CHAP. V. " It is most just. "When women sue, they sue to be denied. YOUNG. THOUGH Sir Walter was resolved to abide by the promise which he had given to Emily, he thought there would be no harm in just sounding Lord Avondel, to know how he stood affected. A cautious lover might want a little stimulus, but as to his niece's secret he knew women always made a parade about those things, and therefore he would be very guarded. He soon found a good opportunity for making his attack, as they enjoyed the sunshine of a fiue frosty morning in one of the southern apartments. "I don't mean, my lord," said he, "to ask for compliments, but I must say you are grown at least twenty years younger since you have been with us." " My health," replied the earl," is wonderfully improved, thanks to your early hours, salutary springs, relaxation from business, the absence of physicians, and those temperate habits which you say your Emily has introduced." "Your Emily has introduced!” Very good, indeed, thought Sir Walter. "And I hope" said e, continuing his attack, "that our society has done you no harm; you seem to enjoy it. This you know is liberty castle, but I observe that instead of staying in the library, which you would have all to yourself, or strolling about alone, you are generally with the ladies. Talk of turning hermit on your own estate, indeed! why you are more cut out for a family-man than any one I ever saw. I always told you, though I was an ass in company, you were born for society." "Will you always insure me such society as I find in Mandeville castle?" "Yes," replied the abrupt baronet, "if that would make you happy." Lord Avondel sighed, and was silent. "On my soul, my lord," continued his warm-hearted friend, "I wish the castle were yours. I never should have lived to possess it but for you. You have won it by your sword, and by heaven it shall be yours." "Sir Walter, how rash and unjust!” "No, not unjust, I tack a little incumbrance to it." "My generous friend, I will not affect to misconceive your purpose; but as you are a man of sense and prin ciple, subdue this extravagant impulse of gratitude. It is unworthy of you in every point of view. Any common trooper would have rendered you the same service which my situation enabled me to perform, and you put an undue value upon a chance benefit to require a young lady to reward it with such a sacrifice." "A sacrifice, Avondel?" "Yes; recollect what I have before told you of my circumstances and temper.' "But if the girl thinks differently?" "I will not hear such a suggestion. If I were such a coxcomb as to believe it possible that the young lady was interested in my favour, I would quit the castle immediately. I equally abhor taking advantage of your romantic generosity, and of the inexperience of an amiable heiress. My enemies shall never have the opportunity of saying, that having vainly tried the path of ambition, I found female-susceptibility a surer guide to opulence, especially when a sybil of twenty held the golden bough." 66 Fine talking," said Sir Walter, swinging his foot with a discontented air, who is romantic now? Keep yourself poor and miserable, indeed, to please the world, who if you were rich and gay would be very fond of you! I want to know, sir, what objections you have to my Emily ?" "None. The point between us is, she ought to make strong objections to me." "Pshaw! What if I were to sayWell suppose she makes no objec tions ?" "Again I must peremptorily forbid you to use such language. The delicacy of her manners convinces met that she would never volunteer her af |