ffices. "I dare not trust myself
with you just now," said she with an affectionate smile; "Mr. Stanley
will think I abet rebellion, if through my encouragement you should
violate your engagements with him. But," added she, kindly pressing my
hand; "you need not be much afraid of _me_. Mr. Stanley's sentiments on
this point, as on all others, are exactly my own. We have but one heart
and one mind, and that heart and mind are not unfavorable to your
wishes." With a tear in her eyes and affection in her looks, she tore
herself away, evidently afraid of giving way to her feelings.

I did not think myself bound by any point of honor to conceal the state
of my heart from Sir John Belfield, who with his lady joined me soon
after in the garden. I was astonished to find that my passion for Miss
Stanley was no secret to either of them. Their penetration had left me
nothing to disclose. Sir John however looked serious, and affected an
air of mystery which a little alarmed me. "I own," said he, "there is
some danger of your success." I eagerly inquired what he thought I had
to fear? "You have every thing to fear," replied he, in a tone of grave
irony, "which a man not four-and-twenty, of an honorable family, with a
clear estate of four thousand a year, a person that all the ladies
admire, a mind which all the men esteem, and a temper which endears you
to men, women, and children, can fear from a little country girl, whose
heart is as free as a bird, and who, if I may judge by her smiles and
blushes whenever you are talking to her, would have no mortal objection
to sing in the same cage with you."

"It will be a sad dull novel, however," said Lady Belfield: "all is
likely to go on so smoothly that we shall flag for want of incident. No
difficulties, nor adventures to heighten the interest. No cruel
step-dame, no tyrant father, no capricious mistress, no moated castle,
no intriguing confidante, no treacherous spy, no formidable rival, not
so much as a duel or even a challenge, I fear, to give variety to the
monotonous scene."

I mentioned Edwards's report respecting Lord Staunton, and owned how
much it had disturbed me. "That he admires her," said Lady Belfield, "is
notorious. That his addresses have not been encouraged, I have also
heard, but not from the family. As to Lucilla, she is the last girl that
would ever insinuate even to me, to whom she is so unreserved, that she
had rejected so great an offer. I have heard her express