and left me, I own, not much pleased with his manner or sentiments. That a young man with such an opinion of a woman as he professes to entertain for miss Jones should ever have formed the intention of making her his wife, seems, in my mind, to argue something wrong; at least a mezcenary disposition is discoverable. His early declaration to my sister whilst under such an engagement evinces no very nice regaid to honour. He should, in my opinion, have emancipated himself from this engagement before he had presumed to address another. 3 P

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engaged man or woman I look on as married; and, in the eye of honour, they certainly are so. I like not the exaction of the promise by his mother. Why should she wish to make herself the principal in a case in which miss Joues was undoubtedly so? If her son saw reason to alter his mind in regard to marrying her, why should she be averse to his immediately acquainting the lady without first consulting her? The happiness and honour of her son was delayed and forfeited by consulting in a case which only required the simple question-have I changed my

sentiments?

These were the thoughts which arose in my mind when he withdrew. He soon returned, and read to me the letter he had drawn up to his mother. I thought it sensible and respectful, and checked myself for, perhaps, my too hasty disapprobation of a young man who was at least dutiful. He mentioned my sister in the highest terms, and declared his determination to relinquish miss Jones. In short it was a letter wholly unexceptionable; and after taking a copy to show to Harriet, it was dispatched by a messenger, who was ordered to stay all night at Mrs. Beaumont's, and bring an answer in the morning, the distance being twenty miles.

By this time the party returned from their visit. Mrs. Wilson's good humour had subsided. The roads were so bad she would never attempt going again at this season of the year. Her nieces were brought up so pert there was no bearing them. The eldest gabbled French to her, and when she found she was not understood, supposed that language was not taught when her aunt was young.

The youngest wondered she did not wear a lappet, and the nephew ordered a hassock to help her into the coach. All these particulars were told Mr. Beaumont and me as soon as she was seated; with the observation, that she saw not why she should put herself out of the way to accommodate other people; and she would not set her foot out of the house again to please any one.

I own myself totally at a loss,' said miss Jones, to conjecture your meaning. For whose pleasure have you incommoded yourself? Not mine, I am sure; for I have spent, as I expected, a most insipid evening; and had there been a Cicero or Horace in the house, I should most certainly have stayed at home.'

Mrs. Wilson, who knew not the names of Cicero or Horace, thought she 'reflected on the accommodations she gave her visitors. I am sorry, miss, my house is not furnished to your mind; but if you will ask the housekeeper for the things you mention, I dare say she will supply you. It is fatiguing enough for me to entertain my company without attending to the furniture of their rooms.'

This mistake forced a smile from every face, which she perceiving was very angry, and declared she would not be laughed at.

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'Come, my dear!' said Mr. Wilson, fany body has reason to be affronted, it is miss Harriet here; for, I believe, her cousin Meadows has not spoken three words to her the whole time, and never wished her a good night when she went away.'

Well, Mr. Wilson, you have amply made it up to her; when did you pay me the attention of sitting on the same side of the

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coach all the way, and taking my cup of tea the moment I had done with it ?'

The silly woman now complained of her head and spirits, and went up stairs. I accompanied her to her apartment, but so wholly was she engrossed by the mortifications she had received, that the result of Mr. Beaumont's conversation and mine was quite unthought of. I returned to the parlour and found Mr. Wilson set down to a hot supper: Mr. Beaumont and miss Jones disputing on a passage in Milton; the only English poet, she says, worth reading. Harriet retired to her apartment, I followed her; and after relating all that had passed between Mr. Beaumont and me, she coneurred in my opinion that there was something mysterious in his conduct, and made me happy by assuring me that she would take no step without my knowledge, and the advice of our maternal friend. She said she believed Mrs, Wilson had informed her husband of the affair, for he had remarked, at seeing her rather mortified at Mrs. Meadows' coolness, that the prospect of a good husband was worth more than her civility. This, conveyed in a whisper, had roused Mrs. Wilson's jealousy.

