"I am glad you think so replied she, for he is distractedly in

love with you."
"Law! Lady Scudamore said I, how can you talk so ridiculously?"

"Nay, t'is very true answered she, I assure you, for he was in
love with you from the first moment he beheld you."

"I wish it may be true said I, for that is the only kind of love
I would give a farthing for--There is some sense in being in love

at first sight."
"Well, I give you Joy of your conquest, replied Lady Scudamore,

and I beleive it to have been a very complete one; I am sure it
is not a contemptible one, for my Cousin is a charming young

fellow, has seen a great deal of the World, and writes the best
Love-letters I ever read."

This made me very happy, and I was excessively pleased with my
conquest. However, I thought it was proper to give myself a few

Airs--so I said to her--
"This is all very pretty Lady Scudamore, but you know that we

young Ladies who are Heiresses must not throw ourselves away upon
Men who have no fortune at all."

"My dear Miss Halton said she, I am as much convinced of that as
you can be, and I do assure you that I should be the last person

to encourage your marrying anyone who had not some pretensions to
expect a fortune with you. Mr Musgrove is so far from being

poor that he has an estate of several hundreds an year which is
capable of great Improvement, and an excellent House, though at

Present it is not quite in repair."
"If that is the case replied I, I have nothing more to say

against him, and if as you say he is an informed young Man and
can write a good Love-letter, I am sure I have no reason to find

fault with him for admiring me, tho' perhaps I may not marry him
for all that Lady Scudamore."

"You are certainly under no obligation to marry him answered her
Ladyship, except that which love himself will dictate to you, for

if I am not greatly mistaken you are at this very moment unknown
to yourself, cherishing a most tender affection for him."

"Law, Lady Scudamore replied I blushing how can you think of such
a thing?"

"Because every look, every word betrays it, answered she; Come my
dear Henrietta, consider me as a freind, and be sincere with me

--Do not you prefer Mr Musgrove to any man of your acquaintance?"
"Pray do not ask me such questions Lady Scudamore, said I turning

away my head, for it is not fit for me to answer them."
"Nay my Love replied she, now you confirm my suspicions. But why

Henrietta should you be ashamed to own a well-placed Love, or why
refuse to confide in me?"

"I am not ashamed to own it; said I taking Courage. I do not
refuse to confide in you or blush to say that I do love your

cousin Mr Musgrove, that I am sincerely attached to him, for it
is no disgrace to love a handsome Man. If he were plain indeed I

might have had reason to be ashamed of a passion which must have
been mean since the object would have been unworthy. But with

such a figure and face, and such beautiful hair as your Cousin
has, why should I blush to own that such superior merit has made

an impression on me."
"My sweet Girl (said Lady Scudamore embracing me with great

affection) what a delicate way of thinking you have in these
matters, and what a quick discernment for one of your years! Oh!

how I honour you for such Noble Sentiments!"
"Do you Ma'am said I; You are vastly obliging. But pray Lady

Scudamore did your Cousin himself tell you of his affection for
me I shall like him the better if he did, for what is a Lover

without a Confidante?"
"Oh! my Love replied she, you were born for each other. Every

word you say more deeply convinces me that your Minds are
actuated by the invisible power of simpathy, for your opinions

and sentiments so exactly coincide. Nay, the colour of your Hair
is not very different. Yes my dear Girl, the poor despairing

Musgrove did reveal to me the story of his Love--. Nor was I
surprised at it--I know not how it was, but I had a kind of

presentiment that he would be in love with you."
"Well, but how did he break it to you?"

"It was not till after supper. We were sitting round the fire
together talking on indifferent subjects, though to say the truth

the Conversation was cheifly on my side for he was thoughtful and
silent, when on a sudden he interrupted me in the midst of

something I was saying, by exclaiming in a most Theatrical tone--
Yes I'm in love I feel it now

And Henrietta Halton has undone me
"Oh! What a sweet way replied I, of declaring his Passion! To

make such a couple of charming lines about me! What a pity it is
that they are not in rhime!"

"I am very glad you like it answered she; To be sure there was a
great deal of Taste in it. And are you in love with her, Cousin?

said I. I am very sorry for it, for unexceptionable as you are
in every respect, with a pretty Estate capable of Great

improvements, and an excellent House tho' somewhat out of repair,
yet who can hope to aspire with success to the adorable Henrietta

who has had an offer from a Colonel and been toasted by a
Baronet"--"THAT I have--" cried I. Lady Scudamore continued.

"Ah dear Cousin replied he, I am so well convinced of the little
Chance I can have of winning her who is adored by thousands, that

I need no assurances of yours to make me more thoroughly so. Yet
surely neither you or the fair Henrietta herself will deny me the

exquisite Gratification of dieing for her, of falling a victim to
her Charms. And when I am dead"--continued her--

"Oh Lady Scudamore, said I wiping my eyes, that such a sweet
Creature should talk of dieing!"

"It is an affecting Circumstance indeed, replied Lady Scudamore."
"When I am dead said he, let me be carried and lain at her feet,

and perhaps she may not disdain to drop a pitying tear on my poor
remains."

"Dear Lady Scudamore interrupted I, say no more on this affecting
subject. I cannot bear it."

"Oh! how I admire the sweet sensibility of your Soul, and as I
would not for Worlds wound it too deeply, I will be silent."

"Pray go on." said I. She did so.
"And then added he, Ah! Cousin imagine what my transports will

be when I feel the dear precious drops trickle on my face! Who
would not die to haste such extacy! And when I am interred, may

the divine Henrietta bless some happier Youth with her affection,
May he be as tenderly attached to her as the hapless Musgrove and

while HE crumbles to dust, May they live an example of Felicity
in the Conjugal state!"

Did you ever hear any thing so pathetic? What a charming wish,
to be lain at my feet when he was dead! Oh! what an exalted mind

he must have to be capable of such a wish! Lady Scudamore went
on.

"Ah! my dear Cousin replied I to him, such noble behaviour as
this, must melt the heart of any woman however obdurate it may

naturally be; and could the divine Henrietta but hear your
generous wishes for her happiness, all gentle as is her mind, I

have not a doubt but that she would pity your affection and
endeavour to return it." "Oh! Cousin answered he, do not

endeavour to raise my hopes by such flattering" target="_blank" title="a.谄媚的；奉承的">flattering assurances. No, I
cannot hope to please this angel of a Woman, and the only thing

which remains for me to do, is to die." "True Love is ever