bestowed upon an independent and personable man in London, can never flatter any but a trifler, who values himself only as he is conspicuous; but where the social feelings are called into action, and a man feels his own importance in a circle which his reason must approve, he yields to the Soothings of unfashioned friendship, and is amiably alive to all the happiness of his situation; but the least diminution in his prerogative, the introduction of a competitor, sensibly affects his pride.

This trait in the manly character would be disowned by thousands who are at the moment acting under its influence. Yet it were folly to refute the charge; and happy would it be for this lordly creature, if he possessed not a vanity more objectionable than that of wishing to be estimated where. it is honourable to be esteemed.

Wentworth had passed the morning with the Beverlys, and was riding slowly up the avenue to Adderfield, when the appearance of a travelling carriage, from which the

horses

horses had been loosed, attracted his attention. Sidney inquired who had arrived during his absence?

"Lord Osterly and Mr. Supple,” said Watkins, the butler, as our hero passed on to the sitting-room of sir Ormsby..

A confused idea of the probable cause of his lordship's visit crossed his mind. He believed Mrs. Marnley capable of exerting a very extensive system of speculation; and that lord Osterly, who was a light and inconsiderate young man, would take great pleasure in any plan of the kind...

"Sidney," said the baronet, as Wentworth entered the room, "here are two of your friends."

Sidney welcomed his lordship with politeness, while towards Mr. Supple, he observed a more marked, yet respectful de

meanour.

"You are surprised," said his lordship; "but, my dear uncle-elect, I could not think of passing so near the Hall without making my bow with due submission.".

Mr.

1 Mr. Supple smiled. His smiles, like the whispering echo, were ever waiting on the alast sound.

as

"You distinguish me by a title to which I never gave a thought, or can have a claim,' said Wentworth; "so pray, my lord, be sincere, and tell me that you knew I was at home, and thought I should be glad to see you."

"Poh! this is folly," replied lord Osterly. "Wentworth, you are considered a very blunt fellow. I have broken the ice," continued the peer. "Sir Ormsby has heard from me a most interesting detail of your very delicate situation; so you need not deny it."

"Had there been the most remote foundation for the report to which

said Sidney,

you allude,"

my father would have heard

it from me; but—"

6

"This is devilish odd," said the peer, turning to Mr. Supple.

"Excessively so," my lord; "but that

amiable feature of character which

you at

tribute

tribute to Mr. Wentworth, by the term of bluntness, I beg to observe that the ingenuousness of his reply wholly does away the delusion. The lady has calculated erroneously."

Impossible," said lord Osterly. "My dear sir," addressing the baronet, "can it be believed that a young widow, with three thousand per annum, and a person really above mediocrity, should have been so blindly infatuated as not to feel her own importance?".

"We are traversing dangerous ground," replied sir Ormsby. "A woman's fame is

of a texture so delicate as to claim our forbearance, even where our conclusions may be supposed to be accurate. All unmarried men are the property of the ladies. I hope very few are purchased; and for my son, I confess, while I feel assured of his confidence in all cases which relate to a parent, I do not hesitate to say that I should prefer the daughter who had not known a first love."

"There

"There is infinite justness and delicacy in your remark," said Mr. Supple; "and the pretensions of Mr. Wentworth to such a distinction cannot be doubted.”

Sidney regarded the speaker with a stern countenance; and turning to lord Osterly, proceeded to ask some questions concerning their mutual acquaintance.

"The town is full of fascination at this moment," replied his lordship; "and I ought to account for my migration. Positively, Wentworth, you are one of the causes which propelled my visit to the shade. The fair widow actually languishes for your return; and I half-promised her that I would whisper the gentle truth in your ear. But the ostensible motive of my journey was to pay my respects to Beverly's bride. I hear she is devilish handsome; and I wish to make my observations, and carry the report into a certain circle, for the pure purpose of exciting envy, malice, &c. &c."

"A most benevolent intention," said Wentworth, smiling, "though scarcely in