following words 'Sir," said I,'" having conceived a very high opinion of miss, and imbibed a strong desire of exchanging a bachelor state for the more eligible one of husband, I resolved on this visit to you, in order to obtain the young lady in marriage. Now, sir, as I like to be open and above board, before I left home I took the exact statement of what I was worth, which (taking a paper from myocke) you may see, sir, are so manyounds, shillings, and pence: now, as by this statement you find I am worth a pretty considerable sum, you cannot be surprised if I expect you will give your daughter in proportion." "Not a farthing!" interrupted he;" her grandfather left her independent of me, and independent she shall still remain. All my fortune shall be divided between her sisters, who were overlooked by the doting grandfather." Whilst I was thinking of a proper answer, and lamenting in my mind the hard case of the young lady, she suddenly arose, and making me a very low curtsey, Sir," said she, "I am not to be sold ;" and instantly left the room. It is impossible to describe the surprise and rage I felt on this treatment. The father, who burst into a fit of laughter, was going, doubtless, to insult me still further; but looking through the window, I glanced a stage coach passing for London; so snatching up my hat and stick, without saying a word, I ran out of the house, and, mounting the top of the machine, was out of sight in an instant. Thus ended my first and last courtship; for never will I again subject myself to the insult of another woman. She may, however, repent it, for I find she is married to a country gentleman, as he is called, who keeps a good deal of company; so, perhaps, he may bring her noble to

ninepence, and serve her right too, for refusing a man that would have preserved her fortune, and left her a rich widow.'

Had my brother given the history of his whole life he could not more effectually have drawn his character: this one transaction is so strongly marked with ignorance, avarice, and insensibility, that it shews at once the whole complexion of his mind; nor will in future any meanness or absurdity he may be guilty of be wondered at.

This story, being told with much circumlocution, and many interruptions from the operations of the pipe, which he continued using the whole time, lasted till supper was announced. Nothing particular passed at this meal. Jerry ate very heartily, but behaved very well: brother was in high spirits; and, when the cloth was removed, gave us an old bachelor's song, at the request of Mrs. Ambrose. Come,' said he, when he had done, you may give us an old maid's ditty.' With this polite request she instantly complied, and sung

said

In the days of my youth shall it ever be A nymph so engaging shall die an old maid ?"

She then called on her brother, who gave us Free from bustle, care, and strife.' The colonel called on Maria, and she sung For tenderness form'd;' and I thought she never sung so sweetly. The colonel seemed quite enchanted; and I happening to say Your good mother had instructed us in playing on the piano forte,' he whispered me he would send us one the next day, which he accordingly did.

At twelve o'clock my brother took his leave with Jerry, saying he should come again soon. After they were gone, the colonel requested an

other song from Maria. She sung Old Robin Grey: the colonel, having never heard it before, was much affected he sighed, and was so absent, that he sat five minutes after she had finished without speaking. 'Brother,' said Mrs, Ambrose,' we will leave you to your meditations;' and took up the candles to retire with us.

I beg pardon,' said he; but this little ballad has affected me.' 'I will never sing it again,' said Maria.

Say not so, my dear Maria: whatever you sing cannot but be pleasing to me.'

As soon as we were retired I said to Maria, I wish you had not sung Robin Grey.'-'I wish so too,' said she. And I cannot think,' said I, why you did it, unless it was to make the colonel think you was about to make the same sacrifice as Jenny did.'

'Nay, I don't know; but he certainly looked very grave.'

Dear! how could I be so inconsiderate! I know not how it was, but I felt an unconquerable inclination to sing it.'

'Yes,' said I, and to hum it about the house all day long, when you are alone.'

She blushed; and, seeing her confused, I forbore saying more on the subject. But this little circumstance has dwelt on my mind ever since. I observe with much uneasiness the increased dejection of her spirits. There must be a cause, and I own I am persuaded a secret attachment to Charles is preying on her, and she is struggling to overcome it. Pray Heaven she may succeed, for her interest and happiness depend on it.

