ting quiescence of an eastern sovereign, while ladies of the first distinction declared they were dying to sit down; nor did women of real character allow these bashaws, when they broke silence, to accost them with language fit only for the haram. It did not forward the success of a virtuous amoroso to talk of former scrapes and debauches, and a wife would not send compliments to her husband's chere amie without being thought splenetic instead of pleasant and obliging. And though Lord Avondel did not adopt the then country fashion of flying after the lady with a chair for fear she should not be able to see one, or overturning the mandarins, and maiming the lap-dogs, through extreme eagerness to prevent a beauty from deranging the architecture of her tete by stooping to pick up her fan, he certainly shewed as many attentions to Emily as would furnish enough of the tender for a dozen modern marriages, and to convince her uncle that the sly girl had captivated the noble soldier. As Sir Walter had not formed his military tactics by the system of Fabius, it is not surprizing that his domestic arrangements always marched in quick time. No sooner had he persuaded himself that Lord Avondel was as much in love as became a man of his understanding, than he resolved to try if his niece meant to play the very woman by starting a few whims. He might indeed have trusted to his -own penetration, for he read enough of her heart to discover her preference, without extorting from her the confession of a predilection, which (however commendable) is always cruelly distressing to female delicacy to acknowledge. Miss Mandeville's character was frank and ingenuous, equ-* ally ardent and steady in her attachments, and timid from inexperience Little and want of self-confidence. address was necessary to extort its bosom secret from a heart thus fashioned, especially when the inquirer, her respected guardian, told her he knew Lord Avondel admired her, and that their union was the favourite wish of his heart. Sinking on her uncle's shoulder, she welcomed the intelligence with tears of surprise and joy, and after expressing some fears that she never should deserve such good fortune, confessed the whole happiness of her life depended on Lord Avondel. Then, recollecting herself, she shrunk with terror from the discovery she had made, and extorted a solemn promise from her uncle not to inflict an incurable wound on her delicacy by a premature discovery of her affection to its revered object; a promise which he readily gave, and they parted mutually satisfied with each other. 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. "You will leave us, then?" said Sir Walter. "Stay till I call Emily." "I have taken leave of her," replied Avondel, and hastily threw himself into the chariot. This sudden departure produced universal dismay; but if Miss Mandeville read in it the destruction of her newlyexcited hopes, she also received from it a confirmation of her long-cherished passion. His parting advice, which, with his wonted frankness, the baronet communicated to her, exalted his character to an eminence which almost seemed fabulous. She could no longer hope, and scarcely wished her attachment to be concealed from its object, for she felt that her delicacy was safe in his guardianship. The adroitness with which he had avoided a formal adieu, which must have made her partiality more conspicuous, the concern he expressed for her welfare, the care. |