might lead directly to an explanation of his intentions, while Sir George, in a private conference with her father, should declare them in full; that they should not stay to dinner, but leave them at liberty to confult upon the proposals that should be offered them; and that the following morning a pofitive answer should be required.

This plan was regularly executed: Mr. Maitland, during his converfation with Mifs Burnet, did every thing but declare himself her lover; and from the complacency with which the received his little attentions and compliments, flattered himself that such a declaration would not be difagreeable to her. As for Sir George, his proposals were received by her father with the most perfect fatisfaction and gratitude. The old gentleman affured him that, to the best of his knowledge, the affections of his daughter were wholly disengaged;

that

that he was certain both himself and Mr. Maitland poffeffed her highest efteem, and that he had no doubts of her receiving the propofal, with which they now honoured her, with every proper teftimony of gratitude and pleasure. In cafe this fhould happen, Sir George informed his old friend that the fortune Mr. Maitland had received from his father was twenty thousand pounds, which fum he ftill poffeffed, neither increafed nor diminished; to this he proposed to add twelve hundred pounds a year, which should be fettled as a jointure upon the future Mrs. Maitland, and defcend to her eldeft fon, as his brother's fortune fhould in equal divifions to any younger children with which heaven might blefs him. He added, that as he had not himfelf the smallest intention of marrying, his brother had every right to look forward to the poffeffion of his whole fortune, which, exclufive

clufive of what he meant to refign to him upon his marriage, amounted to more than fixteen thousand pounds a year.

Such a profpect for a beloved daughter could not but be highly flattering to Mr. Burnet, the largenefs of whofe family rendered it impoffible, out of an income of little more than feven hundred pounds a year, to provide for them in the manner he could have wifhed. With the utmost ceconomy, which his accuftomary habits of living would permit him to make ufe of, he could not hope to give his younger children, who were five in number, more than two thousand pounds each, and with such a fum, the manners and difpofitions of the age confidered, they had little profpect of receiving fuch advantageous proposals as were now offered to his eldest daughter's acceptance.

The

The brothers, after their return home, spent the remainder of the day in planning various schemes, which they proposed to execute, fhould their present hope be realized. The whole ceremonial of the marriage was laid down, their future manner of living regulated, and before the conclufion of the evening, Sir George had educated half a dozen fons and daughters for his brother, in a manner altogether new, and infinitely preferable to the modern mode, and had placed them in various fituations of life, wherein he had before refpectively qualified them to fhine and add luftre to the antient family from which they were to defcend.

Amused by such pleasant and interefting ideas, the hours paffed quickly away, and it was midnight before they thought of retiring to reft. This did not, however, prevent Mr. Maitland from rifing a full hour before his accuf

tomed

tomed one, which was nine, and after dreffing with more than ordinary care, he mounted his horfe, and was at the lodge by Mr. Burnet's usual time of breakfast.

The extreme fatisfaction with which he was received by the father, and the unaffected complacency and chearfulnefs of the daughter, were to the lover, for fuch Mr. Maitland was now really become, the most agreeable prognostics of success, nor were his hopes deceived; his addreffes were accepted with that modeft opennefs which befpeaks true delicacy and understanding, and from this day a part of every fucceeding one was spent by him, and often by Sir George, at Burnet Lodge, till the arrival of that upon which (fettlements and all preparations being completed) the marriage was celebrated to the entire fatisfaction of all the parties interefted, and the utter amazement of the

whole