is, unless I fled the country, as I had intended
before. To obviate that, he at length consented to have one wing of the
old hall put into a habitable condition, as a place of refuge against a
time of need; but hoped I would not take advantage of it unless
circumstances should render it really necessary, which I was ready enough
to promise: for though, for my own sake, such a hermitage appears like
paradise itself, compared with my present situation, yet for my friends'
sakes, for Milicent and Esther, my sisters in heart and affection, for
the poor tenants of Grassdale, and, above all, for my aunt, I will stay
if I possibly can.

July 29th.--Mrs. Hargrave and her daughter are come back from London.
Esther is full of her first season in town; but she is still heart-whole
and unengaged. Her mother sought out an excellent match for her, and
even brought the gentleman to lay his heart and fortune at her feet; but
Esther had the audacity to refuse the noble gifts. He was a man of good
family and large possessions, but the naughty girl maintained he was old
as Adam, ugly as sin, and hateful as--one who shall be nameless.

'But, indeed, I had a hard time of it,' said she: 'mamma was very greatly
disappointed at the failure of her darling project, and very, very angry
at my obstinate resistance to her will, and is so still; but I can't help
it. And Walter, too, is so seriously displeased at my perversity and
absurd caprice, as he calls it, that I fear he will never forgive me--I
did not think he could be so unkind as he has lately shown himself. But
Milicent begged me not to yield, and I'm sure, Mrs. Huntingdon, if you
had seen the man they wanted to palm upon me, you would have advised me
not to take him too.'

'I should have done so whether I had seen him or not,' said I; 'it is
enough that you dislike him.'

'I knew you would say so; though mamma affirmed you would be quite
shocked at my undutiful conduct. You can't imagine how she lectures me:
I am disobedient and ungrateful; I am thwarting her wishes, wronging my
brother, and making myself a burden on her hands. I sometimes fear
she'll overcome me after all. I have a strong will, but so has she, and
when she says such bitter things, it provokes me to such a pass that I
feel inclined to do as she bids me, and then break my heart and say,
"There, mamma, it's all your fault!"'

'Pray don't!' said I. 'Obedience from such a motive would be positive
wickedness, and