they walked towards the house, where they found Mr. Maitland still chatting with the young ladies; and his brother, who, upon every occafion, valued himfelf upon the strength and quickness of his penetration, with no small pleasure obferved a fatisfaction diffused over his countenance, which feemed to promise the perfect completion of his wishes.

The dinner, which consisted of only two dishes, and a pudding, was served with a neatness, comfort, and regularity often wanting at more luxurious tables: during its continuance, and after its removal, Sir George addreffed much of his converfation to Mifs Burnet, endeavouring, in spite of her natural diffidence, to draw forth that knowledge, and those just and natural fentiments which he fo much admired. She was uncommonly chearful and unreserved, to which the smallness of the party, the cafy friendliness of the vifit, and the long'

long conversation she had had with Mr. Maitland, in the morning, greatly contributed; and when she arofe, and with much grace and fweetnefs withdrew, attended by the young family, one of whom took hold of her hand, while a fecond ran to open the door, and a third playfully held up her train, he caft upon his brother a look of confident triumph, which was returned by one of much pleasure and fatisfaction.

In lefs than an hour after the younger part of the family had withdrawn, Sir George and his brother took their leave: they were scarce got out of the courtyard when the former turning half round upon his horfe, faid, Well, Harry, what is your opinion of the amiable girl we have juft parted with? I think her (replied Mr. Maitland) what you have styled her, truly amiable; and am astonished how I can have known her fo long without difcovering her merits,

merits, and feeling her attractions. You are then willing to proceed in the affair (replied Sir George?) Certainly, (anfwered his brother) if her affections are difengaged, and I can obtain fuch an intereft in them as will enable her to live with me in a manner agreeable to herself, I fhall think this day, and that which fecures her to me, the most fortunate of my life.

It is very well (anfwered the Baronet,) I have little doubt of her affections being wholly free; fhe has feen no company but fuch as this neighbourhood affords, with none of whom he is at all intimate; nor were fhe, do I know any of our efquires likely to make a deep impreffion upon the heart of fuch a girl as Mifs Burnet. Add to this, that her attention has, fince the death of her mother, which is now near five years, been much ingroffed by the care of her father's family, and the management of

the

the younger children, both of which have been intirely left to her, Mr. Burnet's whole delight centering in his books and garden. There is nothing (continued Sir George) which defends the heart from the intrufion of dangerous ideas like conftant and useful employment; and this, together with the folidity of her natural understanding, cultivated by a train of ftudy, and the acquifition of knowledge, calculated to banish romantic and ill grounded impreffions, has, I doubt not, preserved her's from those idle whims and fancied uneafineffes which common minds experience. You think then (faid Mr. Maitland) that fhe is too reafonable to love. Not fo (anfwered Sir George ;) the dutiful attention fhe pays to her father, and the tenderness with which she treats her brothers and fifters, prove her to be poffeffed of real fenfibility; and the clearer and more enlightened VOL. I.

C

her

her understanding is, the more likely will fhe be to return the affection of a fenfible and worthy husband. I am of your opinion (replied Mr. Maitland,) and fo anxious do I feel to know her fentiments upon my intended proposal, that I wish I had taken the opportunity which this morning afforded me of making it. Hold, hold, (cried the Baronet) it is an affair of too much confequence to be hurried on fo faft; there are more families in the neighbourhood who would probably receive the proposal of fuch an alliance with pleafure. Mifs Western is handfome and accomplished, and her father's eftate too much deranged not to render fuch a marriage' for his daughter highly acceptable. Suppose we finish the day with them, it will give us an opportunity of compar-. ing the characters of the young ladies; every thing should be done, in an affair like this, to preclude future regret. I

feel