r Jennings at
that time, proved an obstacle to her wishes.

I know not how it came to pass that he had not yet seen her; though he
had heard her much praised, and her prudence, wit, and vivacity equally
commended; he believed all this upon the faith of common report. He
thought it very singular that discretion and sprightliness should be so
intimately united in a person so young, more particularly in the midst
of a court where love and gallantry were so much in fashion; but he
found her personal accomplishments greatly to exceed whatever fame had
reported of them.

As it was not long before he perceived he was in love, neither was
it long before he made a declaration of it: as his passion was likely
enough to be real, Miss Jennings thought she might believe him, without
exposing herself to the imputation of vanity. Talbot was possessed of
a fine and brilliant exterior, his manners were noble and majestic:
besides this, he was particularly distinguished by the favour and
friendship of the duke; but his most essential merit, with her, was his
forty thousand pounds a-year, landed property, besides his employments.
All these qualities came within the rules and maxims she had resolved to
follow with respect to lovers: thus, though he had not the satisfaction
to obtain from her an entire declaration of her sentiments, he had at
least the pleasure of being better received than those who had paid
their addresses to her before him.

No person attempted to interrupt his happiness; and Miss Jennings,
perceiving that the duchess approved of Talbot's pretensions; and after
having well weighed the matter, and consulted her own inclinations,
found that her reason was more favourable to him than her heart, and
that the most she could do for his satisfaction was to marry him without
reluctance.

Talbot, too fortunate in a preference which no man had before
experienced, did not examine whether it was to her heart or to her head
that he was indebted for it, and his thoughts were solely occupied in
hastening the accomplishment of his wishes: one would have sworn that
the happy minute was at hand; but love would no longer be love, if he
did not delight in obstructing, or in overturning the happiness of those
who live under his dominion.

Talbot, who found nothing reprehensible either in the person, in the
conversation, or in the reputation of Miss Jennings, was however rather
concerned at a now acquaintance she had lately formed; and