h he is a lord, and rich and handsome, he is
not half good enough for her. Indeed, sir, they say he is no better than
he should be."

I was thunderstruck at this intelligence. It was a trial I had not
suspected. "Does he visit here, then, Edwards," said I, "for I have
neither seen nor heard of him?" "No sir," said he, "but Miss meets him
at Mr. Carlton's." This shocked me beyond expression. Lucilla meet a man
at another house? Lucilla carry on a clandestine engagement? Can Mrs.
Carlton be capable of conniving at it? Yet if it were not clandestine,
why should he not visit at the Grove?

These tormenting reflections kept me awake the whole night. To acquit
Lucilla, Edward's story made difficult; to condemn her my heart found
impossible. One moment I blamed my own foolish timidity, which had kept
me back from making any proposal, and the next, I was glad that the
delay would enable me to sift the truth, and to probe her character. "If
I do not find consistency here," said I, "I shall renounce all
confidence in human virtue."

I arose early, and went to indulge my meditations in the garden. I saw
Mr. Stanley sitting under the favorite oak. I was instantly tempted to
go and open my heart to him, but seeing a book in his hand, I feared to
interrupt him, and was turning into another walk till I had acquired
more composure. He called after me, and invited me to sit down.

How violent were my fluctuations! How inconsistent were my feelings? How
much at variance was my reason with my heart! The man on earth with whom
I wished to confer invited me to a conference. With a mind under the
dominion of a passion which I was eager to declare, yet agitated with an
uncertainty which I had as much reason to fear might be painfully as
pleasantly removed, I stood doubtful whether to seize or to decline the
occasion which thus presented itself to me. A moment's reflection
however convinced me that the opportunity was too inviting to be
neglected. My impatience for an eclaircissement on Lord Staunton's
subject was too powerful to be any longer resisted.

At length with a most unfeigned diffidence, and a hesitation which I
feared would render my words unintelligible, I ventured to express my
tender admiration of Miss Stanley, and implored permission to address
her.

My application did not seem to surprise him. He only gravely said, "We
will talk of this some future day." This cold and laconic reply
instantly sunk my spirits. I was shocke