par exemple, or one of the works of the modern Shakespeare of the North. Insensible to the glow of style, the beauties of detail, the rapid yet profound views of manners those animated pictures suggest, these indefatigable gossips were only intent upon the story, which they discussed as if it was that of their next-door neighbour; and after they had decided it was not right of lord Nelvil to marry Lucilia, and they were glad Frank Osbaldistone married Diana Vernon, they had said all that the finest sports of human genius suggested to their unfurnished minds, and bald, poverty-struck imaginations; but there was one subject which they never found above their comprehension-praise of their own dear selves; and when this was mingled with a little raillery, the more outré and whimsically silly the better, a man was pronounced a dear creature, and became the oracle of the card and tea tables. "What a pity," resumed Mr. Birkit, after after a longer pause than he had yet indulged, that I should have experienced the silly ambition of shining in the eyes of such judges, before I became acquainted with what a really-elegant female character was! but it is too late to mend." Julia was anxious to make him all the atonement in her power, for having too hastily prejudged his character; she was, at the same time, too well acquainted with the language of admiration not to know that the young gentleman meant, in his address, a particular application to herself. Totally averse to encouraging such thoughts, she was very guarded in her reply, but at the same time drew this inference from the conversation of the morning, that a mind cultivated by education, to a degree of over-refinement, may, at a first view, take a disgust to a character which is found, upon a second examination, to be possessed of many valuable qualities. VOL. III. M CHAP el L. 6. of numiz in any pul Tot roweg.3ad ni dromen Miranda, mark, where, shrinking from the gale, 77 Its silken leaves yet moist with early dew, 135 That faint, fair flower, the lily of the vale, it h WOLL Droops its meek head, and looks, methinks, like you! aid Its snowy bells a soft perfume dispense; With such unconscious beauty, pensive, mild, -97 T Miranda charms—Nature's soft, modest childr -ni aid wood omit 90162 oCHARLOTTE SMITH. -como: lo gitarovano sát mort esavro JULIA was reflecting on the conversation s related in the preceding chapter, and parToticularly on that part of it in which she -disclaimed the character, fofat poet, when blue packet was delivered to her by othe general post, containing the following lines: -TAHO M .III JOV ΤΟ 2 o. Tal o hrabai Julia, adorn'd with purest mind, 3 That scorns to hide its inmost thought; This Julia we shall surely find. hominpai For well she knows her eyes alone Wilt thou, presumptuous, then declare For inspiration's all care; 1 your out t The Muses too (for aught I know) Have hever penn'd a single line; in Their title to this art divine? 97. To write your thoughts you are too proud; › $ 15 Imoitrov But, here I know the reason lies: { You are own cousin to the god; I see the likeness in your eyes." } 66 "Very tolerable badinage!" said Horatio, who had sauntered over to Julia's work-table, and looked over her as she was reading those lines-" very tolerable indeed for Mr. Tom Birkit !" "How can you imagine they are his?" inquired Julia. "The lines arrived by London." "It is very possible, my little Julia, to send a paper of verses from the country to London, that they may arrive in the country unsuspected again; and I wonder it has not occurred to your sagacity, that an anonymous critic may also be the anonymous celebrator of your charms. But, seriously, I have more solid reasons for asserting Mr. Birkit admires you. He is heir to a clear estate of three thousand ayear. You have at length discovered him to have goodness and sense-a discovery I made in the very first conversation I had with him, and your influence will speedily cure him of the ridiculous ambi |