much interested
in you, and you may consult him with the more safety and assurance;
because" (and the lawyer smiled) "he is perhaps the only man in the
world whom my Lucy could not make in love with her. His gallantry may
appear adulation, but it is never akin to love. Promise me that you will
not hesitate in this."

Lucy gave the promise readily; and Brandon continued in a careless tone:
"I hear that you danced last night with a young gentleman whom no one
knew, and whose companions bore a very strange appearance. In a place
like Bath, society is too mixed not to render the greatest caution
in forming acquaintances absolutely necessary. You must pardon me, my
dearest niece, if I remark that a young lady owes it not only to
herself but to her relations to observe the most rigid circumspection of
conduct. This is a wicked world, and the peach-like bloom of character
is easily rubbed away. In these points Mauleverer can be of great use to
you. His knowledge of character, his penetration into men, and his tact
in manners are unerring. Pray, be guided by him; whomsoever he warns
you against, you may be sure is unworthy of your acquaintance. God bless
you! You will write to me often and frankly, dear Lucy; tell me all that
happens to you,--all that interests, nay, all that displeases."

Brandon then, who had seemingly disregarded the blushes with which
during his speech Lucy's cheeks had been spread, folded his niece in his
arms, and hurried, as if to hide his feelings, into his carriage. When
the horses had turned the street, he directed the postilions to stop at
Lord Mauleverer's. "Now," said he to himself, "if I can get this clever
coxcomb to second my schemes, and play according to my game and not
according to his own vanity, I shall have a knight of the garter for my
nephew-in-law!"

Meanwhile Lucy, all in tears, for she loved her uncle greatly, ran down
to the squire to show him Brandon's magnificent present.

"Ah," said the squire, with a sigh, "few men were born with more good,
generous, and great qualities (pity only that his chief desire was to
get on in the world; for my part, I think no motive makes greater and
more cold-hearted rogues) than my brother William!"

CHAPTER XVIII.

Why did she love him? Curious fool, be still!
Is human love the growth of human will?
To her he might be gentleness!

LORD BYRO