 must be apparent, new as I am to the world and ignorant of its forms and etiquettes, yet no real impropriety,

nothing below the dignity of the female character, can possibly be discovered by a candid and well disposed mind; and this little pride, my dear, enabled me, after my first flutters were over, to acquit myself during the remainder of the evening with tolerable ease. Supported by conscious rectitude, I determined not to yield to the bashfulness and constraint which were stealing upon me; but in justice to my own character to shew myself to him such as I really was, and leave him to repent and blush for the injury he had done me.
He often recurred to the accident that had produced our acquaintance, and called it the most fortunate of his life The most fortunate of your life, cried Fanny, who is extremely literal: that is strange indeed. Sure there can be no sort of pleasure in being frightened out of one's wits, and very near being drowned into

the bargain? for my own part I never reflect on it without horror.
This return to his compliment, uttered with such naivité, made him smile. Nay, said she, the storm was so violent that I think the most courageous of men needed not have blushed to have owned themselves terrified.
Had I been in danger of losing my courage on that occasion, said he, Miss Seymour would have taught me my duty.
Mr. Howard at this moment joined us. Mr. Roatsley and he seemed mutually pleased at meeting; and soon after the latter whispered that Lady Linrose was in the house, and pointed her out to us in the box which Roatsley had just quitted.
Our curiosity to see her was inexpressible: she seems under fifty, and possesses an air of majestic dignity in her appearance, blended however with a cold severity of aspect that destroys the admiration

her figure excites, and renders her countenance harsh and unamiable. It is indeed wholly devoid of that affability of expression which denotes a disposition to be pleased, and which ever confers pleasure on the beholder. The instant I had studied her features, I could not persuade myself I should ever recognize either the kind relation or tender friend in Lady Linrose.
From having observed Mr. Roatsley of her party, I naturally conjectured he must be of her acquaintance, and began to flatter myself that through this unexpected channel of intelligence I might be able to learn some particulars relating to a family, with whom, in spite of our present prepossessions, we may one day become as intimately connected by affection as we are at present
