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"Yes," said Clarissa, "I hope so, and many many

more."

The poor lady was affected, and burst into tears.

Her daughter wiped away her tears, and took this occasion to lead her thoughts towards God; pointing out his goodness to his creatures, not only in all lesser points, but more especially in that wonderful proof of his love, the sending his Son to die for lost mankind.

The poor lady seemed to agree in all that was said; but Clarissa could not exactly tell how far she comprehended it.

After a few days, Clarissa found her poor parent so thoroughly calm and comfortable, and so contented in the society of the nurse, that she found it possible to leave her for a few hours during the twenty-four with perfect comfort to all parties. But she seldom prolonged her absence more than an hour at a time, and was sure, on her return, to be welcomed with a degree of joy which gave her inexpressible satisfaction.

All this while, Isabella was very fully engaged in new modelling her family; and as her fortune was ample, having been greatly improved during her minority by her uncle's excellent management, she resolved to assume a magnificent style of living, and to exhibit an equipage more than ordinarily splendid.

Having made her appearance in form at church, her house was speedily crowded with visitors. She gave handsome entertainments, and received many invitations in return. Thus she presently became involved in one continued round of company and engagements. Clarissa, in the mean time, was scarcely known by her sister's visitors, and was represented by many as a young person of very retired and singular habits. However, as her uncle said, she saved her money and preserved her bloom by keeping quietly at home, while her sister made a useless expenditure of both.

In this manner the autumn and winter passed away, Mrs. Danzy enjoying herself so much all the while under the gentle dominion of Clarissa and her nurse, that she looked comparatively fresh and well. Her daughter also took care to supply her with handsome dresses befitting her situation, and prevailed upon her to spend a considerable portion of her time in the open air.

As spring came on, Clarissa procured a garden-chair for her mother, in which, after many persuasions, she allowed herself to be wheeled about the garden and into the paddock, while her daughter walked by her side; and, after a little use, it was wonderful how much the poor old lady enjoyed these little excursions. There were indeed times, when, through the force of her mental affliction, she required some small degree of control: but whenever this became necessary, it was so sweetly managed by the affectionate daughter, that a stander-by could hardly perceive it.

Now after the lapse of many months, there came into the neighbourhood a certain young gentleman, the heir of a very large fortune, and a man of the first fashion in those days.

This young man was solicitous to procure a rich wife: and having heard the fame of the beautiful co-heiresses Isabella and Clarissa, he felt a strong inclination to obtain the hand of one of them. For this purpose, he took handsome lodgings in the village, and formed an acquaintance with some of the principal families in the neighbourhood. It was at a grand ball given in the vicinity, where this gentleman, whom we shall call Egerton Beauchamp, first saw Isabella. Understanding who she was, he got himself introduced to her, and danced with her all the evening.

He was a remarkably handsome man, and very fashionable in his dress and manners. It was no wonder, therefore, that Isabella, who thought of little else but beauty, fashion, and dress, should be much taken with him. Indeed, she thought so much of him, that, in the morning, when she met her sister, she could talk of no one else but Mr. Egerton Beauchamp-the handsome Mr. Egerton Beauchamp.

The same day this gentleman paid her a visit, in order to make enquiries relative to her health after the fatigues of the ball; and under some pretence or other, he continued to call every day for many weeks. During this time Isabella became much attached to him; and, supposing herself to be no less the object of his regard, she wondered that he did not make her an offer of marriage. But at the end of this period he one day, on passing through the great hall to the dining-room, met Clarissa, whom

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he had never before seen, with whose whole appearance, as well as with the extreme modesty of her deportment, he was so exceedingly struck, as instantly to resolve, if possible, to obtain her rather than her sister: and, under this impression, he could not but congratulate himself that he had not already made any declaration to Isabella. Mr. Egerton Beauchamp visited several times at the house after having first met Clarissa, without seeing her again; but on receiving information that she often accompanied her mother into the paddock, he made some pretence to go thither, where he had several interviews with the young lady in the presence of her parent and nurse, all of which she supposed to be accidental.

After this he saw her on several occasions at the mansion-house, and became so strongly attached that he could no longer conceal his regard.

