hat
peculiar attachment which a man ought to feel for a wife. Edmund was wrapt
_apparently_ in a profession which is in its own nature absorbing, and
Charles appeared too eager to travel to have any tendency to early
marriage.

About a week after the foregoing conversation had taken place between
Matilda and her mother, the former went again to a ball, with a lady of
rank, who engaged to be her guardian for the night, as Mrs. Hanson and Mrs.
Weston had both caught severe colds, from being out late together.

Lady Araminta Montague, the conductor of Matilda for the evening, was a
fashionable and showy woman, who never appeared in public without being
surrounded by all those who affected to be considered persons of taste, and
fitted to move in the first style. She was now sought with more than common
avidity, on account of her attractive companion, whom she endeavoured to
show off in the happiest manner, by leading the light conversation of the
moment to subjects familiar to Matilda's observation, or likely to draw
from her those remarks in which the ability and talent she possessed would
be naturally, yet strikingly, displayed. Of this species of kindness
Matilda was wholly unconscious, as it was one which her own friends had
never adopted; when, therefore, she found herself the universal centre of
attraction in the room, it was no wonder that her spirits were unusually
elated, and her vanity took the lead; so that when the sprightly dance
added its intoxicating powers, and her mind was entranced by the pleasure
of the moment, she forgot the resolutions and opinions formed in a wiser
hour.

When the first two country-dances were over, several parties began, as on
the preceding night, to form into couples for the purpose of waltzing, at
that time a novelty in this country; and while Matilda was looking at them,
to her surprise, Sir Theodore Branson just entered the room, and asked the
honour of her hand, which he almost claimed as a promise.

This young gentleman was considered the handsomest man, and the most
elegant dancer, in the circles of fashion. That he was at once a shallow
coxcomb and an encroaching acquaintance, unfortunately did not prevent many
young ladies from desiring him as a partner; and when Matilda perceived
the leer of envy, and the pause of observation directed towards her, she
half gave him her hand, being conscious that her own figure and style of
dancing would be superior to any other of the can