an increased family, or the probable
contingencies of Fate. For though Fortune may often slacken her wheel,
there is no spot in which she suffers it to be wholly still.

It was now the middle of September, and by the end of the ensuing month
it was agreed that the spousals of the lovers should be held. It is
certain that Lester felt one pang for his nephew, as he subscribed to
this proposal; but he consoled himself with recurring to a hope he had
long cherished, viz. that Walter would return home not only cured of
his vain attachment to Madeline, but of the disposition to admit the
attractions of her sister. A marriage between these two cousins had
for years been his favourite project. The lively and ready temper of
Ellinor, her household turn, her merry laugh, a winning playfulness
that characterised even her defects, were all more after Lester's secret
heart than the graver and higher nature of his elder daughter. This
might mainly be, that they were traits of disposition that more reminded
him of his lost wife, and were therefore more accordant with his ideal
standard of perfection; but I incline also to believe that the more
persons advance in years, the more, even if of staid and sober temper
themselves, they love gaiety and elasticity in youth. I have often
pleased myself by observing in some happy family circle embracing
all ages, that it is the liveliest and wildest child that charms the
grandsire the most. And after all, it is perhaps with characters as with
books, the grave and thoughtful may be more admired than the light and
cheerful, but they are less liked; it is not only that the former, being
of a more abstruse and recondite nature, find fewer persons capable of
judging of their merits, but also that the great object of the majority
of human beings is to be amused, and that they naturally incline to love
those the best who amuse them most. And to so great a practical extent
is this preference pushed, that I think were a nice observer to make a
census of all those who have received legacies, or dropped unexpectedly
into fortunes; he would find that where one grave disposition had so
benefited, there would be at least twenty gay. Perhaps, however, it may
be said that I am taking the cause for the effect!

But to return from our speculative disquisitions; Lester then, who,
though he so slowly discovered his nephew's passion for Madeline, had
long since guessed the secret of Ellinor's affection for him, look