I was surprised the next morning to find the colonel was not to break

fast at home; he was gone out on business, his sister informed us. Maria was very low all breakfasttime. Mrs, Ambrose rallied her on it. 'My brother,' said she, will be highly gratified when I inform him the alteration his absence makes in you.' She entertained us with playing on the harpsichord, of which she is complete mistress. Į expected the colonel every minute: at length he arrived. I thought I discovered an air of dejection in his countenance; he however assumed the same easy cheerful manner as usual. Maria could scarcely summon resolution to look up; but he took no notice of her confusion We took our leave about one o'clock, and the colonel insisted on our going home in the chariot. As he led us to it, he informed Maria he was going for a week on a shooting party, and should be much obliged to us if we would bear his sister company in his absence. She told him she had with pleasure con sented so to do, if our brother could spare us. He looked pleased, and said he had already secured that.

I will now conclude this long letter, with a request to hear from you soon. Best respects to your mother, and am, affectionately, yours, H. VERNON

LETTER XVII,

Mrs. Ambrose to Colonel Ambrose.

I CAN truly say this is the first time I ever took up my pen to write to my dear brother with reluctance. To communicate unpleasing intelligence to those we love, is of all employments the most irksome. But I will not make a long preface to my information, which I doubt not you have already guessed at. My dear brother must think no more of misa Vernon as a wife. These two

should reside in the same house with my two charming friends, and not have a predilection for one of them?' Maria took not her eyes from her work. What say you, Harriet, to this?' said she.

What do you say, Maria?

I protest I have no other partiality for Charles than as a friend, nor have I ever conceived he enter tained 'any other for me.'

'Come,' said I, we will not dwell on the subject in this way: I consider you both as frank and ingenuous; don't on this occasion give me reason to doubt it. I have long observed, with deep regret, the melancholy of my dear Maria: it is natural I should search in my own ideas for a cause. This young man is, by all accounts, extremely amiable: what if I should say his merit has made an impression on

Oh! stop, madam,' interrupted Maria have I not engaged myself to your worthy brother, and can I prove ungrateful for his kind partiality to me?'

Who,' resumed I, can command their affections? It is no fault to prefer one object to another; but it is a fault to give your hand with out your heart."

The dear girl caught my hand, and agitated beyond descriptionNo, my dear madam,' said she, 'I will have no reserves to you. But I do not deserve your kind solicitude. I have been guilty of an error in the highest degree reprehensible. I have promised to become the wife of colonel Ambrose, and

'You have given your heart to Charles Wentworth,' interrupted I.

'May I endeavour at an extenuation of my fault? I knew not half my affection until he quitted England. His absence I then found almost insupportable. One moment I resolved to lay before you and your brother my weakness, and the next

resolved to conquer that weaknessa Alas! I know not what to do: to be ungrateful to your brother, and forfeit my promise, I cannot bear the thought of; but to give him my hand under such circumstances is impossible.'

Nor would he accept it,' said I. He has long suspected the cause of your anxiety, and it is by his desire I entered on the conversation. Do not, my dear girl, distress yourself: my brother is generous and candid."

I know he is,' replied the weeping Maria, but he will despise me; he will cease to be my friend."Then turning to Harriet- My sister too will despise me. I have set her a pattern of duplicity.'

Impossible! said she, and embraced her. My Maria is my pattern in every thing.'

It would be endless to repeat all that passed between us on this occasion. I promised to write to you by the next day's post. I endeavoured to argue Maria out of her passion for this young man, which really ap pears to me an unfortunate one; but it seems to have taken a lasting root in her heart. She is only anxious at present to acquit herself in your eyes of ingratitude and caprice.-He retains, and ever will retain,' said she, the second place in my heart : would I could bestow on him the first!'

I am not at a loss to guess what your determination will be; but I hope, in parting with Maria, you will not part with your peace of mind. You are past the romantic age. Give me your advice how to act in regard to the brother, for to acquaint him with all the truth must not be. His narrow soul is totally incapable of comprehending such refined delicacy as Maria's; and were he acquainted with it she would be subject to his anger, and perhaps resentment.-Adieu, my dear brother! Be assured I most tenderly