and endited a letter to Helen full of cold professions of affection, and insidious compliments to the filial obedience she had ever evinced, which he doubted not would determine her to comply with his wishes in the present instance. Enlarging upon the tender regard for her welfare which he had invariably manifested, he proceeded to state that considerations upon which the prosperity of the whole family mainly depended, had induced him to select for a son-in-law Marmaduke Hartfield, Esq. a gen tleman every way calculated to secure her felicity, and concluded with intimating that he exacted an unconditional compliance with his wishes. With a characteristic delicacy he transmitted this mandate to the Squire for his perusal, desiring him to forward it to Harpsden Hall, which he did accordingly in a species of laconic love-letter, wherein he referred to the enclosed document, adding, that he should call next morning to confirm by word of mouth that his constancy was thorough true blue, staunch and true," and subscribing himself her ardent admirer and lover. Having accordingly bestowed a little extra attention upon his wardrobe, by throwing a riding peruke over his dishevelled hair, exchanging his velvet hunting-cap for a goldedged hat, and his soiled scarlet frock for a grey one braided with gold lace, he rode over on the following morning to Harpsden Hall. Practised debauchee as he was, and seldom as he had been deficient in effrontery, he could not approach such a woman as Helen without feeling abashed. He had learnt from his sister, that she had been recently suffering under a depression of spirits; and partly with the notion of cheering her up, partly to carry off his own sheepishness, he approached her with a swaggering air of confidence, and a boisterous rattle that was meant for vivacity, cracking his hunting-whip as he hurried up stairs, as if to encourage himself with the sound. 66 Lookye, Madam,” he exclaimed, the moment he entered the room, "I don't understand speechifying; can't make love like your wishywashy palavering Jack-a-dandies; but you have read his Lordship's letter; the thing, you see, is all settled; and if you say done to the bargain, "I have read my father's letter, Sir," replied Helen, "with not less astonishment than pain,with astonishment, that he should dispose of me to a comparative stranger, without even consulting my wishes; with pain that it is utterly out of my power to obey his injunctions. You tell me that you do not like long speeches; nor do I. Let this, therefore, be our last terview-this my final declaration, when I tell you, that no commands, no circumstances, can ever induce me to listen to your suit. My decision in this respect is absolute, irrevocable; and if I knew any more peremptory terms in which to convey it, I would willingly use them." There was a frank, straightforward earnestness in her manner even more impressive than her language; but the Squire, who was not to be so easily rebuffed, resumed-" Whoop, Madam, all right and proper, all right and proper; I wouldn't give a pinch of gunpowder for the governor that yields the fortress at the first summons, and it's a pitiful hare that suffers herself to be run down without a few doubles, and a fair start. No, Madam, I don't expect to walk over the course, can't win the gold cup without running the marry me you shall find heat, but if you Hollo! you Ned!" he shouted out to his groom, throwing up the window by which he was sitting-" let out that mare's curb a couple of links, and what do you stand still in the cold for, when you have fretted her till she's hissing hot? walk them about! you chuckle-headed cub! There's a hunter, Madam,” he continued, shutting the window and pointing to his own horse; "got by Jersy out of Sir Charles Mordaunt's famous mare Peggy, look at his points; small open ears, broad forehead, large, bold, and bright eye, red, fresh, and wide nostrils, straight throat, not cock-throppled, rising crest, broad chest, ribs round as a barrel, oval buttocks, clean legs, thin mane and tail. Ah, Madam, you should see him come over a five barred, it would do your heart good.-Let's see, what were we talking of? Oh, ay, I was saying that if you marry me, you'l have as merry a blade as ever cracked a joke or a bottle. 'Sblood! what need of palavering when I can sing what I want to say in a snatch of Singleton's song My love to you 's as pure as the flame Upon what altar, that of Cupid or Plutus?" inquired Helen with a faint smile. "Whoop! Madam, what signifies, so you have the flame? If it's a good horse, and answers your purpose, never ask what county be comes from. Cupid's flame will soon burn out, if it isn't fed by some of Plutus's oil, and Hymen's torch won't make the pot boil. Sink me! but we'll keep a rare table at the old Rookery, that shall presently cheer you up, and make you as fresh as a four year old. None of your foreign kickshaws, but fat bucks for summer, barren does for winter, with |