call a prude than a coquette."

"To you, perhaps; but not to me, cousin. Let every one speak of her as
they find," replied Wright.

Marvel grew warm in defence of Miss Barton's prudery; and at last ended
by saying, "that he'd stake his life upon it, she was no jilt. If she
had taken a fancy to you, Wright, she would honestly tell me so, I'm
convinced; and, when she finds you are thinking of another woman, her
pride would soon make her think no more of you. 'Tis but little she
could have thought in the few minutes you were in her company; and it is
my opinion she never thought of you at all--no offence."

"No offence, I promise you," said Wright; "but let us put her to the
trial: do you keep your own counsel; go on courting her your own way,
and let me go mine. Don't you say one word of my being here in York; but
put her off about the sale of Clover-hill, till such time as you are
sure of her heart."

To this proposal Marvel joyfully agreed; and, as to the time of trial,
Wright asked only one week. His cousin then told him the new scheme,
from which he expected to make so much: it had been suggested by
Alicia's brother. "I am to sell Clover-hill; and, with the money that I
get for it, Barton and I are to build and fit up a theatre in Lincoln,
and be the managers ourselves. I assure you, he says, and they all say,
I should make a figure on the stage: and Miss Barton whispered, in my
hearing, that I should make a capital Lothario," added Marvel, throwing
himself into a stage attitude, and reciting, in a voice that made Wright
start,"'Earth, Heav'n, and fair Calista, judge the combat.'"
"Very fine, no doubt," said Wright; "but I am no judge of these matters;