; but he has also very
successfully exerted himself in settling Lady Aston's worldly affairs,
which were in the utmost disorder. The large estate which had suffered
by her own ignorance of business, and the dishonesty of a steward, he
has not only enabled her to clear, but put her in the way greatly to
improve. This skill and kindness in worldly things so raised his credit
in the eyes of the guardian, young Sir George's uncle, that he declared
he should never again be so afraid of religious men; whom he had always
understood to be without judgment, or kindness, or disinterestedness.

"Now," added Mrs. Stanley, "don't you perceive that not only the purity
of Mr. Stanley's motives, but religion itself would suffer, should we be
forward to promote this connection? Will not this Mr. Aston say, that
sinister designs influenced all this zeal and kindness, and that Sir
George's estate was improved with an eye to his own daughter? It will be
said that these religious people always know what they are about--that
when they seem to be purely serving God, they are resolved not to serve
him for nothing, but always keep their own interest in view. Should Sir
George's inclination continue, and his principles stand the siege which
the world will not fail to lay to a man of his fortune--some years
hence, when he is complete master of his actions, his character formed,
and his judgment ripened to direct his choice, so as to make it evident
to the world, that it was not the effect of influence--this connection
is an event to which we should look forward with much pleasure."

"Never," exclaimed I, "no not once, have I been disappointed in my
expectation of consistency in Mr. Stanley's character. O, my beloved
parents, how wise was your injunction that I should make _consistency
the test of true piety_! It is thus that Christians should always keep
the credit of religion in view, if they would promote its interests in
the world."

When I communicated to Miss Stanley my conversation with _her_ father,
and read over with her the letters of _mine_, how tenderly did she weep!
How were my own feelings renewed! To be thus assured that she was
selected for their son, by my deceased parents, seemed, to her pious
mind, to shed a sacredness on our union. How did she venerate their
virtues! How feelingly regret their loss!

Before I left the country, I did not omit a visit of civility to Mr.
Flam. The young ladies, as Sir John predicted, had steppe