Whether she has or

Sir Walter may ad

opinion of herself, she will pity him. not, if she wounds, she should heal. dress himself to a hundred women, who, for the sake of his gay appearance and good estate, will forgive him his indifferent spelling.

MISS GR. The fluttering season is approaching. One wants now and then a dangling fellow or two after one in public: perhaps I have not seen enough of either of these to determine which to choose. Will you not allow one, since neither of them have very striking merits, to behold them in different lights, in order to enable one's self to judge which is the most tolerable of the two? Or, whether a still more tolerable wretch may not offer?

She spoke this in her very archest manner, serious as the subject was; and seriously as her brother wished to know her inclinations,

Sir Charles turned to Lord L-, and gravely said, I wonder how our cousin Everard is amusing himself at this instant, at the Hall.

She was sensible of the intended rebuke, and asked him to forgive her.

Wit, my lord, continued he, inattentive to the pardon she asked, is a dangerous weapon: but that species of it which cannot shine without a foil, is not a wit to be proud of. The lady before me, (what is her name ?) and I, have been both under a mistake: I took her for my sister Charlotte: she took me for our cousin Everard.

Every one felt the severity. It seemed to pierce me, as if directed to me. So unusually severe from Sir Charles

Grandison; and delivered with such serious unconcern in the manner: I would not, at that moment, have been Miss Grandison for the world.

She did not know which way to look. Lady L—— (amiable woman!) felt it for her sister: tears were in the eyes of both.

At last Miss Grandison arose. I will take away the impostor, sir; and when I can rectify my mistake, and bring you back your sister, I hope you will receive her with your usual goodness.

My Charlotte! my sister! (taking her hand,) you must not be very angry with me. I love to feel the finer edge of your wit: but when I was bespeaking your attention upon a very serious subject; a subject that concerned the happiness of your future life, and, if yours, mine; and you could be able to say something that became only the mouth of an unprincipled woman to say; how could I forbear to wish that some other woman, and not my sister, had said it? Times and occasions, my dear Charlotte!

No more, I beseech Let me retire.

you,

sir;

I am sensible of my folly.

I, Charlotte, will retire; don't you; but take the comfort your friends are disposed to give you. Emily, one word with you, my dear. She flew to him, and they went out together.

There, said Miss Grandison, has he taken the girl with him, to warn her against falling into my folly.

Dr. Bartlett retired in silence.

Lady L expressed her concern for her sister; but said, Indeed, Charlotte, I was afraid you would carry the matter too far.

Lord L blamed her. Indeed, sister, he bore with you a great while; and the affair was a serious one. He had engaged very seriously, and even from principle, in it.

O, Miss Byron! he will be delighted with you, when he comes to read your papers, and sees your treatment of the humble servants you resolved not to encourage.

Yes, yes, Harriet will shine, at my expense; but may she! Since I have lost my brother's favour, I pray to Heaven, that she may gain it. But he shall never again have reason to say I take him for my cousin Everard. But was I very wicked, Harriet ?-Deal fairly with me: Was I very wicked?

I thought you wrong all the way: I was afraid for you. But for what you last said, about encouraging men to dangle after you, and seeming to aim at making new conquests, I could have chidden you, had you not had your brother to hear it. Will you forgive me? [whispering her.] They were the words of a very coquette; and the air was so arch!-Indeed, my Charlotte, you were very much out

of the way.

So!-Every body against me!—I must have been wrong indeed

The time, the occasion, was wrong, sister Charlotte, said Lord L. Had the subject been of less weight, your brother would have passed it off as pleasantly as he has always before done your vivacities.

Very happy, replied she, to have such a character, that every body must be in fault who differs from him or offends him.

In the midst of his displeasure, Charlotte, said Lady L-, he forgot not the brother. The subject, he told you, concerned the happiness of your future life; and, if yours, his.

One remark, resumed Lord L I must make, to Sir Charles's honour: (take it not amiss, sister Charlotte :) not the least hint did he give of your error relating to a

certain affair; and yet he must think of it, so lately as he has extricated you from it. His aim, evidently, is, to amend, not to wound.

I think, my lord, retorted Miss Grandison, with a glow in her cheeks, you might have spared your remark. If the one brother did not recriminate, the other needed not to remind. My lord, you have not my thanks for your

remark.

This affected good Lady L. Pray, sister, blame not my lord: you will lose my pity, if you do. Are not we four united in one cause? Surely, Charlotte, we are to speak our whole hearts to each other!

So! I have brought man and wife upon me now. Please the Lord I will be married, in hopes to have somebody on my side. But, Harriet, say, am I wrong again?

I hope, my dear Miss Grandison, replied I, that what you said to my lord, was in pleasantry: and if so, the fault was, that you spoke it with too grave an air.

Well, well, let me take hold of your hand, my dear, to help me out of this new difficulty. I am dreadfully out of luck to-day: I am sorry I spoke not my pleasantry with a pleasant air-Yet were not you likewise guilty of the same fault, Lady L- ? Did not you correct me with too grave an air?

I am very willing, returned Lady L-, it should pass so: but, my dear, you must not, by your petulance, rob yourself of the sincerity of one of the best hearts in the world; looking with complacency at her lord.

He bowed to her with an affectionate air.-Happy couple!

As I hope to live, said Miss Grandison, I thought you all pitied me, when Sir. Charles laid so heavy a hand upon

me: and so he seemed to think, by what he said at going out. How did you deceive me, all of eyes!

you, by your

I do assure you, said my lord, I did pity you: but had I not thought my sister in fault, I should not.

Your servant, my lord. You are a nice distinguisher. And a just one, Charlotte, rejoined Lady L.

No doubt of it, Lady L——; and that was your motive too. I beseech you, let me not be deprived of your pity. I have yours also, Harriet, upon the same kind consideration.

Why now this archness becomes you, Charlotte, said I: [I was willing it should pass so, Lucy:] this is pretty pleasantry.

It is a pretty specimen of Charlotte's penitence, said Lady L.

I was glad Lady L spoke this with an air of good humour; but Miss Grandison withdrew upon it, not well pleased.

We heard her at her harpsichord, and we all joined her. Emily also was drawn to us by the music. Tell me, my dear, said Miss Grandison to her, [stopping,] have you not had all my faults laid before you, for your caution?

Indeed, madam, my guardian said but one word about you; and this was it: I love my sister: she has amiable qualities: we are none of us right at all times. You see, Emily, that I, in chiding her, spoke with a little too much petulance.

God for ever bless my brother! said Miss Grandison, in a kind of rapture: but now his goodness makes my flippancy odious to myself. Sit down, my child, and play your Italian air.