that have such a trifle for their object, give place to mine, that have so much at rifque." "Where am I?" faid Henry within himfelf. "What is become of the refolution I had taken ?"

SIR

CHAPTER X.

Symptoms of falling in Love.

IR Roger Manftock had no fooner fet out, attended by Henry on Ifabella's favourite mare, when Zachary Cawdle fummoned old Betty to the door, and at that inftant recol lected a fall packet he had in charge from Lady Crowbery, to deliver to her fon: vexed at himself for his forgetfulness, he faw no better way of redeeming his neglect, than by putting it into Mifs Manítock's hands, requefting her to give it to Henry on his return he then took his leave, and departed, having a patient or two to vifit by the way.

Ifabella retired to her chamber; fhe took up a book, opened it at random, run her eye over two or three pages, and threw it aside; she was not in the humour for reading. Sufan

was

was difpatched for her work-bag; fhe rummaged it for fomething to employ herself upon; nothing fuited her fancy, though feveral things prefented themselves to her choice; the bag fared no better than the book; both were difcarded.

"I am just now," faid fhe to Sufan," in that fort of humour, when one can fix to nothing, and yet I want fomething to occupy, me.”—She then began to examine the little packet fhe had in charge for Henry; the could perceive that it contained a ring; it puzzled her to divine what Lady Crowbery could intend by fuch a prefent: fhe put it into her purse, and for fome minutes fat filent and thoughtful; then directing her eyes to Sufan, who was employing herself in fome arrangements of the toilet, "I am convinc'd," she cried," that Henry has an excellent heart. I begin to think, Sufan, that though it is a very foolish thing to fall in love, and every girl's duty to guard herself against fuch idle, notions, yet in your cafe, I can fuppofe, it was hardly to be avoided, where you had fo many opportunities of knowing the good qualities of that engaging young man: it is not every body can be content only to admire and approve

approve a perfon and character like his."-" I hope, Madam," replied Sufan, " you will not think the worse of me for owning that my heart is capable of love."

The conference was now fairly opened; by Sufan, with a defign to probe the heart of her fair mistress; by Ifabella, innocently, incautioufly, and with no other motive, but for the prefent relief of certain new and hitherto unexperienced fenfations, of which she neither knew the real nature or extent.

To Sufan's frank appeal above recited, fhe candidly replied "No, no, I don't altogether condemn you for being capable of love, but I am afraid you have beftow'd your love upon one, who is not fufceptible of the like paffion: I take Henry to have a mind fuperior to the weakness of liking any woman, but as a friend."

"To the weaknefs of liking me in any other light," Sufan modeftly replied, "he is certainly fuperior; I know the little fervices I did him in his diftrefs are rated by him above their value, for he has a grateful and a feeling heart; too generous to treat me with unkindness, too fincere to deceive me with falfe pretences; for what am I, to afpire to a perfon

3

person of Mr. Henry's fort, conscious as I am that he is of high birth, with fuch talents, fo accomplish'd, and with fo fine a person."— "He has indeed a very fine perfon," repeated Ifabella." I have never feen his like," resumed the other." But you yourself are very handfome," faid the lady, furveying her with a gracious fmile." I handfome!" faid the damfel, affecting a furprise at a compliment, which had been repeated to her a thousand times; "furely, Madam, you are laughing at me; fuch a clownish girl as I am can have no charms for Mr. Henry".-" Didn't I tell you," faid Ifabella, " he had no heart for love ?". "It would he happy for him if he had not," Sufan answered; " for I am afraid his love is. likely to produce nothing but forrow and difappointment."

Ifabella eagerly demanded what she meant"Pardon me,” replied Sufan, "I must not explain myself; neither fhou'd I have ventur'd to fay a word on the fubject, if I cou'd have conceiv'd what was fo plain to be seen cou'd have efcap'd your notice. I am fure he wou'd be very angry with me, was he to know that I prefum'd to hold fuch difcourfe with you, Madam; but I fhou'd indeed have thought, that of

all

all perfons living you wou'd have been the laft to doubt if he had a heart for love. Alas! he only loves too well for his future peace and quiet, and, I fear, he will live to rue the day that ever he came within the walls of Manstock House."

"Heaven in its mercy forbid !” cried Ifabella, "that any thing fhou'd befal him in this houfe, that might caufe him to regret the coming into it! I am fure, if I am innocently the occafion of it, fooner than be the means of bringing him into mifery and misfortune, I wou'd, I wou'd" Here fhe faultered, not daring to complete the fentence as her feelings dictated it. The intelligent waiting - woman well understood her embarraffment, and prompted her to a conclufion, which, at the fame time, she knew was far fhort of her meaning." You wou'd pity him," she said."From my foul," cried the lovely Ifabella, with an agitated air and accent; "I wou'd run away and hide myself, if I thought what you allude to was the cafe, and that my prefence gave him pain.""That can more properly be done on his part," faid Sufan " and if I may venture to guess at his fate, that fad remedy will very fhortly be reforted to."

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