resented with becoming spirit; but scandal ever improves by opposition. We once again, therefore, entered into a consultation upon obviating the malice of our enemies, and at last came to a resolution, 5 which had too much cunning to give me entire satisfaction. It was this: as our principal object was to discover the honour of Mr. Thornhill's addresses, my wife undertook to sound him, by pretending to ask his advice in the choice of a husband for her 10 eldest daughter. If this was not found sufficient to induce him to a declaration, it was then resolved to terrify him with a rival. To this last step, however, I would by no means give my consent, till Olivia gave me the most solemn assurances, that she 15 would marry the person provided to rival him upon this occasion, if he did not prevent it, by taking her himself. Such was the scheme laid, which, though I did not strenuously oppose, I did not entirely

approve.

in

20 The next time, therefore, that Mr. Thornhill came to see us, my girls took care to be out of the way, order to give their mamma an opportunity of putting her scheme in execution; but they only retired to the next room, from whence they could overhear 25 the whole conversation. My wife artfully introduced it, by observing, that one of the Miss Flamboroughs was like to have a very good match of it in Mr. Spanker. To this, the Squire assenting, she proceeded to remark, that they who had warm for30 tunes were always sure of getting good husbands: "But Heaven help," continued she, "the girls that

have none. What signifies beauty, Mr. Thornhill? or what signifies all the virtue and all the qualifications in the world, in this age of self-interest? It is not what is she? but what has she? is all the cry."

66

Madam," returned he, "I highly approve the 5 justice, as well as the novelty, of your remarks; and if I were a king it should be otherwise. It should then, indeed, be fine times with the girls without fortunes our two young ladies should be the first for whom I would provide."

10

"Ah, Sir!" returned my wife, "you are pleased to be facetious: but I wish I were a queen, and then I know where my eldest daughter should look for a husband. But now that you have put it into my head, seriously, Mr. Thornhill, can't you recommend 15 me a proper husband for her? She is now nineteen years old, well grown, and well educated, and, in my humble opinion, does not want for parts."

"Madam," replied he, "if I were to choose, I would find out a person possessed of every accom-20 plishment that can make an angel happy. One with prudence, fortune, taste, and sincerity: such, Madam, would be, in my opinion, the proper husband." "Ah, Sir," said she, "but do you know of any such person?" "No, Madam," returned he, 25 "it is impossible to know any person that deserves to be her husband: she's too great a treasure for one man's possession; she is a goddess. Upon my soul I speak what I think, she's an angel." "Ah, Mr. Thornhill, you only flatter my poor girl. But 30 we have been thinking of marrying her to one of

your tenants, whose mother is lately dead, and who wants a manager: you know whom I mean, farmer Williams; a warm man, Mr. Thornhill, able to give her good bread; and who has several times made her 5 proposals (which was actually the case), but, Sir," concluded she, "I should be glad to have your approbation of our choice." "How, Madam," replied he, "my approbation! my approbation of such a choice! Never. What! sacrifice so much beauty, and sense, 10 and goodness, to a creature insensible of the blessing! Excuse me, I can never approve of such a piece of injustice. And I have my reasons!" "Indeed, Sir," cried Deborah, "if you have your reasons, that's another affair; but I should be glad to know 15 those reasons." "Excuse me, Madam," returned he; "they lie too deep for discovery (laying his hand upon his bosom): they remain buried, riveted here."

After he was gone, upon a general consultation, 20 we could not tell what to make of these fine sentiOlivia considered them as instances of the most exalted passion; but I was not quite so sanguine; it seemed to be pretty plain, that they had more of love than matrimony in them: yet, what25 ever they might portend, it was resolved to prosecute the scheme of farmer Williams, who, from my daughter's first appearance in the country, had paid her his addresses.

CHAPTER XVII

SCARCE ANY VIRTUE FOUND TO RESIST THE POWER OF LONG AND PLEASING TEMPTATION

As I only studied my child's real happiness, the assiduity of Mr. Williams pleased me, as he was in easy circumstances, prudent, and sincere. It required but very little encouragement to revive his former passion; so that, in an evening or two after, 5 he and Mr. Thornhill met at our house, and surveyed each other for some time with looks of anger: but Williams owed his landlord no rent, and little regarded his indignation. Olivia, on her side, acted the coquet to perfection, if that might be 10 called acting which was her real character, pretending to lavish all her tenderness on her new lover. Mr. Thornhill appeared quite dejected at this preference, and with a pensive air took leave; though I own it puzzled me to find him so much in pain as 15 he appeared to be, when he had it in his power so easily to remove the cause, by declaring an honourable passion. But whatever uneasiness he seemed to endure, it could easily be perceived that Olivia's anguish was still greater. After any of these inter- 20 views between her lovers, of which there were several, she usually retired to solitude, and there indulged her grief. It was in such a situation I found her one evening, after she had been for some time supporting a fictitious gaiety. “You now see, my 25

child," said I, "that your confidence in Mr. Thornhill's passion was all a dream: he permits the rivalry of another, every way his inferior, though he knows it lies in his power to secure you to him5 self by a candid declaration." "Yes, Papa," returned she, "but he has his reasons for this delay: I know he has. The sincerity of his looks and words convince me of his real esteem. A short time, I hope, will discover the generosity of his 10 sentiments, and convince you that my opinion of him has been more just than yours." "Olivia, my darling," returned I, "every scheme that has been hitherto pursued to compel him to a declaration has been proposed and planned by yourself, nor can 15 you in the least say I have constrained you. But you must not suppose, my dear, that I will ever be instrumental in suffering his honest rival to be the dupe of your ill-placed passion. Whatever time you require to bring your fancied admirer to an 20 explanation, shall be granted; but, at the expiration of that term, if he is still regardless, I must absolutely insist that honest Mr. Williams shall be rewarded for his fidelity. The character which I have hitherto supported in life, demands this from 25 me, and my tenderness as a parent shall never influence my integrity as a man. Name then your day, let it be as distant as you think proper; and, in the mean time, take care to let Mr. Thornhill know the exact time on which I design delivering 30 you up to another. If he really loves you, his own good sense will readily suggest, that there is but