 walk, every morning before breakfast, had a violent dispute during our early ramble to-day. He

insisted that there was no necessity for waiting the tedious forms of law, since they could go on at leisure fully as well after as before the ceremony was performed; and to defer it till Dudley Mount was fitted up for our reception was, he said, the most useless and absurd formality, when so many kind friends were quarrelling who should have the first visit from us; and at all events we could take up our residence if we chose it at Alton Park with Lord Belmont.
I did not wish to appear affected: yet ihe prospect of an event that I had believed at the distance of some weeks, threw me into consternation; and the urgency with which my Lord laboured to reconcile me to this hasty scheme, convinced me he would easily contrive to surmount any obstacles that Lord Belmont might oppose to it.
I therefore entreated him to give over all thoughts of so precipitate a plan, and

to wait till every thing was quietly and properly adjusted. In the mean while I told him I should divide my time equally between Hubert Hill and Aubrey Castle; and as he must find himself equally at home at both those places, we might contrive to be constantly together.
My arguments were without effect. He continued to persuade and I to remonstrate. I think, at length cried he laughing, no plan remains for me but one, and that one is so natural on the present occasion, and must appear to all who hear of it so happy a termination to those endless difficulties and punctilios, that though you may not approve of the scheme I make no doubt time and contrition might prevail with you to forgive it: at least I may venture to hazard your displeasure in a cause that would so amply recompence me for the utmost seventy of its effect. I shall have my

carriage and servants in waiting to carry you off some morning when you are walking, and my grandfather's chaplain will have no scruples to deter him from performing a ceremony that is merely deferred from motives of absurd propriety.
He had scarce finished this sentence, when Lord Belmont suddenly joined us from the next walk. He smiled at my confusion; but kindly taking my hand, had you really attempted this wild scheme some weeks ago, Linrose, said he, I might have been offended; but I think, considering the temptation, I could not possibly have been surprised; however you may now summon a little patience to your aid, and a few weeks will adjust every thing to your satisfaction.
A
