ner of public spectacles: a leader of the taste at a new play or opera. He dances, he sings, he laughs; and values himself on all three qualifications: and yet certainly has sense; but is not likely to improve it much; since he seems to be so much afraid of suffering in the consequence he thinks himself of, that whenever Sir Charles applies himself to him, upon any of his levities, though but by the eye, his consciousness, however mild the look, makes him show an uneasiness at the instant. He reddens, sits in pain; calls for favour by his eyes and his quivering lips; and has, notwithstanding, a smile ready to turn into a laugh in order to lessen his own sensibility, should he be likely to suffer in the opinion of the company: but every motion shows his consciousness of inferiority to the man of whose smiles or animadversions he is so very apprehensive. What a captious, what a supercilious husband, to a woman who should happen to have a stronger mind than his, would Mr. Grandison make! But he values himself upon his having preserved his liberty. I believe there are more bachelors now in England, by many thousands, than were a few years ago: and, probably, the numbers of them, (and of single women, of course) will every year increase. The luxury of the age will account a good deal for this; and the turn our sex take in un-domesticating themselves, for a good deal more. But let not those worthy young women, who may think themselves destined to a single life, repine over-much at their lot; since, possibly, if they have had no lovers, or having had one, two, or three, have not found a husband, they have had rather a miss than a loss, as men go. And let me here add, that I think, as matters stand in this age, or indeed ever did stand, that those women who have joined with the men in their insolent ridicule of old maids, ought never to be forgiven: no, though Miss Grandison should be one of the ridiculers. An old maid may be an odious character, if they will tell us, that the bad qualities of the persons, not the maiden state, are what they mean to expose: but then they must allow that there are old maids of twenty; and even that there are widows and wives of all ages and complexions, who, in the abusive sense of the words, are as much old maids as the most particular of that class of females. But a word or two more concerning Mr. Grandison. He is about thirty-two. He has had the glory of ruining two or three women. Sir Charles has restored him to a sense of shame [All men, I hope, are born with it;] which a few months ago he had got above. And he does not now entertain ladies with instances of the frailty of individuals of their sex; which many are too apt, encouragingly, to smile at: when I am very much mistaken, if every woman would not find her account, if she wishes herself to be thought well of, in discouraging every reflection that may have a tendency to debase or expose the sex in general. How can a man be suffered to boast of his vileness to one woman in the presence of another, without a rebuke, that should put it to the proof whether the boaster was or was not past blushing. Mr. Grandison is thought to have hurt his fortune, which was very considerable, by his free living, and an itch of gaming; to cure him of which, Sir Charles encourages him to give him his company at all opportunities. He certainly has understanding enough to know how to value the favour; for he owns to Miss Grandison that he both loves and fears him and now and then tells her, that he would give the world, if he had it, to be able to be just what Sir Charles is! times he has broke out Good God!' at other ture is a rake! how I hate myself when I contemplate the excellencies of this divine brother of your's!' I shall say nothing of Sir Charles in this place. You, I know, my Lucy, will admire me for my forbearance. Lady L. and Miss Grandison were the graces of the table. So lively, so sensible, so frank, so polite, 80 good-humoured, what honour do they and their brother reflect back on the memory of their mother! Lady Grandison, it seems, was an excellent woman. Sir Thomas was not, I have heard, quite unexceptionable. How useful, if so, are the women in the greater, as well as in the less, parts of domestic duty, where they perform their duty! And what have those who do not to answer for, to God, to their children, and even to their whole sex, for the contempts they bring upon it by their uselessness, and, perhaps, extravagance; since, if the human mind is not actively good, it will generally be actively evil. Dr. Bartlett I have already spoken of. How did he enliven the conversation whenever he bore a part in it! So happy an elocution, so clear, so just, so solid, his reasoning! I wish I could remember every word he said. Sir Charles observed to us, before we saw him, that he was not forward to speak: but, as I hinted, he threw the occasions in his way, on purpose to draw him out; and at such times what he said was easy, free, and unaffected; and whenever a subject was concluded, he had done with it. His modesty, in short, made him always follow rather than lead a subject, as he very well might do, be it what it would. I was charmed with the Brachman's prayer; which he, occasionally, gave us, on the ancient Persians being talked of. Looking up to the rising sun, which it was supposed they worshipped, these were the words of the Brachman 'O THOU,' (meaning the Almighty) by whom thou,' (meaning the sun) art enlightened, illuminate my mind, that my actions may be agreeable to thy will!" And this I will think of, my Lucy, as often as my early hour, for the future, shall be irradiated by that glorious orb. Every body was pleased with Mr. and Mrs. Reeves. Their modesty, good sense, and amiable tempers, and the kind, yet not ostentatious regard which they express to each other, (a regard so creditable to the married state) cause them to be always treated and spoken of with distinction. But I believe, as I am in a scribbling vein, I must give you the particulars of one conversation, in which further honour was done to Dr. Bartlett. After dinner, the countess, drawing me on one side, by both my hands, said-Well, our other sister, our new-found sister, let me know how you like us; I am in pain lest you should not love us as well as you do our Northamptonshire relations.' 'You overcome me, madam, with your good ness.' Miss Grandisou then coming towards us-Dear Miss Grandison,' said I, 'help me to words 'No, indeed, I'll help you to nothing. I am jealous.-Lady L. don't think to rob me of my Harriet's preferable love, as you have of Sir Charles's.' I will be best sister here.-But what was your subject?-Yet I will answer my own question. Some pretty compliment, I suppose; women to women. Women hunger and thirst after compliments. Rather than be without them, if no men are at hand to flatter us, we love to say handsome things to one another; and so teach the men to find us out.' 'You need not be jealous, Charlotte,' said the countess you may be sure. This saucy girl, Miss 'Byron, is ever frustrating her own pretensions. Can flattery, Charlotte, say what we will, have place here?-But tell me, Miss Byron, how you like Dr. Bartlett?' Aye, tell us, Harriet,' said Miss Grandison, 'how you like Dr. Bartlett?-Pray, Lady L. don't anticipate me: I propose to give our new sister the history of us all; and is not Dr. Bartlett one of us? She has already given me the history of all her friends, and of herself: and I have communicated to you, like a good sister, all she has told me.' I considered Dr. Bartlett, I said, as a saint; and, at the same time, as a man of true politeness. 'He is, indeed,' said the countess, all that is worthy and amiable in man. Don't you see how Sir Charles admires him?' 'Pray, Lady L. keep clear of my province. Here is Sir Charles; he will not let us break into parties.' Sir Charles heard this last sentence.-'Yet I wonder not,' said he, joining us, that three such women get together: goodness to goodness is a natural attraction. We men, however, will not be excluded-Dr. Bartlett, if you please—' The doctor approached in a most graceful man |