cards and dice could no longer occupy his mind, ordered post-horses, and in lefs than forty-eight hours arrived at the feat of his friend lord W. in Caernarvonshire, to confult on the propereft method of making proposals to the lady who had caused such cruel devastation.

It was agreed that a very gallant addrefs to Mifs Powerscourt fhould be inclosed in a respectful letter to fir William; and, to give the proceedings more weight, lord W. offered to be courier. He found the father and daughter têteà-tête the latter rofe on his announcing particular business; but on his adding, with a fignificant look, that it concerned lord Monteith, fhe feemed rather to loiter in her attempt to leave the room. "Stay, my dear love, if you like it better," faid fir William, "for I have no fecrets from you." The permiffion was very agreeable; fhe walked to the oppofite

oppofite window, and feemed only occupied in playing with her favourite Italian greyhound, while her father was circumspectly examining the feal of the packet, and decyphering the armorial honours of the Macdonalds.

"Here is a letter too for you, Geral dine," said fir William. She turned to receive it; but encountering the eyes of lord W. the livelieft confufion was imprinted on her countenance. She would have given the world to escape the explanation, which, but a moment before, fhe was impatient to hear. Luckily a fervant announced the arrival of Mifs Evans, and the haftened to receive her friend, while lord W. as he attended her to the door, politely whifpered that her triumph was complete, and entreated her to be as merciful as she was invincible.

Sir William had by this time perufed his letter, and funk into a profound reverie, from which he was roused by the culogium which lord W. pronounced on the rank, talents, fortune, and connexions of his noble friend, the warmth of his. attachment, and the uncommon excellencies of Mifs Powerfcourt.

Though fir William liftened with the moft delighted attention to the panegyric on his daughter, he discovered great uneafinefs during the defcription of lord Monteith's paffion; and, as foon as lord W. had ended his harangue, he expreffed his hopes that the account was not quite true. His noble guest took fire at the imputation of exaggeration, and CORfirmed every thing he had before afferted with violent proteftations.

"Then I beg your lordship's par"don," faid fir William; " and I do "affure you, that I had not the smallest

"defign

<< design of offending; for, I dare fay, you never told me more than what you thought was truth; and very pof

fibly lord Monteith may think fo too. "Young men and women are apt to

suppose themselves in love, and I "hope it is no more in the present cafe; "for I fhould be very forry to have my girl make a worthy gentleman "miferable."

Lord W. pleaded that his noble friend was certainly one of the first matches in the kingdom.

"Undoubtedly," replied fir William; "and yet, no difparagement to the Mac"donalds, the Powerfcourts are quite "as ancient and refpectable. But, to tell

you the truth, I am not very fond of "lords, at least not for fons-in-law. Ge-> "raldine will have enough if her husband "has not a fhilling, and I would rather " she should beftow herfelf upon fome << worthy

VOL. I.

G

"worthy man who would keep up my

family, than fink my name and fortune " in that of any peer in the three king

"doms."

Lord W. observed, that by a suitable arrangement in the marriage-writings the family name might be preserved.

Sir William rather fretted at these

expedients. "I have told you, my

"lord," faid he, " that I think very well "of the Macdonalds; it is an antient

name, and an honourable family; it "has given birth to a great many true "lovers of their country; but I hope "lord Monteith will not be offended "with me, if I fay that I prefer my own. "In fhort, my lord, there is a young man "whom I think of for Geraldine; and "a great bleffing, let me tell you, fhe "will be to him."

Lord W. recollected a young man of the name of Powerfcourt, whofe educa