exhilarating duties an
equivalent for the pleasures of the metropolis! "Surely," said I to
myself, "my mother would call _this_ consistency, when the amusements of
a religious family smack of the same flavor with its business and its
duties." My heart was more than easy; it was dilated, while I
congratulated myself in the thought that there _were_ young ladies to be
found who could spend a winter not only unrepiningly but cheerfully and
delightedly in the country.

I am aware that were I to repeat my conversations with Lucilla, I should
subject myself to ridicule by recording such cold and spiritless
discourse on my own part. But I had not yet declared my attachment. I
made it a point of duty not to violate my engagement with Mr. Stanley. I
was not addressing declarations, but studying the character of her on
whom the happiness of my life was to depend. I had resolved not to show
my attachment by any overt act. I confined the expression of my
affection to that _series of small, quiet attentions_, which an accurate
judge of the human heart has pronounced to be the surest avenue to a
delicate mind. I had, in the mean time, the inexpressible felicity to
observe a constant union of feeling, as well as a general consonance of
opinion between us. Every sentiment seemed a reciprocation of sympathy,
and every look, of intelligence. This unstudied correspondence enchanted
me the more as I had always considered that a conformity of tastes was
nearly as necessary to conjugal happiness as a conformity of principles.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

One morning I took a ride alone to breakfast at Lady Aston's; Mr.
Stanley having expressed a particular desire that I should cultivate the
acquaintance of her son. "Sir George is not quite twenty," said he,
"and your being a few years older, will make him consider your
friendship as an honor to him; I am sure it will be an advantage."

In her own little family circle, I had the pleasure of seeing Lady Aston
appear to more advantage than I had yet done. Her understanding is good,
and her affections are strong. She had received a too favorable
impression of my character from Mr. Stanley, and treated me with as much
openness as if I had been his son.

The gentle girls, animated by the spirit of their brother, seemed to
derive both happiness and importance from his presence: while the
amiable young baronet himself won my affection by his engaging manners,
and my esteem by his good sense and hi