 a discovery could possibly have occurred. Not but that a secret solicitude has induced me more than once to ask several ladies who have been at different times visitors here if they were acquainted with Roatsley; but a negative reply was always given, and I make no doubt he is wholly unknown to most of Mrs. Hindon's friends.
I will not, however, comment on this interesting discovery till I have concluded my fatiguing conversation with these officious advisers.

You must know, resumed Lady Farnford, that this young man has one of the best characters in the kingdom. To him therefore, Miss Seymour, I would advise you to apply by letter without loss of time, or perhaps Mr. Howard might transact the business better in person. Mr. Roatsley is adored by his family; and possesses, I am told, an influence over the mind of Lord Belmont which would insure success. If the old Lord thinks his vow binding, why he may keep it if he pleases, only let him act with justice, and support you in the line of life to which you were born.
Good God, my dear Sophia, what a proposal? It entirely divested me of the patience and temper with which I had hitherto listened to advice so selfish, so indelicate, so perfectly unfeeling. I therefore put a final period to a persecution that was grown intolerable, by expressing

myself with a cold and determined dignity, bordering perhaps a little on hauteur.
I must beg leave, said I when I could contrive to be heard, entirely to act for myself and from my own sentiments, in a point in which myself and sister only are concerned; and tho' we must consider ourselves as under obligations to those friends who wish to alter a resolution they may deem absurd and prejudicial to our interest, yet I must use the freedom to acknowledge that we partake so much of our grandfather's firmness as to be quite immoveable in our determinations, when convinced there is nothing in them contrary to reason and rectitude.
The gravity with which I pronounced this, disconcerted them; and they both in a breath began to apologize for the liberty they had taken in an affair in which they said our interest alone could be supposed to influence them. I could not resist smiling at the expression. I have

some reason to apprehend, however, that I should not so soon have got rid of importunities equally troublesome and officious, had not the rest of the family made their appearance to breakfast, which happily interrupted the eager volubility of the ladies.
Oh, my Sophia, what a discovery! It has engrossed
