accent peculiar to herself, I would not, willingly, call any gentleman's honour into question; but I cannot help remarking that you had good hands, and generally held two honours during the first rubber, when you were her grace's partner: it was not till you became mine that you had bad cards, and seldom a single honour among them. This, you will permit me to say, seems to be a little unaccountable.'

The gentleman being at a loss how to understand or answer such an insinuation, the duchess interfered, saying, with a gay air, however unaccountable it may seem, I think I can explain it on your ladyship's own principles. You have often told me that the countess of Deanport's notion, that every thing at whist depends on seats, is quite erroneous. Your ladyship maintains that winning or losing depends on what you call runs; and, that when any body is in a run of good luck at whist he often holds honours; whereas, if he is in a run of bad luck, he seldom does. The gentleman's having held honours when he was my partner, and not when he was yours, therefore, may have proceeded from my being at present in a run of good luck, which I own is the case, and your ladyship's being in a run of bad.'

That will account for it, unquestionably,' replied Lady Aspic; but I wish your grace had been so good as to have informed me a little sooner of your being in a lucky run,'

6

Why, truly,' replied the duchess, I only began to suspect it myself after I had won the second rubber; and I was not absolutely certain until after I had won the third.'

My brother and I were pressed by the duchess to stay all night but he seldom sleeps out of his own bed; and, as the weather is mild, we returned to Rose-Mount very late,

He was highly delighted with the pleasure I seemed to have taken in Lady Amelia's company; and I joined very sincerely in the praises he bestowed on her as we returned. He informed me that the duchess, who is her

distant relation, regretted that she continued to live so much with her aunt, and would be happy to have more of the society of the one, if it could be obtained without the oppressive taxation of the others.

But Lady Amelia thinks herself under obligation to her aunt for the attention, she paid her after her mother's death. That attention, undoubtedly, has been a real misfortune; but, in spite of this, as Lady Amelia knows that it would afflict Lady Aspic if they were to live separate, she is unwilling to propose it. And, though she probably wishes it, the duchess thinks she will not have the resolution to make any such proposition; and, of course, will continue to live with Lady Aspic until her marriage. This, you will naturally imagine, cannot render her more averse to matrimony; and a woman of her beauty, birth, fortune, and accomplishments, must, of course, have had many suitors.

On this subject the conversation was pushed no farther; but I clearly believe that Lady Amelia is the person he wishes me united to. I do not dispute that the union would do me honour; but I question much whether it would render either of us happy. She has been bred up with infinite tenderness and delicacy. They say she is of great sensibility, and easily alarmed. This may be called amiable; but it is dreadfully troublesome. She made an observation about nerves, which I own alarmed me. But I hope this is merely a plan of my brother's, and that Lady Amelia herself has no thought of ever being united to me, but would reject such a proposal with disdain, if it were made to her. I have so much goodwill to her, that, were she to consult me on the subject, I should most sincerely give her that advice.-Adieu!

J. MORDAUNT.

P. S. Just as I was going to seal this long letter, my brother came in, and told me, that he had received a note from the duchess, informing him, that Lady Aspic had heard of a business that required both her own and her niece's presence in London; and that they had set

out this very morning.'-I perceived that this gave him` some uneasiness, though he came to no farther explanation with me. As I intended returning to the capital in a day or two, this incident will, I imagine, make him agree to my leaving him with less difficulty than, perhaps, he would otherwise have done. I am impatient to see the marchioness, who has returned from Richmond. My next will probably be from London.-Farewell!

LETTER LXXI.

MISS H. CLIFFORD to MRS. SOMMERS.

MY DEAR JULIET,

London.

IN my last I informed you of my reconciliation with Lady Deanport, and the more easy footing I was then on with both the mother and the son. All that is now over: at least I am inclined to think so.-You shall judge.

