gaging form on which thofe eyes werę fixed; fhe followed them to the attracting point, and there fhe found enough to warrant all that rapture and delight with which they feemed infpired; fhe faw the art with which Fanny had pofted herself, heard the murmur of her voice in foft and tender tones, and marked the animation of her action, her starts, and titterings, and coquetries, to all which fhe gave meaning and matter as her fancy dictated. This was the state of her mind, whilft Cary's railleries, once fo entertaining, diftracted her attention, and Fanny was enjoying her triumph, till her father's prefence drew Henry from his corner, and diffolved the fpell.

If the gentle Isabella, with a heart thus agitated, fell fhort in any degree of her wonted candour towards Fanny, either during her converfation with her, or in the courfe of her reflections that enfued upon it, let any who have experienced fimilar fituations arraign her if they can.

"Dear Madam," cried Sufan as fhe entered the room," how pale you look! I hope nothing has happened to vex you.”—“ What fhou'd vex me?" faid Ifabeila, fighing as fhe afked the question." Nay, Madam," replied

the

the girl, "I can't pretend to fay what fhou'd vex you, unless it be that teazing mifs who has held you so long from your repose, and who, they fay, is fo forward amongst the men, that I'm fure you can't approve of her goings on with Mr. Henry."-Who tells you this?" faid the mistress; "who are they that fay she is forward with Mr. Hanry?"-" Nay, Madam,” replied the girl, "I dont't know who fays it in particular; every body fays it that faw it; if I were to name names I fhou'd pafs for an informer, and I'm fure I fhou'd be forry to make mifchief in the family, and stir up a combustion amongst my fellow-fervants; if it offends you, Madam, I will have done."

"It does not offend me, Sufan," faid Ifabella, looking graciously upon her, " nor need you have done on that account, as fuppofing what you say to me can poffibly be repeated in this family. No doubt the fervants, who waited at table, must have obferved Mifs Claypole's particularity; fhe was very unguarded to be fure."-" And very ridiculous, Madam, if I may fay fo," cried Sufan, "for every body seems to think she can do herself no good by it, and that her schemes won't take with the young gentleman, who certainly did VOL. II.

N

not

not relish her behaviour, though he was too much of a man to turn his back upon her publicly; yet they tell me he look'd very cross at times, and that I'm fure is not natural to him: I dare fay, Madam, you never faw him look cross in your days; for my part I can fafely swear I never faw a frown upon his brow, though he has had enough to vex him, poor dear foul; therefore I'll forfeit my life if this lady has not done for herself; and if ever I come cleverly to the fpeech of him, I warrant me l'll get it all out, unless you are pleas'd to order otherwife, and fee fit to forbid me."-" Why fhou'd I do that?" Ifabella replied, "fince you will speak only for yourself, and not let him fuppofe that I can have any intereft in the ftate of his heart towards Mifs Claypole; in that, you know, cannot poffibly have the smallest concern, further than as mere matter of curiofity to hear how fhe ftands with him; that is natural enough, you see, because, somehow or other, Sufan, I have taken it strongly into my head, that Henry is not over-fond of forward girls." -Sufan blufhed from confcioufness that the remark was juft, to which fhe ingenuously gave teftimony, faying, that fhe believed the world

did

did not contain his like for honour towards the fex, and true modefty of nature." I have reason to say it," added she; " for love wou'd have made a fool of me, and fomething worfe perhaps, but for his care and generous concern for me. Oh! Madam, did you but know him as I do; had you feen him in poverty and in forrow; how patient, how refign'd, of injuries how forgiving, in dangers how brave, in nature how benevolent; oh! Madam, you wou'd not wonder if a girl like me had lov'd him to distraction."

"Indeed, my good girl," faid the amiable Ifabella, blushing as fhe fpoke, "there is all the reafon in the world for loving him, and I do not wonder at you; every body that knows him must love him."-" That's what I fay," refumed fhe; "but lackaday! as for this young madam that is fo hot upon it, what is her love? mere outfide love; the love of the eye; that will never make its way with him; I am certain that my Mr. Henry will never be her man, no, not if she had a thousand pounds where she has one."-" Indeed, Sufan," replied Ifabella, "I agree with you that fortune will never be Henry's motive for making love; and though Mifs Claypole is a handsome girl, I thou'd

N 2

I fhou'd doubt if her manners are to his tafte; nay, I own to you, it wou'd very much fink him in my opinion, was he to place his regards there; and I think I may venture to answer for him, that he will not."-" Answer for him!" cried Sufan, "I will fwear it, Madam: no, no; his heart is otherwise beftow'd, his affections are more worthily plac'd; and if ever he swerves from the lovely object he adores, to trifle and difgrace himself with that vain wanton flirting Mifs Claypole, if ever he does that, I will, I will."-"Come, come, Sufan," faid Ifabella, interpofing," there is no fear of him; I fhou'd be forced to hate him if he did, and that wou'd make me wretched; but no more of this at prefent: get you to bed; we shall have a ftormy night, and upon thofe occafions I always fit up till it is over."

CHAPTER VII.

The Hero of our History is brought to Shame.

THERE was a gallery in this quarter of

the house, which had a communication

with several of the apartments, and amongst others