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"united for the deftruction of my un

fufpecting friend."

Determined by these reflections, she addreffed Fitzofborne: "How long, "fir, have these fagacious critics fuc"ceeded in convincing the world that "their stile of reasoning was juft? My "father has devoted his whole life to "the attainment of facred learning; " and I have heard him fay, that the

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attempts of sceptics ferved but to "confirm the ftability of that heaven<< erected edifice which they fought to "undermine."

"The honour of an argument with "Mifs Evans," returned Edward bowing, "is too great a novelty for me to "decline embracing it; and I cannot " but lament that I have not been pre"viously prepared for the conteft, by "having obtained a knowledge of the arguments by which the fuperior

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"judg

judgment of Mr. Evans was decided. "I am myself a fincere friend to reli*gion, anxious for its real rights, and

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jealous of its true honour; and as

fuch I have been tempted to wifa "that fome untenable points were fairly

given up, and that the profound the"ologifts of the prefent day would fe"lect thofe paffages which bear ftronger "marks of infpiration. I confefs that "I have often felt mortified at feeing "the abilities of the order exerted in "the defence of thofe parts of the fyf"tem which were more prudently "abandoned by candid difputants."

"And I," faid Lucy," have been "mortified too, when I have seen reli"gion degraded by a mock defence."

Mr. Powerscourt exulted in the blush of honeft indignation which glowed on his Lucy's cheek, and enjoyed the temporary confufion of her adverfary. Fitzofborne

ofborne foon recovered; but, too much piqued to preserve the usual politeness of his manners, he begged Mifs Evans to have the goodness to repeat her fa ther's obfervations. They would, he was fure, be entitled to refpect; perhaps might operate to his conviction. Were they drawn from his perfect acquaintance with the Greek and Hebrew languages, or had he ftudied Syriac litera

ture ?

"I do not know," said Lucy, senfible that this attack was defigned to expose her.

"From chronology, natural philofo"phy, or hiftory? But I believe, ma"dam, you are yourself mistress of those "fciences."

Mifs Evans's colour heightened with every interrogatory. There was a large party present, and fhe felt the cruelty of thus holding her out to general

ridicule.

ridicule. She blamed her own temerity in having attacked a Proteus who could hide his native deformity in a thousand forms.

Henry felt her embarraffment too ftrongly not to relieve it. "Do not "diftrefs yourself, Mifs Evans," faid he," by endeavouring to recollect your "father's expreffions. I had the hap"pinefs of being educated under his "aufpices, and I know the value of "his opinion too well to withhold "it from thofe who defire informa"<tion."

"You were of Oxford, I think, fir," faid Fitzofborne, difconcerted by the determined coolness of Henry's manner. "Several of my friends must have "been your cotemporaries." He then enumerated a long lift, in which he took care to include the most confpicuous

young men of the age.

" My

"My time," faid Henry," was "' chiefly devoted to study, and I formed "few connections. Suppofing myself "deftined for orders, I applied closely "to the Greek and Hebrew languages, " and I made fome progress in the Sy"riac. I attended ail the lectures on "natural philofophy, and am not un"acquainted with hiftory and chrono

logy." His enumeration of the very topics on which Fitzofborne had queftoned Lucy was rendered more fignificant by the modulation of his voice.

Fitzofborne bowed, and expreffed an earnest wish to cultivate his acquaintance. The bow was returned. " I "thought, fir," added Henry, "that . you were folicitous to receive a little "information refpecting thofe argu"ments which induced Mr. Evans to "affirm, that investigation had proved " of inconceivable ufe in establishing "the

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