N.

In three weeks from the time of his arrival, Captain Clifford was the
most admired man in Bath. It is true the gentlemen, who have a quicker
tact as to the respectability of their own sex than women, might have
looked a little shy upon him, had he not himself especially shunned
appearing intrusive, and indeed rather avoided the society of men than
courted it; so that after he had fought a duel with a baronet (the
son of a shoemaker), who called him one Clifford, and had exhibited a
flea-bitten horse, allowed to be the finest in Bath, he rose insensibly
into a certain degree of respect with the one sex as well as popularity
with the other. But what always attracted and kept alive suspicion,
was his intimacy with so peculiar and dashing a gentleman as Mr. Edward
Pepper. People could get over a certain frankness in Clifford's
address, but the most lenient were astounded by the swagger of Long
Ned. Clifford, however, not insensible to the ridicule attached to his
acquaintances, soon managed to pursue his occupations alone; nay, he
took a lodging to himself, and left Long Ned and Augustus Tomlinson (the
latter to operate as a check on the former) to the quiet enjoyment of
the hairdresser's apartments. He himself attended all public gayeties;
and his mien, and the appearance of wealth which he maintained,
procured him access into several private circles which pretended to be
exclusive,--as if people who had daughters ever could be exclusive! Many
were the kind looks, nor few the inviting letters, which he received;
and if his sole object had been to marry an heiress, he would have found
no difficulty in attaining it. But he devoted himself entirely to Lucy
Brandon; and to win one glance from her, he would have renounced all the
heiresses in the kingdom. Most fortunately for him, Mauleverer, whose
health was easily deranged, had fallen ill the very day William Brandon
left Bath; and his lordship was thus rendered unable to watch the
movements of Lucy, and undermine or totally prevent the success of her
lover. Miss Brandon, indeed, had at first, melted by the kindness of
her uncle, and struck with the sense of his admonition (for she was
no self-willed young lady, who was determined to be in love), received
Captain Clifford's advances with a coldness which, from her manner the
first evening they had met at Bath, occasioned him no less surprise than
mortification. He retreated, and recoiled on the squire, who, patient
and bo