the various delights which the country affords, and the attractive fimplicity of its uncontaminated inhabitants, inspired lady Monteith with ftrong indignation against that faftidious tafte which, while it degrades the majestic operations of Nature with the epithets of ordinary and vulgar, or paffes them with stupid infenfibility, purfues the celebrity acquired by the construction of a carriage or the adjustment of a robe. Her cenfures against this petty ambition were, however, too warm to be the dictates of cool judgment, and evidently proved, that the fair declaimer had been once included in the frivolous groupe who pay a blind idolatry to popular efteem. Disappointment infpired other notions; and, guided by this new impulfe, the appeared once in her converfations with Mifs Evans to lean to the dangerous doctrines of Fitzofborne. "When I re

."flect,"

"flect," faid fhe," on the evanefcent "nature of reputation; that it is acqui"red without folicitude, and loft without guilt; that it is the fport of calumny, and "the battery from which envy mortally "wounds the peace of innocence, 1 feel "convinced that it is beneath the at"tention of a well-governed mind."

The conversation had been previously. confined to the caprices of fashion, and Mifs Evans was furprized that it shouldproduce fuch a ferious conclufion; for to this genu ne child of Nature the eclat annexed to the invention of a becoming turban, or even the honour of an innumerable party, feemed unworthy of a moment's anxiety. She therefore fixed her intelligent eyes upon her friend, and afked her to what fhe alluded in this reflection?

My own fad ftory," faid Geraldine, "is ever predominant in my mind.

"Even while I am enjoying the de"lights of these beloved peaceful scenes, "I cannot for one moment forget that "I am now a mark for public ridicule; "and I am endeavouring to derive "fome confolation from thofe fenti"ments which a gentleman, a very '" fenfible man and a friend of lord "Monteith's, has frequently fuggefted." "They can only apply," faid Lucy, "to the cafe of thofe who place their « ultimate hopes in the applause of the "world. They have nothing to do "with the well-grounded mind; which, "while it purfues the fteady path of <duty, is pleased with being encouraged "on its journey by the modeft voice of "well earned praife. Far be it from

r

me, my Geraldine, to feek to diminish

your confolations. Innocence allows "you to poffefs a very fuperior one; and while your life difproves accufa

" tions,

"tions, you have no caufe to be depreffed. Yet the watchful fufcepti

86

bility of female honour cannot but "feel every attack upon its character; "and it most impatiently longs to refute "the cenfures which its purity abhors. "Lord Monteith's friend, I fuppofe, "only made general obfervations. He "could not allude to your particular "story."

"They were the obfervations of "Fitzofborne," faid lady Monteith gravely.

"Of Fitzofborne ?" interrogated Lucy. "I have heard you defcribe "him as one of the most enlightened, "uncorrupted, and amiable of men: "the perfon too, refpecting whom your " conduct is cenfured."

་་

"It is exactly as you defcribe. He "is thus deferving, and I am fo accused."

" Does

"Does a fixed contempt for the good"will of that mafs of his fellow-crea"tures which is called the world, imply this fuperior merit? The world, "I have heard my dear father often say, judges right, but from wrong pre"mifes. It is hafty and rafh, not dif

paffionate and reflecting. It kindles "into indignation at a fpecious tale: it "loads a fufpected character with op"probrium; but however falfe its in

ference, however mistaken its judg"ment, its errors always lean to the "fide of justice and virtue. And I am "the more inclined to pay a deference "to my father's opinion, because I find "his idea of that aggregate body of "which I am an individual, confirmed by my own feelings."

"I fhall only join the general decifion "of the world, which you fo reverence," replied the countels, "when I found the

praifes