Mr. Egerton Beauchamp possessed every advantage of person, manner, family, and fortune, which were likely to render him the distinguished object of a lady's regard. Neither was Clarissa by any means insensible to his merits. She saw that he was handsome-handsomer than most men she had ever seen; she thought his manners particularly pleasing; while his conversation was lively and intelligent: in addition to which, it was also plain that he loved her. "But what," said she to herself, "what is his private character? Does he fear God? is he a good son? would he be kind to my mother? I must not marry any man who will not allow me to fulfil my duties to my afflicted parent. No: the Lord assisting me, I would not accept the son of a king, if I thought he would prevent those affectionate attentions which I owe to a suffering mother."

When Clarissa had made up her mind upon this subject, she endeavoured to cast all her care upon God, and to do her duty in that particular situation in which he had seen good to place her.

It happened one day about this time, being in company with some ladies residing in the neighbourhood, that Mr. Egerton Beauchamp became the subject of conversation; when, after much praise had been bestowed upon his genteel appearance, his handsome person, and his splendid fortune, some one remarked, "What a pity it is, that he is so bad a son!"

Clarissa coloured and started, on hearing this observation, but remained silent.

Another lady, however, in the company, enquired whether it were a certain fact that he was a bad son?

"He is the only son of a widowed mother," replied the first speaker, "and there is little doubt to be entertained that he has returned her indulgence with much ingratitude."

Many facts were now brought forward to prove the truth of this assertion-facts which seemed well known to the company in general, and which, being established on strong evidence, removed all doubt from the mind of Clarissa, who from that time resolved to discourage the addresses of this young man to the utmost of her power, hoping thereby to prevent a regular declaration of his regard.

This plan of Clarissa's did not, however, entirely succeed. Mr. Beauchamp, notwithstanding her coldness, made her a formal proposal, which she decidedly declined; affection for her mother being her leading motive, and a motive of such prevailing influence as enabled her to overcome those sentiments of preference which she had felt for him, and for him only of all the men she had ever seen.

Nevertheless Clarissa could not make this 'sacrifice without some effort and many tears; although she was at length assisted to conquer her more selfish feelings, and to continue that work of love and duty towards her beloved parent which she had so happily commenced.

Mr. Egerton Beauchamp was seriously attached to Clarissa, and would have preferred her to any other woman of equal or even larger fortune: he was, in consequence, greatly disappointed by her refusal, insomuch that for some months he was unable to recover the blow. At length, however, finding that he still had a chance with Isabella, he again presented himself at the mansion; where, after a decent. time for courtship, he made her an offer, and was accepted.

Isabella was no stranger to all that had passed between her sister and Mr. Beauchamp, and it is easy to imagine that she had been extremely mortified by the whole transaction, although she secretly rejoiced that any cir

cumstance had prevented Clarissa's marrying the man whom she preferred above all others.

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When Clarissa heard that this gentleman was paying his addresses to her sister, she thought it her duty, although there was no great confidence subsisting between them, to reason with her respecting her intentions and prospects. My dear sister," she said, "I have been informed, from those who have every opportunity of knowing the truth, that Mr. Beauchamp has not been a dutiful child to one of the most indulgent of mothers, that he has long neglected her, and that he lives in an habitual disregard of her advice. And what, my dear sister, can you expect from connecting yourself with a man of this description? He who has been an undutiful son cannot be expected to make either an affectionate husband or a good father. But, independent of the misery which you yourself may incur by this connexion, think, my dear Isabella, to what great inconvenience you may expose our afflicted mother. Our poor parent relies wholly upon us for comfort, and we know that her comfort would be very materially interrupted by a removal from the apartments in which she has spent so many years. You know, also, my dear sister, that this house becomes the property of the first of us who marries: and as that which is the wife's is also the husband's, our mother's happiness will, of course, greatly depend upon the temper of the man who shall become master of this mansion. This being the case, it becomes an especial duty on our part, to use much caution in an affair of so much consequence; since the happiness of one so dear to us, as well as our own, may be speedily destroyed by an imprudent choice."

To this purpose Clarissa argued with her sister; but her arguments, as might have been expected, produced very little effect: for, as Isabella had never consulted her mother's comfort in lesser matters, it was not to be supposed that she would do so in a concern so deeply interesting.

Isabella was married to Mr. Beauchamp as soon as the settlements could be made, and the wedding-clothes and equipages procured. Clarissa appeared at the wedding as bride's maid, in company with three other young ladies whom Isabella had chosen for the purpose: she

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