Her ladyship visited my aunt the very day after she had spoken so courteously to me at the ambassador's. Her behaviour, in all respects, was calculated to convince me, more and more, that Mrs. Demure had misrepresented her. Two days after, she called again in the forenoon. She turned the discourse on poor Mrs. Denham. She said, that having heard that her eldest son was destined for the army, Lord Deanport had offered to make an application for an ensigncy in the guards for him; that his lordship was on such a footing with administration, and the commander in chief, that she had no doubt of his succeeding, and desired me to write to Lady Diana on the subject; and, in case it was agreeable to the youth's mother, that the application would be directly made. You may imagine how much I was delighted with all this. Notwithstanding that I have usually been hurt by the obsequious behaviour of my aunt, both to Lady Deanport and her son, yet I joined in the attentions she paid him when he came into her box at the opera, after this obliging conduct on the part of his mother. I now most sincerely wished that my aunt might be entirely mistaken in her

notion of his lordship's passion for me, because, being sensible that I could not make him a suitable return, it gave me uneasiness to think I should ever be under the necessity of giving him any. I really felt so much good will towards him, that it must have been apparent in my whole looks and manner.

After the opera, he attended us to our carriage. One of his footmen told him, just as we were stepping in, that his own chariot was far behind, and could not get up to the door for some time. My aunt, observing that it rained a little, offered to set him down at his own house, which was not much out of our way. I did not entirely relish some of his behaviour in the coach, which could not be observed by my aunt; but which, I afterwards thought, must have been merely accidental,-so unwilling was I to construe any thing to his disadvantage which could bear a favourable meaning. Lady Deanport called the following morning; and, without coming out of her chariot, sent word that she waited for my aunt, who had just before informed me that she expected her ladyship to carry her to see a collection of birds, at no great distance from town, and that she should not return until about the usual time of dressing for dinner.'

After she was gone, I took up a pamphlet, which had been brought that very morning. When I tell you that it pleased me highly, you will readily believe that it was not of the nature of those usually sent to my uncle: it had no reference to that everlasting source of calumny and. dissension, the politics of the day. Much hat has been written on that subject might be called, The Pains of Recollection. The performance which pleased me so much is entitled, The Pleasures of Memory. I have sent it to you by the stage, with an earnest prayer, my dearest Juliet, that your life may continue to be supplied with inci dents of the most pleasing remembrance.

As I finished the perusal, Lord Deanport was shown into the room. Though I was a little surprised at his lordship's entrance, the pleasure I had received from the poem must have been predominant in my countenance, and

may have been imputed by him to my satisfaction at his appearance: indeed, as soon as I recollected what he had undertaken in favour of young Denham, he judged in some measure right.

He had not sat long, before he began to compliment me on my looks, &c. &c. &c.

I bowed, and, without taking farther notice of the common-place praise, started another subject. He did not answer my lead, but resumed the stale strain.

I.

• Why, you told me all this last night, my lord,' said

• Are you surprised that I look as well in the morning as I did in the evening?'

To this he replied, at first, with the smile which is his usual resource when he has no other answer ready. And, after recollection, he added, with an obsequious gesture, and in a tone which appeared to me rather ridiculous, though certainly intended to be very captivating,‹ That he thought me charming at all times; that'

But I need not repeat what he said; you have had it all addressed to yourself, my dear, twenty times, by twenty different men.

• Pray, my lord,' said I, interrupting him, did you never feel remorse, for trying to render the brains of women more giddy than they naturally are, by flattery?'

I know one woman,' said he, bowing very obsequiously, to whose merits I cannot do even justice.'

Leave the woman then,' replied I, laughing, to do justice to herself; she is probably fully apprized of all the merit that really belongs to her. Her faults, indeed, may escape her discernment; but, believe me, my lord, it is a thousand to one that the most minute of her good qualities will not.'

I remember I spoke this in a very gay manner. How it struck the man I know not; but, with a vivacity unusual to him, he swore I was irresistible, seized my hand, and, before I could disengage it, proceeded to other liberties.

Forcing myself from him, I rung the bell twice, very briskly. He stood disconcerted. When the servant en