speaking on these subjects, not only lest I
should be _thought_ to assume, but lest I really _should_ assume a
degree of piety which may not belong to me. My great advantages make me
jealous of myself. My dear father has so carefully instructed me, and I
live so much in the habit of hearing his pious sentiments that I am
often afraid of appearing better than I am, and of pretending to feel in
my heart what perhaps I only approve in my judgment. When my beloved
mother was ill,' continued she, 'I often caught myself saying
mechanically, God's will be done! when I blush to own how little I felt
in my heart of that resignation of which my lips were so lavish.'"

I hung with inexpressible delight on every word Dr. Barlow uttered, and
expressed my fears that such a prize was too much above my deserts to
allow me to encourage very sanguine hopes. "You have my cordial wishes
for your success," said he, "though I shall lament the day when you
snatch so fair a flower from our fields, to transplant it into your
northern gardens."

We had now reached the park-gate, where Sir John and Lady Belfield
joined us. As it was very hot, Dr. Barlow proposed to conduct us a
nearer way. He carried us through a small nursery of fruit-trees, which
I had not before observed, though it was adjoining the ladies'
flower-garden, from which it was separated and concealed by a row of
tall trees. I expressed my surprise that the delicate Lucilla would
allow so coarse an inclosure to be so near her ornamented ground. "You
see she does all she can to shut it out," replied he. "I will tell you
how it happens, for I can not vindicate the taste of my fair friend,
without exposing a better quality in her. But if I betray her, you must
not betray me.

"It is a rule when any servant who has lived seven years at the Grove,
marries, provided they have conducted themselves well, and make a
prudent choice, for Mr. Stanley to give them a piece of ground on the
waste, to build a cottage; he also allows them to take stones from his
quarry, and lime from his kiln; to this he adds a bit of ground for a
garden. Mrs. Stanley presents some kitchen furniture, and gives a
wedding dinner; and the rector refuses his fee for performing the
ceremony."

"Caroline," said Sir John, "this is not the first time since we have
been at the Grove that I have been struck with observing how many
benefits naturally result to the poor, from the rich living on
their own estates. Their de