'humour, "I must absolutely be excused; for I "will affront neither so much, as to give my judge"ment on his side." Indeed, she always shewed 'the highest deference to the understandings of men; a quality absolutely essential to the mak'ing a good wife. I shall only add, that as she is 'most apparently void of all affectation, this defe'rence must be certainly real.'

Here Blifil sighed bitterly; upon which Western, whose eyes were full of tears at the praise of Sophia, blubbered out, 'Don't be chicken-hearted, for shat ha her, d-n me, shat ha her, if she was twenty times as good.'

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Remember your promise, Sir,' cried Allworthy, 'I was not to be interrupted.' 'Well, shat unt,' answered the 'squire, I won't speak another word.' 'Now, my good friend,' continued Allworthy, 'I have dweit so long on the merit of this young lady, partly as I really am in love with her character, and partly that fortune (for the match in that light is really advantageous on my nephew's side) might not be imagined to be my principal 'view in having so eagerly embraced the proposal. 'Indeed, I heartily wished to receive so great a jewel into my family; but though I may wish for many good things, I would not therefore steal 'them, or be guilty of any violence or injustice to possess myself of them. Now to force a woman 'into a marriage contrary to her consent or appro'bation, is an act of such injustice and oppres'sion, that I wish the laws of our country could "restrain it; but a good conscience is never lawless in the worst regulated state, and will provide 'those laws for itself, which the neglect of legislators hath forgotten to supply. This is surely a 'case of that kind; for is it not cruel, nay impious, 'to force a woman into that state against her will; for her behaviour in which she is to be accountable to the highest and most dreadful court of 'judicature, and to answer at the peril of her soul?

To discharge the matrimonial duties in an adequate manner is no easy task; and shall we lay 'this burthen upon a woman, while we at the same time deprive her of all that assistance which may ' enable her to undergo it? Shall we tear her very heart from her, while we enjoin her duties to which a whole heart is scarce equal? I must 'speak very plainly here, I think parents who act in this manner are accessories to all the guilt which their children afterwards incur, and of course must, before a just judge, expect to par'take of their punishment; but if they could avoid this, good heaven! is there a soul who can bear 'the thought of having contributed to the dam'nation of his child?

For these reasons, my best neighbour, as I see 'the inclinations of this young lady are most unhappily averse to my nephew, I must decline any 'further thoughts of the honour you intended him, though I assure you I shall always retain the most grateful sense of it.'

'Well, Sir,' said Western' (the froth bursting forth from his lips the moment they were uncorked), you cannot say but I have heard you out, and now I expect you'll hear me; and if I don't answer every word on't, why then I'll consent to gee the matter up. First then, I desire you to answer me one question, Did not I beget her? did not I beget her? answer me that. They say indeed, it is a wise father that knows his own child; but I am sure I have the best title to her, for I bred her up. But I believe you will allow me to be her father, and if I be, am I not to govern my own 'child? I ask you that, am I not to govern my ' own child? and if I am to govern her in other matters, surely I am to govern her in this which ' concerns her most. And what am I desiring all this while? Am I desiring her to do any thing 'for me? to give me any thing?--Zu much on t'o'ther side, that I am only desiring her to take

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away half my estate now, and t'other half when 'I die. Well, and what is it all vor? Why is unt it to make her happy? It's enough to make one 'mad to hear volks talk; if I was going to marry myself, then she would ha reason to cry and to blubber; but, on the contrary, han't I offered to 'bind down my land in zuch a manner, that I could not marry if I would, zeeing as narro' woman upon earth would ha me. What the devil ' in hell can I do more? I contribute to her dam'nation!-Zounds! I'd zee all the world d-n'd 'bevore her little vinger should be hurt. Indeed, Mr. Allworthy, you must excuse me, but I am surprised to hear you talk in zuch a manner, and 'I must say, take it how you will, that I thought 'you had more sense.'

Allworthy resented this reflection only with a smile; nor could he, if he would have endeavoured it, have conveyed into that smile any mixture of malice or contempt. His smiles at folly were indeed such as we may suppose the angels bestow on the absurdities of mankind.

