And are there some situations, in which a woman must conceal her true sentiments? in which it would be thought immodesty to speak out?-Why was I born with a heart so open and sincere? But why, indeed, as Sir Charles has said in his letter relating to the Danbys, should women be blamed, for owning modestly a passion for a worthy and suitable object? Is it, that they will not speak out, lest, if their wishes should not be crowned with success by one man, they should deprive themselves of the chance to succeed with another? Do they not propose to make the man they love, happy?—And is it a crime to acknowledge, that they are so well disposed to a worthy object? A worthy object, I repeat; for that is what will warrant the open heart. What a littleness is there in the custom that compels us to be insincere? And suppose we do not succeed with a first object, shall we cheat a future lover with the notion that he was the first?

But

Hitherto I had acted with some self-approbation: I told Mr. Greville, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Orme, Mr. Fowler, that I had not seen the man to whom I could wish to give my hand at the altar; but when I found my heart engaged, I was desirous Lady D-- should know that it was. yet, misled by this same notion of delicacy, I could think myself obliged to the two sisters, and my lord, that they endeavoured to throw a blind over the eyes of good Dr. Bartlett; when the right measure, I now think, would have been, not to have endeavoured to obtain lights from him, that we all thought he was not commissioned to give; or, if we had, to have related to him the whole truth, and not to have put on disguises to him; but to have left him wholly a judge of the fit and the unfit.

And this is LOVE, is it? that puts an honest girl upon approving of such tricks?-Begone, love! I banish thee,

if thou wouldest corrupt the simplicity of that heart, which was taught to glory in truth.

And yet, I had like to have been drawn into a greater fault: for, what do you think?-Miss Grandison had, (by some means or other; she would not tell me how,) in Dr. Bartlett's absence, on a visit to one of the canons of Windsor, got at a letter brought early this morning from her brother to that good man, and which he had left opened on his desk.

Here, Harriet, said she, is the letter so lately brought, not perhaps quite honestly come at, from my brother to Dr. Bartlett, (holding it out to me.) You are warmly mentioned in it. Shall I put it where I had it? Or will you so far partake of my fault, as to read it first?

O Miss Grandison! said I: and am I warmly mentioned in it? Pray oblige me with the perusal of it. And held out my more than half guilty hand, and took it: but (immediately recollecting myself) did you not hint that you came at it by means not honest ?-Take it again; I will not partake of your fault-But, cruel Charlotte! how could you tempt me so? And I laid it on a chair.

Read the first paragraph, Harriet. She took it up, unfolded it, and pointed to the first paragraph.

Tempter, said I, how can you wish me to imitate our first pattern! And down I sat, and put both my hands before my eyes. Take it away, take it away, while yet I am innocent !—Dear Miss Grandison, don't give me cause for self-reproach. I will not partake of your acknowledged fault.

She read a line or two; and then said, shall I read farther, Harriet? The very next word is your name.

I will-

No, no, no, said I, putting my fingers to my ears.-Yet, had you come honestly by it, I should have longed to read it-By what means——

Why, if people will leave their closet-doors open, let them take the consequence.

If people will do so-] -But was it so? And yet, if it was, would you be willing to have your letters looked into?

Well then, I will carry it back-Shall I? (holding it out to me:) Shall I, Harriet ?—I will put it where I had it -Shall I? And twice or thrice went from me, and came back to me, with a provoking archness in her looks.

Only tell me, Miss Grandison, is there any thing in it that you think your brother would not have us see?-But I am sure there is, or the obliging Dr. Bartlett, who has shewn us others, would have favoured us with communicating the contents of this.

I would not but have seen this letter for half I am worth! O Harriet! there are such things in it-Bologna ! Paris! Grandison-hall!

Begone, siren! Letters are sacred things. Replace it. -Don't you own, that you came not honestly by it-And yet

Ah! Lucy, I was ready to yield to the curiosity she had raised: but, recollecting myself, Begone, said 1; carry back the letter: I am afraid of myself.

Why, Harriet, here is one passage, the contents of which you must be acquainted with in a very little while—— I will not be tempted, Miss Grandison. I will stay till it is communicated to me, be it what it will.

But you may be surprised, Harriet, at the time, and know not what answer to give it—You had as good read

-Here, take it-Was there ever such a scrupulous creature ?-It is about you and Emily

About me and Emily! O Miss Grandison! what can there be about me and Emily?

And where's the difference, Harriet, between asking me about the contents, and reading them?-But I tell you

No, you shall not: I will not hear the contents. I never will ask you. Can nobody act greatly but your brother? Let you and me, Charlotte, be the better for his example. You shall neither read them, nor tell me of them. I would not be so used myself.

Such praises did I never hear of woman!-Oh, Harriet! -Such praises

Praises, Charlotte !-From your brother?-O this curiosity! the first fault of our first parent! But I will not be tempted. If you provoke me to ask questions, laugh at me, and welcome: but, I beseech you, answer me not, Dear creature, if you love me, replace the letter, and do not seek to make me mean in my own eyes.

How you reflect upon me, Harriet !—But let me ask you, Are you willing, as a third sister, to take Emily into your guardianship, and carry her down with you into Northamptonshire?-Answer me that.

Ah! Miss Grandison! And is there such a proposal as that mentioned ?-But answer me not, I beseech you. Whatever proposal is intended to be made me, let it be made: it will be too soon whenever that is, if it be a disagreeable one.

But let me say, madam, (and tears were in my eyes,) that I will not be treated with indignity by the best man on earth. And while I can refuse to yield to a thing that I think unworthy of myself, (you are a sister, madam, and

have nothing either to hope or fear,) I have a title to act with spirit, when occasions call for it.

My dear, you are serious-Twice madam, in one breath! I will not forgive you. You ought now to hear that passage read which relates to you and Emily, if you will not read it yourself.

And she was looking for it; I suppose intending to read it to me.

No, Miss Grandison, said I, laying my spread hand upon the letter; I will neither read it, nor hear it read. I begin to apprehend, that there will be occasion for me to exert all fortitude; and while it is yet in my power to do a right or a wrong thing, I will not deprive myself of the consciousness of having merited well, whatever may be my lot-Excuse me, madam.

my

I went to the door and was opening it—when she ran to me-Dear creature! you are angry with me: but how that pride becomes you! There is a dignity in it that awes me. O Harriet! how infinitely does it become the only woman in the world, that is worthy of the best man in it! Only say, you are not angry with me. Say that you can and do forgive me.

Forgive you, my Charlotte!-I do. But can you say, that you came not honestly by that letter, and yet forgive yourself? But, my dear Miss Grandison, instantly replace it; and do you watch over me, like a true friend, if in a future hour of weakness you should find me desirous to know any of the contents of a paper so naughtily come at. I own that I had like to have been overcome: and if I had, all the information it would have given me, could.never have recompensed me for what I should have suffered in my own opinion, when I reflected on the means by which I had obtained it.