He had forgot himself. He said, he would not prescribe to ujc.

After some involuntary hesitations I am afraid o’l nothing so much, just now, Sir, said I, as appearing, to a man of your honour and penetration, affect — ed. Rise, Sir, I beseech you! I cannot bear

I will, madam, and rise as well as kneel, to thank you, when you have answered a question so very important to my happiness.

Belbre I could resume. Only believe me, madam, said he. thiit my urgency is not the insolent urgency of one who imagini.‘s a lady will receive as a cnnip/i-vwiit his impatience. And if you have no scruple that you think oHii^h importance, add, I beseech you, to the obligation you have laid him under to your condescending goodness (and add with that frankness of heart which has distinguished you in my eyes above all women) the very high one, of an early day.

I looked down I could not!oo!: up I was afraid ofbeing thought affected Yet how could I so soon think of obliging him ?

He proceeded You are silent, madam! Propi-tious be your silence! Allow me to enquire of your otmt, for your kind, your condescending acqui-escence. I will not now urge you further: I will be all hope.

Let me say, Sir, that I must not be precipitated. These are very early days.

Much more was in my mind ta say; but I hesi-tated I could not speak. Surely, my dear ladies, it was too early an urgency. And can a woman be wholly unobservant of custom, and the laws of her sex? Something is due to the fashion in our dress, however absurd that dress might have appeared in the last age (as theirs do to us) or may in the next: and shall not those customs which have their foundation in modesty, and are characteristic of the gentler sex, be intitled to excuse, and more than excuse?

He saw my confusion. Let me not, my dearest life, distress you, said he. Beautiful as your emotion is, I cannot enjoy it, if it give you pain. Yet is tlie question so important to me; so much is my heart concerned in the favourable answer I hope for from your goodness; that I must not let this opportunity sUp, except it be 3’our pleasure that I attend your determination from Mrs. Selby’s mouth Yet thai I choose not, neither; because I presume for more favour from your own, than you will, on co/d deli-beration, alloAv your aunt to shew me. Love will plead for itsfaithful votary in a single breast, v.hen consult-ation on the supposed tit and unfit, the object ab — sent, will produce dc lay. ]5ut I will retire, for two moments. You sliall be my prisoner mean time.

Not a soul sliall come in to interrupt us, unless it be at your call. I will return, and receive your deter-mination; and it’ that be the fixing of my happy (lay. how will you rejoice me!