ne, just arrived from
Bath, of the glaring attentions paid to you by a Captain Clifford; I
will not, my dearest niece, wound you by repeating what also I heard of
your manner in receiving them. I know the ill-nature and the envy of the
world; and I do not for a moment imagine that my Lucy, of whom I am so
justly proud, would countenance, from a petty coquetry, the advances
of one whom she could never marry, or evince to any suitor partiality
unknown to her relations, and certainly placed in a quarter which could
never receive their approbation. I do not credit the reports of the
idle, my dear niece; but if I discredit, you must not slight them. I
call upon your prudence, your delicacy, your discretion, your sense of
right, at once and effectually to put a stop to all impertinent rumours:
dance with this young man no more; do not let him be of your party in
any place of amusement, public or private; avoid even seeing him if you
are able, and throw in your manner towards him that decided coldness
which the world cannot mistake." Much more did the skilful uncle write,
but all to the same purpose, and for the furtherance of the same design.
His letter to his brother was not less artful. He told him at once
that Lucy's preference of the suit of a handsome fortune-hunter was
the public talk, and besought him to lose not a moment in quelling the
rumour. "You may do so easily," he wrote, "by avoiding the young man;
and should he be very importunate, return at once to Warlock. Your
daughter's welfare must be dearer to you than anything."

To Mauleverer, Brandon replied by a letter which turned first on
public matters, and then slid carelessly into the subject of the earl's
information.

Among the admonitions which he ventured to give Mauleverer, he dwelt,
not without reason, on the want of tact displayed by the earl in not
manifesting that pomp and show which his station in life enabled him
to do. "Remember," he urged, "you are not among your equals, by whom
unnecessary parade begins to be considered an ostentatious vulgarity.
The surest method of dazzling our inferiors is by splendour, not taste.
All young persons--all women in particular--are caught by show, and
enamoured of magnificence. Assume a greater state, and you will be more
talked of; and notoriety wins a woman's heart more than beauty or youth.
You have, forgive me, played the boy too long; a certain dignity becomes
your manhood; women will not respect you if you su