"When the unhappy events, which I fhall ever deplore, deprived my beloved fifters of the best mother that ever bleffed grateful and affectionate children, and of a father tenderly anxious for their welfare, and when it became my duty to fill, as well as I could, the dear and facred character of their guardian and protector, I endeavoured to acquit myself as I thought would be moft pleafing to her, whose memory is fo dear to my heart. I will always do fo, as long as the charge is left to me; but though I am proud of being the guardian, I will never be the governor of my fifters. You are now, my Louifa, in your seventeenth year; you have a very good understanding, which wants nothing but a little more ftrength, in points that relate to refolution and firmnefs. If going this journey is agreeable to you, go my dear girl, and learn to rely, in the few instances where decifion can be required, on your own judgment to guide your own con

I

duct.

duct. It is not good to have always,. even in trifles, fomebody to lean upon;: for as, fooner or later, every body must act for themselves, the earlier an habit is acquired of confidering confequences in every point, and being directed by judgment, the fooner an ufeful character is formed. I do not love the wavering imbecility of temper, which, if long yielded to, becomes an habit; and if my Louifa has a fault, it is a little tendency to what the French call, "l'inconfequence."

"It is, in a trifling degree, vifible in your letter. Why would you not write, in your fair hand, fair and fimple truth? Then you would have faid, "Brother, I fhould like to pass the winter with Miss Goldthorp, but I am afraid you will not willingly acquiefce. I love you, brother, but, indeed, paffing a long long winter at Upwood, will be very nrelancholy for your poor Louifa, and it will be fad to be again feparated by fo many miles from

N 2

from Caroline; befides, they tell me that you have fome attachment, and perhaps may with me away; therefore, dear George, I defire to go."

I can fee through the pretty little well turned artifices in her letter, that my Louifa meant all this. I will fuppofe she had been candid enough to have said it; and I thus answer. "Go, my dear fifter, and amuse yourself. There can be no impropriety under fuch protection. "Il n'y à jamais du mal dans la bonne compagnie." A winter in the country to a young woman not feventeen, is, I own, but a melancholy sort of speculation to look forward to, and I would never willingly have you and our Caroline long feparated, for nothing is fo sweet and becoming as fifterly friendship. As to what you have heard of any attachment of mine, let me affure you, I thall never have one to any woman, with whom my fifters ought not to affociate; nor any connection that can ever make me with them away.

"But

"But where there is reftraint, let noone look for friendship; I never will: therefore, my love, restrain you, unless I fee you likely to commit fome imprudence injurious to yourself, which I think I never fhall. As a refidence in London requires more of ornamental drefs than the country, accept, my Louifa, of the enclosed trifle, in addition to your allowance. Caroline has a rich friend, and therefore I know does not need it; and now, adieu, dear fharers in my love.. Write to me very frequently, as I will to you, and whenever your vifit ends, the house and heart of your brother are open to you, and not to you only, Louifa,. but to my ever dear Caroline, who never will, I hope, fuffer herself to be ef tranged from her and your friend,

affectionate

G. D."

The letter enclofed a bank note of thirty pounds. Louifa, though a little

hurt that her brother did not believe her fincere, had yet too much pleasure in being affured of going, to reflect very deeply. Preparations were immediately made for the journey, and post-horses ordered for the next day fave one, it being fettled that the Winflow family and Mrs. Crewkherne fhould depart at the fame time.

This they accordingly did. The Doctor leaving a long formal letter, of thanks to Delmont, who, two days after they left it, returned to his own house.

The interval of his enforced absence from it, he had paffed at Mr. Armitage's, vifiting however the lodging of his new friends every day. During that time, he had disclosed to both the mother and daughter, the affection he had conceived for the latter. Mrs. Glenmorris received his declaration with joy, which she did not attempt to conceal, and Medora acknowledged very frankly, that fhe did not believe fhe ever could like

any