te_ opinion of the
merits of both." He had the cruelty to lay so much stress on the words,
cool, calm, and deliberate, and to pronounce them in so arch a manner,
and so ironical a tone, as clearly showed, he read in her countenance
that no epithets could possibly have been so ill applied.

Lady Belfield came in immediately after. "Well, Caroline," said he, with
a significant glance, "Miss Stanley has deeply considered the subject
since you went; I never saw her look more interested about any thing. I
don't think she is dissatisfied on the whole. General approbation is all
she now expresses. She will have time to spy out faults hereafter: she
sees none at present. All is beauty, grace, and proportion."

As if this was not enough, in ran Celia quite out of breath--"Oh,
Lucilla," cried she, "papa and mamma won't let you go with Charles,
though I told them you begged and prayed to go."

Lucilla, the pink of whose cheeks was become crimson, said angrily, "How
Celia! what do you mean?"

"Oh, no," replied the child, "I mean to say that _I_ begged and prayed,
and I thought you looked as if you would like to go, though Charles did
not ask you, and so I told papa."

This was too much. The Belfields laughed outright; but Lady Belfield had
the charity to take Lucilla's hand, saying, "Come into my dressing-room,
my dear, and let us settle this conservatory business. This prattling
child will never let us get on." Miss Stanley followed, her face glowing
with impatience. Celia, whom I detained, called after her, "Papa only
said there was not room in the curricle for three; but if it is only a
little way, I am sure we could sit, could we not, Lucilla?" Lucilla was
now happily out of hearing.

Though I was hurt that her delicacy had suffered so much, yet I own I
hugged the little innocent author of this confusion with additional
fondness. Sir John's raillery, now that Lucilla could be no longer
pained by it, was cordially received, or rather I was inattentive to
every object but the one of which my heart was full. To be heard, to be
accepted, though tacitly, to be referred to parents who I knew had no
will but hers,

Was such a sacred and homefelt delight,
Such sober certainty of waking bliss
As I ne'er felt till now.

During the remainder of the day I found no opportunity of speaking to
Mr. Stanley. Always frank and cheerful, he neither avoided nor sought
me, but the arrival of company prevented our being thrown t