or uncommon, sense and good-nature to allow our friends to be happy their
own way."

"You are very good--too good. But am I then to be the cause of banishing
Mr. Vincent from all his friends--from Oakly-park?"

"Will he not do what is most prudent, to avoid the charming Miss Portman,"
said Lady Anne, smiling, "if he must not love her? This was at least the
advice I gave him, when he consulted us yesterday evening. But I will not
sign his writ of banishment lightly. Nothing but the assurance that the
heart is engaged can be a sufficient cause for despair; nothing else
could, in my eyes, justify you, my dear Belinda, from the charge of
caprice."

"I can give you no such assurance, I hope--I believe," said Belinda, in
great confusion; "and yet I would not for the world deceive you: you have
a right to my sincerity." She paused; and Lady Anne said with a smile,
"Perhaps I can spare you the trouble of telling me in words what a blush
told me, or at least made me suspect, yesterday evening, when we were
standing by the river side, when little Charles asked you--"

"Yes, I remember--I saw you look at me."

"Undesignedly, believe me."

"Undesignedly, I am sure; but I was afraid you would think--"

"The truth."

"No; but more than the truth. The truth you shall hear; and the rest I