Perhaps the company would not have broke up so soon, had not the bride been perverse, and re-fused to retire.

Was she not at home? she asked Lady L. who was put upon urging her: and should she leave her company?

She would make me retire with her. She took a very affectionate leave of me n ‘2

Marriage, Lucy, is an awful rite. It is supposed to be a joyful solemnity: but on the woman’s side it can be only so, when she is given to the man she loves above all the men in the world; and even to her, the anniversary day, when doubt is turned into certainty, must be much happier than the day itself.

What a victim must that woman look upon her-self to be, who is compelled, or even over-persuaded, to give her hand to a man who has no share in her heart? Ought not a parent or guardian, in such a circumstance, especially if the child has a delicate, an honest mind, to be chargeable with all the unhappy consequences that may follow from such a cruel compulsion?

But this is not the case with Miss Grandison. Early she cast her eye on an improper object. Her pride convinced her in time of the impropriety. And this, as she owns, gave her an indifference to all men.

She dislikes not Lord G. There is no man whom she prefers to him: and in this respect may, perhaps, be upon a par with eight women out of twelve, who marry, and yet make not bad wives.

As she played with her passion till she lost it, she may be happy if she will: and since she intended to be, some time or other, Lady G. her brother was kind in persuading her to shorten her days of coquetting and teasing, and to allow him to give her to Lord G. before he went abroad.

Letter XVII.

Miss Byron. In Continuation.

Wednesday, April \2.

Dr. Bartlett was so good as to breakfast with my cousins and me this morning. He talks of setting

S1H CHARLES GRANDISON. 13? out for Grandison-hall on Saturday or Monday nexti We have settled a correspondence; and he gives me hope, that he will make me a visit in Northampton-shire. I know you will all rejoice to see him.

Emily came in before the doctor went. She brought me the compliments of the bride, and Lord W. with their earnest request, that I, and my two cousins, would dine with them. Sir Charles was gone, she said, to make a farewell visit to the Danby set; but would be at home at dinner.

It would be better for me, I think, Lucy, to avoid all opportunities of seeing him: don’t you think so? There is no such thing as seeing him with indif-ference But, so earnestly invited, how could I deny; especially as my cousins were inclinable to go?