About noon the next day the messenger returned from Mrs. Beaumont's. We were hardly separated since breakfast, except miss Jones, who seldom honours us with her company, until dinner time. She regards Harriet and me as two ignorant girls, and seldom condescends to speak to us; her conversation being chiefly directed to her false lover and Mr. Wilson. The servant delivered a letter which Mr. Beaumont gave

to Harriet unopened. On this letter,' said he, depends my happiness. If it does not plead my cause I have no other plea to of fer; for on my mother's approbation and wishes have I ever been dependent.' The entrance of a servaut relieved Harriet from the embarrassment of an answer. She put the letter into her pocket, and retired to read as follows:

Mrs. Beaumont to her Son.

Your happiness, my dear son, has ever been inseparable from my own; of this I trust you are well convinced: I therefore feel no reluctance in complying with your wishes where that is concerned. That you have met with a woinan every way preferable to miss Jones I wonder not at; nothing but interested motives could ever have obtained my approbation of your union with that lady; but on no account do I wish you to sacrifice your peace for the paltry consideration of money. You say the object of your affections is without fortune. The means for your subsistence I have well considered: I have an income of three hundred a-year that devolves to you at my death, which my age, near seventy, warns me cannot be far distant. The description you give of your charming miss Vernon raises within me a wish that she would by a speedy marriage with you comfort my declining years; and make me happy by partaking with yourself of my small fortune under the same roof. I say nothing of your church preferment: a curacy will be soon in your possession, and I doubt not in a few years your further advancement, If domestic happiness in the society of each other is all you seek, this plan,

according to my ideas, will not be unacceptable. It is the only one I can suggest suitable to my own wishes and ability of performance. Your compliance with my request, of informing me of your attachment to this lady, previous to acquainting miss Jones, has highly pleased me. I had very important reasons for making the request, and have now to urge the continuance of reserve to that lady for the present. I know you will say you cannot, consistent with your honour, continue the deception. I see the justice of the observation, but, my dear son, suffer me to entreat your compliance with my desire, that you will not, until you are actually married, undeceive miss Jones. My reasons, which you shall then know, you will allow to be highly proper: your own, as well as my happiness is depend ent. In the mean time trust my knowledge and discretion, and rest assured that I will lead you into no step which shall be derogatory to your honour. I have no more to add but my best wishes to the object of your affection, whom I hope shortly to embrace as daughter.

a

Your affectionate mother, M. BEAUMONT.'

After we had perused this letter we looked at each other, at a loss what to say. At length I said, -Harriet! pray write to our dear Mrs. West all the particulars of this affair. I feel wholly incapable of judging how to act, and by your opinion I will be guided.'

I will, my dear sister,' said she, immediately comply with your request; I feel as incapable as yourself of advising.' If Mr.

Beaumont has an interest in your heart, I fear it will be of little use to ask advice, if it proves contrary to its dictates.'

Ah, Maria! it is that I fear. My heart assents to the proposal contained in this letter, but something whispers me that I ought not to obey its dictates without further consideration.'

We had now a difficulty how to return the letter to Mr. Beaumont; at length we agreed she should enclose it in the following lines addressed to him :

Sir,

enclosed, and feel grateful to Mrs. 'I have perused the Beaumont for her kind wishes and expressions towards me; but the subject is too important to admit of a hasty determination. My youth and inexperience make it necessary that I should advise with some judicious friend, for which purpose I shall write to a lady every way worthy that title. In the mean time, if you wish to oblige me, you will avoid all opportunity of conversing alone on the subject with

Your obedient servant, H. VERNON.' Finding Mr. Beaumont was gone out I went in search of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, showed them the letter, and informed them of Harriet's determination. They both appeared pleased, and advised no delay; but that the marriage should take place as soon as possible. Mrs. Wilson, I thought, showed greater pleasure at the idea of miss Jones' disappointment than Harriet's good fortune. The entrance of that lady put an end to the conversation.

And now, my dear madam, you

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