tle confusion, she said, "to conquer
an ill placed attachment, I conceive may be effected by motives inferior
to religion. Reason, the humbling conviction of having made an unworthy
choice, for I will not resort to so bad a motive as pride, may easily
accomplish it. But to conquer a well-founded affection, a justifiable
attachment, I should imagine, requires the powerful principle of
Christian piety; and what can not that effect?" She stopped and blushed,
as fearing she had said too much.

Lady Belfield observed, that she believed a virtuous attachment might
possibly be subdued by the principle Miss Stanley had mentioned; yet she
doubted if it were in the power of religion itself, to enable the heart
to conquer aversion, much less to establish affection for an object for
whom dislike had been entertained.

"I believe," said Mr. Stanley, "the example is rare, and the exertion
difficult; but that which is difficult to us, is not impossible to him
who has the hearts of all men in his hand. And I am happy to resolve
Lady Belfield's doubt by a case in point.

"You can not, Sir John, have forgotten our old London acquaintance,
Carlton?" "No," replied he, "nor can I ever forget what I have since
heard of his ungenerous treatment of that most amiable woman, his wife.
I suppose he has long ago broken her heart."

"You know," resumed Mr. Stanley, "they married not only without any
inclination on either side, but on her part with something more than
indifference, with a preference for another person. _She_ married
through an implicit obedience to her mother's will, which she had never
in any instance opposed: _He_, because his father had threatened to
disinherit him if he married any other woman; for as they were distant
relations, there was no other way of securing the estate in the family."

"What a motive for a union so sacred and so indissoluble!" exclaimed I,
with an ardor which raised a smile in the whole party. I asked pardon
for my involuntary interruption, and Mr. Stanley proceeded.

"She had long entertained a partiality for a most deserving young
clergyman, much her inferior in rank and fortune. But though her high
sense of filial duty led her to sacrifice this innocent inclination, and
though she resolved never to see him again, and had even prevailed on
him to quit the country, and settle in a distant place, yet Carlton was
ungenerous and inconsistent enough to be jealous of her without loving
her. He was guilty