(

Blifil now desired to be permitted to speak a few words. As to using any violence on the young lady, I am sure I shall never consent to it. My 'conscience will not permit me to use violence on any one, much less on a lady for whom, however 'cruel she is to me, I shall always preserve the purest and sincerest affection; but yet I have 'read, that women are seldom proof against per'severance. Why may I not hope then by such 'perseverance at last to gain those inclinations, in which for the future I shall, perhaps, have no 'rival? for as for this lord, Mr. Western is so kind to prefer me to him; and sure, Sir, you will not deny but that a parent hath at least a negative ' voice in these matters; nay, I have heard this very young lady herself say so more than once, ' and declare, that she thought children inexcusable 'who married in direct opposition to the will of

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their parents. Besides, though the other ladies of the family seem to favour the pretensions of my lord, I do not find the lady herself is inclined to give him any countenance; alas! I am too "well assured she is not; I am too sensible that wickedest of men remains uppermost in her

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'heart.'

Ay, ay, so he does,' cries Western.

But surely,' says Blifil, when she hears of this murder which he hath committed, if the law 'should spare his life———————'

'What's that?' cries Western; Murder! hath he 'committed a murder, and is there any hopes of 'seeing him hanged?--Tol de rol, tol lol de rol.’ Here he fell a singing and capering about the room.

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Child,' says Allworthy, this unhappy pas'sion of yours distresses me beyond measure. heartily pity you, and would do every fair thing to promote your success."

'I desire no more,' cries Blifil; 'I am convinced my dear uncle hath a better opinion of me than to think that I myself would accept of more.'

'Lookee,' says Allworthy, 'you have my leave 'to write, to visit, if she will permit it,but I 'insist on no thoughts of violence. I will have no 'confinement, nothing of that kind attempted.'

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Well, well,' cries the 'squire, nothing of that 'kind shall be attempted; we will try a little longer what fair means will effect; and if this 'fellow be but hanged out of the way-Tol lol de rol! I never heard better news in my life-I warrant every thing goes to my mind.-Do, prithee, dear Allworthy, come and dine with me at the 'Hercules Pillars: I have bespoke a shoulder of mutton roasted, and a sparerib of pork, and a 'fowl and egg-sauce. There will be nobody but 'ourselves, unless we have a mind to have the 'landlord; for I have sent parson Supple down to. Basingstoke after my tobacco-box, which I left 'at an inn there, and I would not lose it for the

'world; for it is an old acquaintance of above twenty years standing. I can tell you landlord is 'a vast comical bitch, you will like un hugely.'

Mr. Allworthy at last agreed to this invitation, and soon after the 'squire went off, singing and capering at the hopes of seeing the speedy tragical end of poor Jones.

When he was gone, Mr. Allworthy resumed the aforesaid subject with much gravity. He told his nephew, He wished with all his heart he would endeavour to conquer a passion, in which I can'not,' says he, 'flatter you with any hopes of succeeding. It is certainly a vulgar error, that aver'sion in a woman may be conquered by perseverance. Indifference may, perhaps, sometimes yield 'to it; but the usual triumphs gained by perse'verance in a lover, are over caprice, prudence, 'affectation, and often an exorbitant degree of levity, which excites women, not overwarm in 'their constitutions, to indulge their vanity by prolonging the time of courtship, even when they are well enough pleased with the object, and re'solve (if they ever resolve at all) to make him a very pitiful amends in the end. But a fixed dislike, as I am afraid this is, will rather gather strength, than be conquered by time. Besides, my dear, I have another apprehension which you must excuse. I am afraid this passion which you have for this fine young creature, hath her beautiful person too much for its object, and is unworthy of the name of that love which is the only foundation of matrimonial felicity. To admire, to like, and to long for the possession of a beautiful woman, without any regard to her sentiments towards us, is, I am afraid, too natural; 'but love, I believe, is the child of love only; at 'least, I am pretty confident, that to love the 'creature who we are assured hates us, is not in human nature. Examine your heart, therefore, thoroughly, my good boy, and if, upon examina