She asked me if Sir Charles were not indeed inclined to favour the count?

He wishes you, madam, to marry, answered I, because he thinks (and physicians of Italy and Eng — land, and Mr. Lowther, concur with your parents wi.ihes) if there were a man in the world whom you could consent to make happy, the consequence would not only make your whole family so, but yourself. But the choice of the man, he thinks, should be entirely left to you: he thinks that the count, so often refused, ought not to be insisted on: and that time should be given you.

Let me ask you. Lady Grandison, as one sister to another, QovXAijou, in my situation, have resolved to give your hand She stopt, blushed, looked donn. I snatched her hand, and pressed it to my lips Speak your whole heart, my Clementina, to your Harriet. But yet, I will spare you, when I under-stand your meaning. Noblest of women, 1 am not Clementina. I could not, situated as you once were, all my friends consenting, and the man such as you knew him to be, have refused him my hand as well as heart. But what may not be expected from a lady, who, from a regard to her superior duties, could make the most laudable passion of inferior force? You have already overcome the greatest difficulty; and when you can persuade yourself that it is your duty to enter into new measures, I am sure, what-ever they may be

Dear Lady Grandison. say no more My duty How delicate are your intimations! What a subject have we slid into! Believe me, I am incapable

Of any thought, of any imagination, interrupted I, that an angel might not own. It would be an injury to your Harriet’s emulative love of you, were you but to suppose any assurances of your greatness of mind necessary.

But I am at times pained, generous Lady Grandison, for what ijmir friends may think, may wish O that 1 were in my own country again!

They wish for nothing but your happiness. Lay down your own plan, dear lady: chalk out your future steps. Look about you one, two, three years, in the single hfe: assure your indulgent parents

Hush, hush, hush, hush, my dear Lady Grandison, gently putting her hand on my mouth: 1 will, 1 nmst, leave you! O my fluctuating heart! But what-ever 1 shall 1)0 enabled to do; whose-soever displea — sure I may incur, do non continue to love me; still call me sister; and, through you, let me call Sir Charles Grandison my brother; and then shall I have a felicity that will counterbalance many infe-licities.

She hurried from me, not staying to hear the af-fectionate assurances of mj’ admiring love, that were bursting my lips from a heart fervently desiring to comply with every wish of hers.