Page 97 (1/1)

Such were so ht dive hts, propose questions the reader ht startle his prejudices, or, perhaps, provoke his ridicule, because he could not comprehend them; but I forbear

Now, therefore, let us return to Miss Murray She accompanied her mamma to the ball on Tuesday; of course splendidly attired, and delighted with her prospects and her charms As Ashby Park was nearly ten e, they had to set out pretty early, and I intended to have spent the evening with Nancy Broho time; but my kind pupil took care I should spend it neither there nor anywhere else beyond the li me a piece of music to copy, which kept , as soon as she had left her room, she came to tell me her news Sir Thomas had indeed proposed to her at the ball; an event which reflected great credit on her acity, if not upon her skill in contrivance I rather incline to the belief that she had first laid her plans, and then predicted their success The offer had been accepted, of course, and the bridegroo that day to settle hts of beco mistress of Ashby Park; she was elated with the prospect of the bridal ceremony and its attendant splendour and eclat, the honeyaieties she expected to enjoy in London and elsewhere; she appeared pretty well pleased too, for the ti, with Sir Thomas himself, because she had so lately seen him, danced with him, and been flattered by hi so soon united: she wished the ceremony to be delayed some months, at least; and I wished it too It see to hurry on the inauspicious ive the poor creature time to think and reason on the irrevocable step she was about to take I made no pretension to 'a mother's watchful, anxious care,' but I was amazed and horrified at Mrs Murray's heartlessness, or want of thought for the real good of her child; and by s and exhortations, I vainly strove to rehed at what I said; and I soon found that her reluctance to an immediate union arose chiefly froentlemen of her acquaintance, before she was incapacitated from further mischief of the kind It was for this cause that, before confiding to ement, she had extracted a promise that I would not mention a word on the subject to any one And when I saw this, and when I beheld her plunge more recklessly than ever into the depths of heartless coquetry, I had no ht, 'she deserves it Sir Thomas cannot be too bad for her; and the sooner she is incapacitated fro others the better'