he cannot judge of yours; his are common to both, but yours are unknown to
him. Would you, at this instant, change places with that ploughman yonder,
who is whistling as he goes for want of thought? or, would you choose to
go a step higher in the bliss of ignorance, and turn savage?"

Mr. Vincent laughed, and protested that he should be very unwilling to
give up his title to civilized society; and that, instead of wishing to
have less knowledge, he regretted that he had not more. "I am sensible,"
said he, "that I have many prejudices;--Miss Portman has made me ashamed
of some of them."

There was a degree of candour in Mr. Vincent's manner and conversation,
which interested every body in his favour; Belinda amongst the rest. She
was perfectly at ease in Mr. Vincent's company, because she considered him
as a person who wished for her friendship, without having any design to
engage her affections. From several hints that dropped from him, from Mr.
Percival, and from Lady Anne, she was persuaded that he was attached to
some creole lady; and all that he said in favour of the elegant softness
and delicacy of his countrywomen confirmed this opinion.

Miss Portman was not one of those young ladies who fancy that every
gentleman who converses freely with them will inevitably fall a victim to
the power of their charms, and will see in every man a lover, or nothing.




CHAPTER XVIII.

A DECLARATION.