the daughters; and their brother, a fine youth at
Cambridge, is happy in spending his vacations with his family, to whom
he is become tenderly attached. He has had his own principles and
character much raised by the conversation and example of Dr. Barlow, who
contrives to be at Aston Hall as much as possible when Sir George is
there. He is daily expected to make his mother a visit, when I shall
recommend him to your particular notice and acquaintance."

Lucilla blushing, said, she thought her father had too exclusively
recommended the _brother_ to my friendship; she would venture to say the
_sisters_ were equally worthy of my regard, adding, in an affectionate
tone, "they are every thing that is amiable and kind. The more you know
them, sir, the more you will admire them; for their good qualities are
kept back by the best quality of all, their modesty." This candid and
liberal praise did not sink the fair eulogist herself in my esteem.

CHAPTER XVII.

I had now been near three weeks at the Grove. Ever since my arrival I
had contracted the habit of pouring out my heart to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley
with grateful affection and filial confidence. I still continued to do
so on all subjects except one.

The more I saw of Lucilla, the more difficult I found it to resist her
numberless attractions. I could not persuade myself that either prudence
or duty demanded that I should guard my heart against such a combination
of amiable virtues and gentle graces: virtues and graces which, as I
before observed, my mind had long been combining as a delightful idea,
and which I now saw realized in a form more engaging than even my own
imagination had allowed itself to picture.

I did not feel courage sufficient to risk the happiness I actually
enjoyed, by aspiring too suddenly to a happiness more perfect. I dared
not yet avow to the parents, or the daughter, feelings which my fears
told me might possibly be discouraged, and which, if discouraged, would
at once dash to the ground a fabric of felicity that my heart, not my
fancy, had erected, and which my taste, my judgment, and my principles
equally approved, and delighted to contemplate.

The great critic of antiquity, in his treatise on the drama, observes
that the introduction of a new person is of the next importance to a new
incident. Whether the introduction of two interlocutors is equal in
importance to two incidents, Aristotle has forgotten to establish. This
dramatic rule