whose self- was wounded by the assured
manner in which Mr. Bruce made his advances. As a youth of seventeen,
she had marked him as indolent and ill-bred. Her sense of justice,
however, would have obliterated this recollection, had his character and
manner been changed on the renewal of their acquaintance, some years
after. But this was not the case, for outward polish could not cloud
Gertrude's discernment; and she perceived that his old characteristics
remained, rendered more glaring by ill-concealed . As a boy, he
had stared at Gertrude from impudence, and inquired her name out of idle
curiosity; as a youthful coxcomb he had resolved to flirt with her,
because his time hung heavy on his hands. But, to his , he found
the country girl quite insensible to the flattery and notice which many
a city belle had coveted; and that when he tried raillery, he usually
proved the disconcerted party.

It was something new to Mr. Bruce to find any lady thus indifferent to
his merits; and proved such an awakening to his wordnetdesire, that he
resolved to recommend himself to Gertrude, and consequently improved
every opportunity of gaining admittance to her society. But while
labouring to inspire her with a due appreciation of himself, he fell
into his own snare;