He had not fat long, before he began to compliment me on my looks, &c. &c. &c.

I bowed, and, without taking farther notice of the common-place praise, started another subject. He did not answer my lead, but réfumed the stale strain.

Why, you told me, all this laft night, my lord," said I. "Are you furprised that I look as well in the morning as I did in the evening ?"

To this he replied, at first, with the smile which is his ufual refource when he has no other answer ready. And, after recollection, he added, with an obfequious gefture, and in a tone which appeared to me rather ridiculous, though certainly intended to be very captivating, "That he thought me charming at all times; that "But I need not repeat what he faid; you have had it all addressed to yourself, my dear, twenty times, by twenty different men.

Pray, my lord," faid I, interrupting him, "did you never feel remorfe, for try

ing to render the brains of women more giddy than they naturally are, by flattery?"

"I know one woman," said he, bowing very obfequiously, "to whofe merits I cannot do even justice."

"Leave the woman then," replied I, laughing, "to do justice to herself; fhe is probably fully apprised of all the merit that really belongs to her. Her faults, indeed, may escape her difcernment; but, believe me, my lord, it is a thousand to one that the most minute of her good qualities will not.”

I remember I spoke this in a very gay manner. How it ftruck the man I know not; but, with a vivacity unusual to him, he fwore I was irrefiftible, feized my hand, and, before I could difengage it, proceeded to other liberties.

Forcing myself from him, I rung the bell twice, very brifkly. He ftood difconcerted. When the fervant entered, I pronounced, with as much coolness as I could affume, -"his lordship's carriage.".

"I walked hither," faid he, with a difturbed voice.

I nodded to the footman to retire; which, when he had done, I replied,-" Your lordfhip may return in the fame manner.”

He began an apology; but, before he had finished, I left the room.

When my aunt returned, I made no men, tion to her of what had happened; nor fhall I to any other perfon.-I hope we shall fee no more of his lordship; and I fhall, with patience and refignation, bear being pitied by my aunt and others, as one of those unfortunate nymphs, who, after having entertained ambitious hopes, have been forfaken by highborn faithlefs fwains. The lamentations of my aunt will be fincere: those of fome other of my female friends, who, I could easily perceive, saw his lordship's attentions to me with envy, will be uttered with the accent of forrow, and the sensation of joy.

Yet, people are fo dexterous at finding excuses for their own conduct, and so ready to

cenfure that of others, that, I dare fay, his lordship thinks I behaved like a coquette at the beginning of this bufinefs, and like a prude at the conclufion. I regard not what he and many others may think; but, as I diflike both these characters, it is of importance to me that my friend, and only confidant in this tranfaction, should be fatisfied that I was actuated by the spirit of neither. You cannot but have obferved, my dear, that when I relaxed a little in appearance from the indifference I really felt for this lord, on my first getting acquainted with him, it was not from a spirit of coquetry, but merely to vex lady Deanport, who, I perceived, was dreadfully out of humour at her fon's attentions to me, and I had no other way of retaliating on her for the malicious style in which she spoke of lady Diana. When I afterwards had reafon to believe that I had been misinformed with regard to her, and knew his intentions regarding young Denham, my behaviour was ftill lefs prompted by coquetry, but entire

ly by genuine good-will, as it would hav been towards any man of his rank, for whom I had no other fentiment.

As for the imputation of prudery, that gives me ftill lefs concern; for, although his lordship's behaviour in the coach was equivocal, and the liberties he attempted next day of no very heinous nature, yet I could not help confidering the fecond as an explanation of the firft. Perhaps in this I may be mistaken; but the very circumstance of his rank in life, which had increased my sense of obligation for his friendly conduc regarding Mrs. Denham's family, and which foftened my behaviour to him, had a contrary effect when he attempted liberties which I should have repelled in any man, but which ought to be more guarded against from a man of rank than another, and which excite greater indignation, because the idea he himself entertains of his high birth may be the fource of his presumption.