but the distinction paid him by your acquaintance rendered him quite another creature: exultation, heart-felt exultation, over-spread his countenance: - he feemed to confider himself as a fuperior fpecies to the reft: - and, perhaps, could you but have beheld him (though from a diffimilar motive) you would have subfcribed to his opinion. I do affure you the whole affembly did not afford a more compleat, more noble figure.

Mrs. Kitty picked up the long-fided heir of an earldom: - fhe would have triumphed, but for the apparent abfurdity of the attempt.

The knight lamented his inability for my favourite exercife; but foon found confolation in a brilliant party for quadrille.

The hours paffed rapidly on at four the entertainment broke up; and, with

the

the reinforcement of his effeminate lordship, we were conducted home without accident or interruption. Heated, drowsyfatigued, delighted, I retired to my pillow; and found a repofe that much more than compenfated the preceding evening's confumption of strength and spirits, and enabled me to undergo a fecond frolic.

Two o'clock, noon.

-

Sullen looks Mrs. Kate is mortally offended-unhappy I my fuperiority is infupportable to her and fo, my dear, by adding ill-humour to her other perfections, fhe will unquestionably remedy the killing evil.

You will but too probably accuse me of want of charity, respecting this girl: but I do affure you, in fober fadness, fhe

has

has a malicious, ungrateful, and revengeful heart; as I could give you many in- ' ftances, if I could prevail upon myself to stain my paper, or pollute my pen with fuch unworthy fubjects.

LET

LETTER XII.

Mifs NANCY PITTBOROUGH to Mifs

H

PITTBOROUGH.

AVE I the power, my dearest fifter, to render you ferious by intreaty I fear I have not; and yet I am perfuaded you would facrifice every thing, but your vivacity, to make me happy.

I am fenfible it is my misfortune, that when I wish to advife, I become inftantly gloomy: but if you would confider the motive, you would not be difgufted at the confequence. My apprehenfions for you. are equally ftrong with my affection: how then is it poffible that my ftile should be lively, when my heart is oppreffed ?

I would

I would not be fuperftitious, yet am unable to fubdue fome very unaccountable and alarming fuggeftions.

O let me conjure you not to trifle with your happiness! Never was man, from appearances, fo calculated to your taste as the colonel, or fo well qualified to protect and conduct you through the intricate path of life: - do not, therefore, occasion idle delays; a good work cannot be too foon accomplished; you are utterly unfit to be trufted with yourfelf: fome giddy flight you may unwarily be guilty of, may, but too probably, either totally difguft him, or fix an unfavourable impreffion upon his heart, that can never perfectly be erased. This new admirer that you treat fo ludicrously, take care that he does. not prove an inftrument of unavailing mortification and repentance.

Men of fenfe, my dear, notwithstanding they may, for a time, appear without gall,

and