alled the Temple of
Friendship. "My brother," said she, "is kindly assisting us. The
materials are all prepared, and we have now only to fix them up."

She then put into my hands a little plan. I highly approved it;
venturing, however, to suggest some trifling alteration, which I told
them I did, in order to implicate myself a little in the pleasant
project. How proud was I when Clara added, "that Miss Stanley had
expressed a high opinion of my general taste!" They all begged me to
look in on them in my rides, and assist them with my further counsel;
adding that, above all things, I must keep it a secret at the Grove.

Lady Aston said, "that she expected our whole party to dine at the Hall
some day next week." Her daughters entreated that it might be postponed
till the latter end, by which time they doubted not their little edifice
would be completed. Sir George then told me, that his sisters had
requested him to furnish an inscription, or to endeavor to procure one
from me. He added his wishes to theirs that I would comply. They all
joined so earnestly in the entreaty that I could not withstand them,
"albeit unused to the _rhyming_ mood."

After some deliberation, Friday in the next week was fixed upon for the
party at the Grove to dine at Aston-Hall, and I was to carry the
invitation. I took a respectful leave of the excellent lady of the
mansion, and an affectionate one of the young people, with whom the
familiar intercourse of this quiet morning had contributed to advance my
friendly acquaintance more than could have been done by many ceremonious
meetings.

When I returned to the Grove, which was but just in time to dress for
dinner, I spoke with sincere satisfaction of the manner in which I had
passed the morning. It was beautiful to observe the honest delight, the
ingenuous kindness, with which Lucilla heard me commend the Miss Astons.
No little disparaging hint on the one hand, gently to let down her
friends, nor, on the other, no such exaggerated praise as I have
sometimes seen employed as a screen for envy, or as a trap to make the
hearer lower what the speaker had too highly raised.

I dropped in at Aston-Hall two or three times in the course of the week,
as well to notice the progress of the work, as to carry my inscription,
in which, as Lucilla was both the subject and the muse, I succeeded
rather better than I expected.

On the Friday, according to appointment, our whole party went to dine
at the Hal