Honour of the sex, Sir! Fine talking! Don’t I know, that were I to consent to his coming over, the first thing would be to have his annuity aug-mented out of my fortune? He and his father would be in a party against me. Ami not already a suf-ferer through him in his father’s love? ^You don’t know, Sir, what has passed between Sir Harry and me within this half hour But don’t talk to me: I won’t hear of it: the young man hates me: I hate him: and ever will.

She made a motion to go.

With a respectful air, I told her, she must not leave me. My motive deserved not, I said, that both she and Sir Harry should leave me in displea-sure.

You know but too well, resumed she, bow acceptable your officiousness (I must call it so) is to Sir Harry.

And does Sir Harry, madam, favour his son’s suit?

You rejoice me: let not Mr. Beauchamp know that he does: and do you, my dear Lady Beauchamp, take the whole merit of it to yourself. How will he revere you for your goodness to him! And what an obligation, if, as you say, Sir Harry is inclined to favour him, will you, by your generous first motion, lay upon Sir Harry.

Obligation upon Sir Harry! Yes, Sir Charles Grandison, I have laid too many obligations already upon him, for his gratitude.

Lay this one more. You own you have had a misunderstanding this morning: Sir Harry is with-drawn, 1 suppose, with his heart full: let me, I beseech you, make up the misunderstanding. I have been happy in this way Thus we will order it We will desire him to walk in. I will beg your interest with him in favour of the contents of the letter I sent. His compliance will follow as an act of obligingness to you. The grace of the action will be yours. I will be answerable for Mr. Beauchamp’s gratitude. Dear madam, hesitate not. The young gentleman must come over one day: let the fa-vour of its being an early one, be owing entirely to you.

You are a strange man, Sir: I don’t like you at all: you would persuade me out of my reason.

Let us, madam, as Mr. Beauchamp and I are already the dearest of friends, begin & family under — standing. Let St. James’s Square, and Berkley Square, when you come to town, be a next-door-neighbourhood. Give me the consideration of be ing the bondsman for the duty of Mr. Beauchamp to you, as well as to his father.

She was silent: but looked vexed and irresolute

My sisters, madam, are amiable women. You will be pleased with them. Lord L. is a man worthy of Sir Harry’s acquaintance. We shall want nothing, i) 2 if you would think so, but Mr. Beauchamp’s presence among us.

What! I suppose you design your maiden sister for the young fellow But if you do, Sir, you must ask me for There she stopt.