struck with the sweetness and devotion of the youthful suppliant, removed the
slight embarrassment of the timid stranger, by the ease of her own manners. They
were at once acquainted, and, during the ten minutes while the academy was
clearing, engagements were made between the young people, not only for the
succeeding day, but they would probably have embraced in their arrangements half
of the winter, had not the divine interrupted them, by saying -
    »Gently, gently, my dear Miss Temple, or you will make my girl too
dissipated. You forget that she is my housekeeper, and that my domestic affairs
must remain unattended to, should Louisa accept of half the kind offers you are
so good as to make her.«
    »And why should they not be neglected entirely, sir?« interrupted Elizabeth.
»There are but two of you, and certain I am that my father's house will not only
contain you both, but will open its doors spontaneously, to receive such guests.
Society is a good, not to be rejected on account of cold forms, in this
wilderness, sir; and I have often heard my father say, that hospitality is not a
virtue in a new country, the favour being conferred by the guest.«
    »The manner in which Judge Temple exercises its rites, would confirm this
opinion; but we must not trespass too freely. Doubt not that you will see us
often, my child particularly, during the frequent visits, that I shall be
compelled to make, to the distant parts of the county. But to obtain an
influence with such a people,« he continued, glancing his eyes towards the few,
who were still lingering, curious observers of the interview, »a clergyman must
not awaken envy or distrust, by dwelling under so splendid a roof as that of
Judge Temple.«
    »You like the roof, then, Mr. Grant,« cried Richard, who had been directing
the extinguishment of the fires, and other little necessary duties, and who
approached, in time, to hear the close of the divine's speech - »I am glad to
find one man of taste at last. Here's 'duke now, pretends to call it by every
abusive name he can invent; but though 'duke is a very tolerable judge, he is a
very poor carpenter, let me tell him. - Well, sir, well, I think we may say,
without boasting, that the service was as well performed this evening as you
often see; I think, quite as well as I ever