slender indeed that could not withstand every trial. On the contrary, she ventured

to predict that Annette was his destined wife, but foresaw his imprudence would cost many a mutual heart ach before the accomplishment of their destiny.
Charles certainly had not the smallest objection to consider Annette in the light of an intended wife, nor was he by any means, as I have already said, insensible to either her beauty or accomplishments; and therefore—especially as he had the sanction of both his and her parents—he paid her the exactest attention, and lost no method nor opportunity of inspiring her with sentiments highly to his advantage. But he had ever set his heart on seeing the world, and that not superficially, before he should sink into a domestic character, which he always conceived would be a clog to the exertions of a volatile mind, like his; unless he could be assured, by repeated experience, that his partner for life was possessed of those many and scarce attractions which would so bind his inclinations as to make him prefer bondage to liberty.
The attention he paid Annette had, however, a different effect on that young lady. Their little pleasures were, it is true, not more than the sports of children; but there was such an unaffected ease, such sweetness of temper, such an engaging and so

insinuating an address in our hero, without the smallest tincture of art, or illiberality, that, without her own knowledge, she imbibed the seeds of that poison which, according to Emma's prediction, was destined to give her many a bitter pang.
Little Hockley was now improving very fast.—Mr. Balance had routed the two attornies I formerly spoke of, who, upon examination, were found to have practised without the smallest qualification. The painter had completed a picture of the return of the prodigal son, which was placed in a conspicuous part of the church, and the musician had opened a fine organ, the gift of Sir Sidney, under which the poet affixed a very elegant latin inscription, which Emma said ought to have been in English.
It had been an invariable custom to celebrate the baronet's birth-day by throwing open the doors of the mansion house, and feasting all comers. In the afternoon several sports were performed on the green, and, in the evening, the company retired to a very large rustic assembly-room, where Sir Sidney always opened the ball; and after he had seen that his tenants and neighbours had every thing they could wish for, to give their pleasure free scope, he

retired with their warm and unfeigned good wishes for