'Indeed, ladies, I am a real mourner: but I never myself assumed a character, to which it was never in my thought to solicit a right.'

Then, madam, the world does you injustice, madum,' said Charlotte.

'Here, ladies, are the keys of the stores; of the confectionary; of the wine vaults: you demanded them not, when you dismissed me from this house. I thought to send them: but by the time I could provide myself with a lodging, you were gone; and left only two common servants, besides the groom and helpers and I thought it was best to keep the keys, till I could deliver them to your order, or Sir Charles's. I have not been a bad manager, ladies, considered as a housekeeper. All I have in the world is under the seals. I am at yours and your brother's mercy.'

The sisters ordered their woman to take the keys, and bring them to the foot of their thrones. -Dear ladies, forgive me, if you should, by surprise, see this. I know that you think and act in a different manner now!

'Here comes my brother,' said Caroline.

'You'll soon know, madam, what you have to trust to from him,' said Charlotte.

The poor woman trembled, and turned pale. O how her heart must throb!

LETTER XX.

MISS BYRON. IN CONTINUATION.

SIR CHARLES entered. She was near the door.
His sisters were at the other end of the room.
He bowed to her- Mrs. Oldham, I presume,'
Pray, madam, be seated. I sent to you,

said he.

that you might see the seals-Pray, madam, sit down.'

He took her hand, and led her to a chair not far distant from them; and sat down in one between them and her.

His sisters owned, they were startled at his complaisance to her. Dear ladies! they forgot, at that moment, that mercy and justice are sister-graces, and cannot be separated in a virtuous bosom.

'Pray, madam, compose yourself;' looking upon her with eyes of anguish and pity mingled, as the ladies said, they afterwards recollected with more approbation than at the time. What, my Lucy, must be the reflections of this humane man, respecting his father, and her, at that moment!

He turned to his sisters, as if to give Mrs. Oldham time to recover herself. A flood of tears relieved her. She tried to suppress her audible sobs, and, most considerately, he would not hear them. Her emotions attracting the eyes of the ladies, be took them off, by asking them something about a picture that hung on the other side of the room.

He then drew his chair nearer to her, and again taking her trembling hand-' I am not a stranger to your melancholy story, Mrs. Oldham-Be not discomposed

6

He stopped to give her a few moments time to recover herself-Resuming: See in me a friend, ready to thank you for all your past good offices, and to forget all mistaken ones.'

She could not bear this. She threw herself at his feet. He raised her to her chair.

6

'Poor Mr. Oldham,' said he, was unhappily careless! Yet I have been told he loved you, and that you merited his love-Your misfortunes threw you into the knowledge of our family. You have been a faithful manager of the affairs of this house

-By written evidences I can justify you; evidences that no one here will, I am sure, dispute.'

It was plain that his father had written in her praise, as an economist; the only light in which this pious son was then willing to consider her.

Indeed, I have-And I would still have been'No more of that, madam. Mr. Grandison, who is a good-natured man, but a little hasty, has told me that he treated you with unkindness. He owns you were patient under it. Patience never yet was a solitary virtue. He thought you wrong for insisting to put your seal; but he was mistaken; you did right, as to the thing; and I dare say, a woman of your prudence did not wrong in the manner. No one can judge properly of another, that cannot be that very other in imagination, when he takes the judgment-seat.'

'O my brother! O my brother!-said both ladies at one time-half in admiration, though half concerned, at a goodness so eclipsing.

'Bear with me, my sisters. We have all something to be forgiven for.'

They knew not how far they were concerned, in his opinion, in the admonition, from what their father had written of them. They owned, that they were mortified: yet knew not how to be angry with a brother, who, though more than au equal sufferer with them, could preserve his charity.

He then made a motion, dinner time, as he said, not being near, for chocolate and referred to Mrs. Oldham to direct it, as knowing best where every thing was. She referred to the deliveredup keys. Caroline called in her servant, and gave them to her. Sir Charles desired Mrs. Oldham to be so good as to direct the maid.

The ladies easily saw, that he intended by this to relieve the poor woman by some little employment; and to take the opportunity of her absence, to endeavour to reconcile them to his intentions, as well as manner of behaving to her.

The moment she was gone out of the room, he thus addressed himself to the ladies:

'My dear sisters, let me beg of you to think favourably of me on this occasion. I would not disoblige you for the world. I consider not the case of this poor woman, on the foot of her own merits, with regard to us. Our father's memory is concerned. Was he accountable to us, was she, for what each did?-Neither of them was. She is entitled to justice, for its own sake; to generosity, for ours; to kindness, for my father's. Mr. Grandison accused her of living in too much state, as he called it. Can that be said to be her fault? With regard to us, was it any body's? My father's mag. nificent spirit is well known. He was often at this house. Whatever he was, he lived in the same taste. He praises to me Mrs. Oldham's economy in several of his letters. He had a right to do what he would with his own fortune. It was not ours till now. Whatever he has left us, he might have still lessened it. That economy is all that concerns us in interest; and that is in her favour. If any act of kindness to my sisters was wanting from the parent, they will rejoice, that they deserved what they hoped to meet with from him: and where the parent had an option, they will be glad that they acquiesced under it. He could have given Mrs. Oldham a title to a name that would have commanded our respect, if not our reverence. My sisters have enlarged minds: they are daughters of the most charitable, the most forgiving of women. Mr. Grandison (it could not be you) has

VOL. II.

R

carried soo severe a hand towards her, yet he meant service to us all. I was willing, before I commended this poor woman to your mercy, (since it was necessary to see her) to judge of her behaviour. Is she not humbled enough? From my soul I pity her. She loved my father; and I have no doubt but mourns for him in secret; yet dares not own, dares not plead, her love. I am willing to consider her only as one who has executed a principal office in this house: it becomes us so to behave to her, as that the world should think we consider her in that light only. As to the living proofs, (unhappy innocents!) I am concerned, that what are the delight of other parents, are the disgrace of this. But let us not, by resentments, publish faults that could not be hers only Need I say more?-It would pain me to be obliged to it. With pain have I said thus much-The circumstances of the case are such, that I cannot give it its full force. I ask it of you as a favour, not as a right (I should hate myself, were I capable of exerting to the utmost any power that may be devolved upon me) that you will be so good as to leave the conduct of this affair to me. You will greatly oblige me, if you can give me your cheerful acquiescence."

They answered by tears. They could not speak. By this time Mrs. Oldham returned; and, in an bumble manner, offered chocolate to each young lady. They bent their necks, not their bodies, with cold civility, as they owned; each extending her stately hand, as if she knew not whether she should put it out or not.

Methinks I see them. How could such gracious girls be so ungracious, after what Sir Charles had said!

"Their brother, they saw, seemed displeased. He