 as a stranger in the country, and a man of fashion, she has shewn some little attntion.—You stare!—That, my dear, is merely because you are unacquainted with the ton, or the manners and caprices of a belle from the metropolis. I doubt not you was simple enough to expect I had to tell you, her Ladyship, like our coantry bred damsels, was sighing and pining herself to death, and was actually driven to despair by the perfidy of her fickle admirer.
No such thing, believe me. 'Tis not the fashion, my dear, in the beau monde, "In love to pine and languish,"—is quite out of the question there. Such a conduct

would imply a degree of constancy, at which a fine London Lady would blush. What their real feelings may be, is another affair; but to appear as if they felt themselves forsaken, what woman of spirit would submit to? Not Lady Stanley; at least I can answer for her. And certainly it is the wisest course, though every one has not a sufficient share of philosophy to put it in practice.
My aunt is now fully convinced there never was any other than a friendly regard between them. Perhaps she is the more inclined to be of this opinion, because she has, I verily believe, from the particular attention my Lord begins to honour her niece with, formed some very ridiculous (and most likely sallacious) hopes. Ridiculous I call them, and I think justly; for can any thing be more against them than this recent proof of his inconstancy.—What reliance can we, or ought we to place on a man of such a changeable disposition? Any new face, I presume, if tolerable, would produce the same effect. He vows the contrary; for he has already begun vowing, and all that, Sophia; but whatever the neglected widow may think proper to confess, she

too could tell the same story, or I am much mistaken.
After all, I cannot persuade myself her passion for him has been very deeply rooted; since if it had, I think, artful as she is, she could not all at once have assumed such an air of in 'ifference; 'tis more probable she is, as well as himself, blessed with a dash of inconstancy in her nature, or she could not so calmly resign him.
Do not from this, Sophia, infer, I think him so valuable a prize; I must know him better before I determine that point: at present appearances are rather against him, according to
