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but neither his friendship nor his honour would (he protested) permit him to urge his good fortune any farther. "Your temper," faid he, "is too warm; and I hope the little vexations "of this evening will convince you of "the neceffity of felf-control, or at least prevent you from trying your chance "with those who might take the ungenerous advantage of your agitation, " which I fcorn to use."

"C

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"I value not money," faid Monteith angrily! nor can the curfed cards agi"tate me. A truce with A truce with your morality therefore, Edward; when I want a monitor, it is time enough for you to "inveft yourself with that dignity."

"I am not in a refentful humour," returned Fitzofborne fmiling." I fhall "therefore very gladly refign my dignity, as you term it. Indeed, I have "been a little unlucky in the exercife

" of

"of it this evening. Yet if my well"meant admonitions are but remem"bered by my friends, the difinterest"edness of my attachment will enable "me to fupport a little tranfient acri*mony."

"Where else did you play the lec"turer?" inquired Monteith, carelessly. "Where I faw a little impropriety," replied Fitzosborne, with fuppreffed fig

nificance.

"And did you fucceed no better "than you have done with me?" continued the earl, with increafing anxiety.

"I don't know. The character I had to deal with was more guarded "than you are."

"What caused your reproof?" said his lordship, with affected eafe, and apparently occupied in forting the cards into three divifions.

"I believe nothing but the too great "nicety of my own feelings: for on re"viewing the affair, I cannot fee any "thing effentially wrong; and I begin "to think thofe rules which impofe. "fuperior caution on perfons who are "objects of public admiration unnecef"farily fevere."

"The fentiments of ladies," refumed Monteith," are generally more delicate "in these points than thofe of men. Suppofe you make Geraldine your "cafuift in this bufinefs? She will tell you if you went too far in your ad"monitions."

<<

"By no means," faid Fitzofborne, Inatching the cards. "Come, enough " of one subject. Shall we have an" other game?"

"No! I am tired; and as I love to "have every doubtful business cleared up, we will go home to fupper, and " I will

"I will mention your uneafinefs to lady "Monteith, that you may fleep with a "difburdened confcience."

Fitzofborne started. "How came

you to discover that the hafty opi"nion which I injudicioufly uttered, "really difpleafed her? Let me conjure you, my lord, by all our friend"fhip, endeavour to reftore me to her "favour, and be convinced that I can

only have forfeited it through inad"vertence."

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Lord Monteith fmiled with the confcious fuperiority which attends a fuccessful feint, and affured the alarmed Fitzofborne, that, if he would candidly acknowledge the nature of his offence, he might depend upon his interpofition.

"It really," returned Edward," was "nothing of confequence. You have "soften charged me with poffeffing a "ftoical fternnefs, and I confefs fome « of

The

"of my notions are auftere. " countess was in very lively fpirits "this evening."

"Was fhe?" faid Monteith, bicing his lips.

"I said something to her, I forget "what, refpecting the ease with which "British matrons publicly permit the "advances of notorious libertines. I

"6

beg your pardon, Monteith; I know "he is your friend: but I must own I repeated this with more energy when "fir Richard Vernon came into the <<< box. You know his notions are "avowedly licentious."

"It was very friendly of you," exclaimed his lordship, with a voice convulfed with paffion. "Did he talk to "lady Monteith in an improper ftyle?"

"By no means. Yet there was fome"what freer in his addrefs than I fhould "have approved had the lady been my <<< wife;