h failed not to fill the heart with
sensations the most pleasing and satisfactory.

Mr. Bolton was occupied in attending the ladies generally, while a
genuine witticism occasionally mingling with his discourse, gave one no
mean opinion of his understanding, and increased their admiration of his
talents. He was well calculated to please; there was something
remarkably graceful in his exterior, and he exerted himself this evening
particularly to assist Alida to entertain the numerous visiters.

Bonville endeavoured in various ways to attract attention. He was
extremely humorous and gay, and the whole party was enlivened by his
vivacity. He described the folly of some of the prevailing fashions of
the town with sarcastic pleasantry, and related many anecdotes of the
gay world and fashionable life, interesting to those who had lived in
retirement. Alida could not but listen with some degree of pleasure to
his amusing conversation, and the pleasing allusions he frequently made
gradually drew the attention of the whole company.

Albert selected from the rest an interesting young lady, to whom he
directed the most of his attention, while she, pleased with his
politeness, exerted all her conversational powers to entertain him. His
father was much pleased to see his son endeavour to make himself
agreeable in ladies' society; he thought it augured a good sign, and
would be conducive to meliorate and refine his manners. He had long
wished him to close his affairs of business in the city, and settle
himself on the paternal estate. He was anxious that he should seek out
an amiable companion, of pious principles and exemplary manners, of
genuine goodness and benevolence, in whose deportment was mingled the
rays of mildness, amiability, and cheerfulness; well-meaning towards
all, blended with an unaffected ease and politeness, joined with the
usual accomplishments to complete the character of a lady.

An unusual degree of innocent amusement prevailed throughout the circle
on this evening of general joy, and all were more or less enlivened and
cheered by its salutary effects, except Mr. More, who, in the midst of
music and mirth, remained sad and melancholy; despondent reflections at
times deeply disturbed his tranquillity. In the midst of these scenes of
festivity, he was serious and thoughtful; gloomy ideas would in spite of
himself cloud his imagination, whenever his thoughts foreboded the fear
of losing the only object of his af