retting it, we must not lay the blame wholly on the opposite
sex. There is doubtless too much credulity in the ladies, but this
credulity would be greatly diminished, were they more frequently met
and treated as rational beings, and they would much sooner become so:
for they would have an object in it. How much would the state of
society be improved, could there be a little reform on the side of
each sex. Let the man, as the superior, commence; he will find his
young female friends, beings capable of more than the small talk, with
which they are too generally amused; and I think they will soon be
better prepared for sensible conversation; and then let the ladies on
their part be a little more sceptical in believing the flattery and
adulation of the men, and not fancy every gentleman, who is friendly
and attentive in perhaps merely a general way, in love with her. As in
everything else, there are exceptions, here I only speak of
generalities, and I trust not with acerbity. A very little of mutual
effort, would bring about a great improvement in these matters. The
_young_ have great influence on the _young_, particularly in the
formation of character, and well for those who exercise it
beneficially.

When Sir Horace Mortimer went into the cottage, he had hardly shaken
hands than he asked Helen her mother's maiden name.

"Brereton," she replied.

"Brereton?" said he "not Anna Brereton, for she married a Lieutenant
Bateson; am I wrong then, after all?"

"Papa changed his name," said Helen, "on receiving some, property,
which we afterwards found he had no claim to."

"Then, my beloved girl, in me you behold your uncle William. You have
heard your mother speak of me."

"Oh, yes, frequently! she always said, had you been at home, you would
have brought about a reconciliation with grand-papa."

"Do you ever see or hear of your Aunt Elinor; she was engaged when I
went away, to a Mr. Selwyn, and it was thought to be a good match."

Helen told him she had received two letters from Mrs. Selwyn.

"Which two letters I must see, for I suspect she has slighted you. As
to you, my dear Mrs. Cameron, what can I ever say to you and your
worthy brother, or the kind Mrs. Sherman, I meant to have had the
Doctor with me; but just as we were leaving his door, he was called
away to somebody taken suddenly ill. Helen, there is your mother's
portrait, which was taken for me, but I sailed before it was
completed. I gave the order myself