ternefs." She could not conceive what was the meaning of his holding fuch very bad cards."

The gentleman confeffed, with every mark of contrition," that his cards had been very bad."

“Bad!” rejoined she; "they were detestable, fir I never faw any body hold fuch cards: I own I do not understand it."

"Why, madam," said he, "that my cards were bad was my misfortune as well as your ladyfhip's."

"That is nothing to the purpose, fir," rejoined the.

"I really do not know what apology would fatisfy you," resumed the gentleman; " but I may, fafely affure your ladyship, upon my honour," laying his hand on his breaft, "that I had all the inclination in the world to hold good cards."

Sir," replied the, with a look of dignity, and in the accent peculiar to herself, "I would not, willingly, call any gentle

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man's honour into queftion; but I cannot help remarking that you had good hands, and generally held two honours during the first rubber, when you were her grace's

partner it was not till you became mine that you had bad cards, and feldom a fingle honour among them. This, you will permit me to fay, feems to be a little unaccountable."

The gentleman being at a loss how to underftand or anfwer fuch an infinuation, the duchefs interfered, faying, with a gay air, "However unaccountable it may feem, I think I can explain it on your ladyship's own principles. You have often told me that the countess of Deanport's notion, that every thing at whift depends on feats, is quite erroneous. Your ladyship maintains that winning or lofing depends on what you called runs; and, that when any body is in a run of good luck at whift he often holds honours; whereas, if he is in a run of bad luck, he feldom does. The gentleman's having held honours when

he was my partner, and not when he was yours, therefore, may have proceeded from my being at present in a run of good luck, which I own is the cafe, and your ladyship's being in a run of bad."

“That will account for it, unquestionably," replied lady Afpic; "but I wish your grace had been fo good as to have informed me a little fooner of your being in a lucky run."

Why, truly," replied the duchefs, "I only began to fufpect it myself after I had won the second rubber; and I was not abfolutely certain until after I had won the third."

My brother and I were preffed by the duchefs to stay all night but he feldom fleeps out of his own bed; and, as the weather is mild, we returned to Rofe-Mount very late.

He was highly delighted with the pleasure I seemed to have taken in lady Amelia's company; and I joined very fincerely in the praises he bestowed on her as we returned. He informed me that the duchefs, who is her di

ftant relation, regretted that the continued to live fo much with her aunt, and would be happy to have more of the fociety of the one, if it could be obtained without the oppreffive taxation of the others.

But lady Amelia thinks herself under obligation to her aunt for the attention she paid her after her mother's death. That attention, undoubtedly, has been a real misfortune; but, in fpite of this, as lady Amelia knows that it would afflict lady Afpic if they were to live feparate, fhe is unwilling to propose it. And, though the probably wishes it, the duchefs thinks the will not have the refolution to make any fuch propofition; and, of course, will continue to live with lady Aspic until her marriage. This, you will naturally imagine, cannot render her more averse to matrimony; and a woman of her beauty, birth, fortune, and accomplishments, muft, of course, have had many fuitors.

On this fubject the converfation was pushed no farther; but I clearly believe that lady

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Amelia is the perfon he wishes me united to. I do not dispute that the union would do me honour; but I question much whether it would render either of us happy. She has been bred with infinite tenderness and delicacy. They fay she is of great fenfibility, and eafily alarmed. This may be called amiable; but it is dreadfully troublesome. She made an obfervation about nerves, which I own alarmed me. But I hope this is merely a plan of my brother's, and that lady Amelia herself has no thought of ever being united to me, but would reject such a proposal with disdain, if it were made to her. I have so much goodwill to her, that, were fhe to confult me on the subject, I should most fincerely give her that advice.-Adieu ! ·

J. MORDAUNT.

P.S. Just as I was going to feal this long letter, my brother came in, and told me," that he had received a note from the duchefs, in