Sophia, if my aunt had died yesterday, I am convinced 'she would have left you her whole fortune.'

Whether Sophia intended it or no, I shall not presume to assert; but certain it is, these last words penetrated very deep into the ears of her father, and produced a much more sensible effect than all she had said before. He received the sound with much the same action as a man receives a bullet in his head. He started, staggered, and turned pale. After which he remained silent above a minute, and then began in the following hesitating manner: Yesterday! she would have left me her esteate yesterday! would she? Why yesterday, of all the days in the year? I suppose if she dies to-morrow, 'she will leave it to somebody else, and perhaps out ' of the vamily.'-'My aunt, Sir,' cries Sophia, hath very violent passions, and I can't answer what she เ may do under their influence.'

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เ You can't!' returned the father; and pray who 'hath been the occasion of putting her into those violent เ passions? Nay, who hath actually put her into them? 'Was not you and she hard at it before I came into the 'room? Besides, was not all our quarrel about you? I have not quarrelled with sister this many years but 6 upon your account; and now you would throw the 'whole blame upon me, as thof I should be the occasion of her leaving the esteate out o' the vamily. I could 'have expected no better indeed; this is like the return you make to all the rest of my fondness.'

'I beseech you then,' cries Sophia, 'upon my knees I 'beseech you, if I have been the unhappy occasion of 'this difference, that you will endeavour to make it up with my aunt, and not suffer her to leave your house in this violent rage of anger: she is a very good'natured woman, and a few civil words will satisfy her. -Let me entreat you, Sir.'

'So I must go and ask pardon for your fault, must I?' answered Western. You have lost the hare, and I must

'draw every way to find her again? Indeed, if I was

certain 'Here he stopt, and Sophia throwing in more entreaties, at length prevailed upon him; so that after venting two or three bitter sarcastical expressions against his daughter, he departed as fast as he could to recover his sister, before her equipage could be gotten ready.

Sophia then returned to her chamber of mourning, where she indulged herself (if the phrase may be allowed me) in all the luxury of tender grief. She read over more than once the letter which she had received from Jones; her muff too was used on this occasion; and she bathed both these, as well as herself, with her tears. In this situation, the friendly Mrs. Honour exerted her utmost abilities to comfort her afflicted mistress. She ran over the names of many young gentlemen: and having greatly commended their parts and persons, assured Sophia that she might take her choice of any. These methods must have certainly been used with some success in disorders of the like kind, or so skilful a practitioner as Mrs. Honour would never have ventured to apply them; nay, I have heard that the college of chambermaids hold them to be as sovereign remedies as any in the female dispensary; but whether it was that Sophia's disease differed inwardly from those cases with which it agreed in external symptoms, I will not assert; but, in fact, the good waiting-woman did more harm than good, and at last so incensed her mistress (which was no easy matter), that with an angry voice she dismissed her from her presence.

CHAPTER VI.

Containing great variety of matter.

THE squire overtook his sister just as she was stepping into the coach, and partly by force, and partly by solicitations, prevailed upon her to order her horses back into their quarters. He succeeded in this attempt without much difficulty; for the lady was, as we have already hinted, of a most placable disposition, and greatly loved her brother, though she despised his parts, or rather his little knowledge of the world.

Poor Sophia, who had first set on foot this reconciliation, was now made the sacrifice to it. They both concurred in their censures on her conduct; jointly declared war against her, and directly proceeded to counsel, how to carry it on in the most vigorous manner. For this purpose, Mrs. Western proposed not only an immediate conclusion of the treaty with Allworthy, but as immediately to carry it into execution; saying, That there was no other way to succeed with her niece but by violent methods, which she was convinced Sophia had not sufficient resolution to resist. By violent,' says she, 'I mean rather, hasty measures; for as to confinement or absolute force, no such things must or can be at'tempted. Our plan must be concerted for a surprise, เ and not for a storm.'

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These matters were resolved on, when Mr. Blifil came

to pay a visit to his mistress. The squire no sooner heard of his arrival, than he stept aside, by his sister's advice, to give his daughter orders for the proper reception of her lover; which he did with the most bitter execrations and denunciations of judgment on her refusal.

The impetuosity of the squire bore down all before him; and Sophia, as her aunt very wisely foresaw, was not able to resist him. She agreed, therefore, to see Blifil, though she had scarce spirits or strength sufficient to utter her assent. Indeed, to give a peremptory denial to a father whom she so tenderly loved, was no easy task. Had this circumstance been out of the case, much less resolution than what she was really mistress of, would, perhaps, have served her; but it is no unusual thing to ascribe those actions entirely to fear, which are in a great measure produced by love.

In pursuance, therefore, of her father's peremptory command, Sophia now admitted Mr. Blifil's visit. Scenes like this, when painted at large, afford, as we have observed, very little entertainment to the reader. Here, therefore, we shall strictly adhere to a rule of Horace; by which writers are directed to pass over all those matters which they despair of placing in a shining light;—a rule, we conceive, of excellent use as well to the historian as to the poet; and which, if followed, must at least have this good effect, that many a great evil (for so all great books are called) would thus be reduced to a small one.

It is possible, the great art used by Blifil at this interview would have prevailed on Sophia to have made another man in his circumstances her confidant, and to have revealed the whole secret of her heart to him; but she had contracted so ill an opinion of this young gentleman, that she was resolved to place no confidence in him; for simplicity, when set on its guard, is often a match for cunning. Her behaviour to him, therefore, was entirely forced, and indeed such as is generally prescribed to virgins upon the second formal visit from one who is appointed for their husband.

But though Blifil declared himself to the squire per

fectly satisfied with his reception; yet that gentleman, who, in company with his sister, had overheard all, was not so well pleased. He resolved, in pursuance of the advice of the sage lady, to push matters as forward as possible; and addressing himself to his intended son-in-law in the hunting phrase, he cried, after a loud holloa, 'Follow 'her, boy, follow her; run in, run in; that's it, honeys. 'Dead, dead, dead. Never be bashful, nor stand shall I, 'shall I? Allworthy and I can finish all matters between us this afternoon, and let us ha' the wedding to-morrow.' Blifil having conveyed the utmost satisfaction into his countenance, answered, 'As there is nothing, Sir, in this 'world which I so eagerly desire as an alliance with your 'family, except my union with the most amiable and deserving Sophia, you may easily imagine how impatient 'I must be to see myself in possession of my two highest 'wishes. If I have not therefore importuned you on this head, you will impute it only to my fear of offending the lady, by endeavouring to hurry on so blessed an event, 'faster than a strict compliance with all the rules of 'decency and decorum will permit. But if by your 'interest, Sir, she might be induced to dispense with any 'formalities

'Formalities! with a pox!' answered the squire, 'Pooh, all stuff and nonsense. I tell thee, she shall ha' 'thee to-morrow; you will know the world better here'after, when you come to my age. Women never gi' 'their consent, man, if they can help it, 'tis not the เ fashion. If I had staid for her mother's consent, I 'might have been a bachelor to this day.To her, 'to her, co to her, that's it, you jolly dog. I tell thee 'shat ha' her to-morrow morning.'

Blifil suffered himself to be overpowered by the forcible rhetoric of the squire; and it being agreed that Western should close with Allworthy that very afternoon, the