It is impossible, madam, but I must have joy in your joy. Lady Clementina, I apprehend, perseveres in her resolution !

I have talked to her, chevalier, in your favour. If you love her, she says, as we all think you do, she will yet be yours.

Dear madam, tell me

Let me interrupt you, chevalier: I must not mislead you, nor keep you in suspense She will, she says, beg your acceptance of her vows if

If what, madam

Hear me with patience, chevalier If you will comply with the conditions, on which we would have permitted her to be yours, when you were last in Italy This is her oivn proposal Made at her own motion She is afraid it will be to no purpose (she says afraid, Sir): but as you have not denied her to herself, she begs I will put the question to you ra her name, for the sake (if you should refuse her) of her own future tranquillity of mind. The Chevalier Grandison is generous; he is just; he is polite: he cannot but receive this motion of my child by her mother, as the greatest condescension from both.

I bowed. I was going to speak; but they all severally broke in upon me.

On my knees, chevalier, said Father Marescotti, I will entreat you!

O chevalier, said the bishop, how happy is it in your power to make us all!

Surely you can, you will, you must, chevalier! said the count, if you love the dear creature, as we all suppose you do.

You will not, I hope, dear Grandison, said the marquis, refuse my daughter. Ask any conditions of us She shall be with you in England in a month’s time We will accompany her thither; and stay till you shall choose to return with us.

Jeronymo, with sobs, caught my hand as I sat next him For God’s sake, for my sake, for all our sakes, for your soul’s sake, my Grandison, be ours. Let your Jeronymo call you brother.

If my tears, if my prayers, have weight, said the marchioness, let me call down my child, and she shall give you her hand in our presence. She thinks, besides the regard she has for your soul, that she ought to iusist upon the terms on which we would have consented to make her yours, in gratitude for our compliance with her wishes.

Dearest Grandison! rejoined the bishop, refuse not my sister: refuse not the daughter of the Mar-chese and Marchesa della Porretta: refuse not the Assenting Clementina.

They were all silent; their eyes were upon me*