of a suitor to her hand, but in some way it was discovered that she
refused them all. It was also known that they continued to worship her,
and that at any moment she could call even the best among them back. It
seemed that, while all the men were enamoured of her, there was not one
who could cure himself of his passion, however hopeless it might be.

Her wit was as great as her beauty, and she had a spirit before which no
man could stand if she chose to be disdainful. To some she was so, and
had the whim to flout them with great brilliancy. Encounters with her
were always remembered, and if heard by those not concerned, were
considered worthy both of recollection and of being repeated to the
world; she had a tongue so nimble and a wit so full of fire.

Young Sir John Oxon's visit to his relative at Eldershawe being at an
end, he returned to town, and remaining there through a few weeks of
fashionable gaiety, won new reputations as a triumpher over the female
heart. He made some renowned conquests and set the mode in some new
essences and sword-knots. But even these triumphs appeared to pall upon
him shortly, since he deserted the town and returned again to the
country, where, on this occasion, he did not stay with his relative, but
with Sir Jeoffry himself, who had taken a boisterous fancy to him.

It had been much marked since the altered life of Mistress Clorinda that
she, who had previously defied all rules laid down on behaviour for young
ladies, and had been thought to do so because she knew none of them, now
proved that her wild fashion had been but wilfulness, since it was seen
that she must have observed and marked manners with the best. There
seemed no decorum she did not know how to observe with the most natural
grace. It was, indeed, all grace and majesty, there being no suggestion
of the prude about her, but rather the manner of a young lady having been
born with pride and stateliness, and most carefully bred. This was the
result of her wondrous wit, the highness of her talents, and the strength
of her will, which was of such power that she could carry out without
fail anything she chose to undertake. There are some women who have
beauty, and some who have wit or vigour of understanding, but she
possessed all three, and with them such courage and strength of nerve as
would have well equipped a man.

Quick as her wit was and ready as were her brilliant quips and sallies,
there was no levity in he