e had
engaged in that of the duchess. She would not pay any attention to the
perpetual ogling with which he at first attacked her. Her eyes were
always wandering on other objects, when those of his royal highness were
looking for them; and if by chance he caught any casual glance, she did
not even blush. This made him resolve to change his manner of attack:
ogling having proved ineffectual, he took an opportunity to speak to
her; and this was still worse. I know not in what strain he told
his case; but it is certain the oratory of the tongue was not more
prevailing than the eloquence of his eyes.

Miss Jennings had both virtue and pride, and the proposals of the duke
were consistent with neither the one nor the other. Although from
her great vivacity one might suppose that she was not capable of much
reflection, yet she had furnished herself with some very salutary maxims
for the conduct of a young person of her age. The first was, that a
lady ought to be young to enter the court with advantage, and not old
to leave it with a good grace: that she could not maintain herself there
but by a glorious resistance, or by illustrious foibles and that, in
so dangerous a situation, she ought to use her utmost endeavours not to
dispose of her heart until she gave her hand.

Entertaining such sentiments, she had far less trouble to resist the
duke's temptations, than to disengage herself from his perseverance: she
was deaf to all treaties for a settlement, with which her ambition was
sounded: and all offers of presents succeeded still worse. What was then
to be done to conquer an extravagant virtue that would not hearken to
reason? He was ashamed to suffer a giddy young girl to escape, whose
inclinations ought in some manner to correspond with the vivacity that
shone forth in all her actions, and who nevertheless thought proper to
be serious when no such thing as seriousness was required of her.

After he had attentively considered her obstinate behaviour, he thought
that writing might perhaps succeed, though ogling, speeches, and
embassies had failed. Paper receives everything, but it unfortunately
happened that she would not receive the paper. Every day billets,
containing the tenderest expressions, and most magnificent promises,
were slipped into her pockets, or into her muff: this, however, could
not be done unperceived; and the malicious little gipsy took care that
those who saw them slip in, should likewise see them fall ou