And by that means, said Lady Gertrude, setting the silly creature at variance with all her friends, he makes her fight his battles for him; and become herself the cat’s paw to help him to the ready roasted chesnuts.

But, dear brother, said Lady G——­, do you think love is such a staid deliberate passion, as to allow a young creature to take time to ponder and weigh all the merits of the cause?

Love at first sight, answered Sir Charles, must indicate a mind prepared for impression, and a sudden gust of passion, and that of the least noble kind; since there could be no opportunity of knowing the merit of the object.  What woman would have herself supposed capable of such a tindery fit?  In a man, it is an indelicate paroxysm:  but in a woman, who expects protection and instruction from a man, much more so.  Love, at first, may be only fancy.  Such a young love may be easily given up, and ought, to a parent’s judgment.  Nor is the conquest so difficult as some young creatures think it.  One thing, my good Emily, let me say to you, as a rule of some consequence in the world you are just entering into—­Young persons, on arduous occasions, especially in love-cases, should not presume to advise young persons; because they seldom can divest themselves of passion, partiality, or prejudice; that is, indeed, of youth; and forbear to mix their own concerns and biases with the question referred to them.  It should not be put from young friend to young friend, What would you do in such a case? but, What ought to be done?

How the dear girl blushed, and how pleased she looked, to be particularly addressed by her guardian!

Lady Gertrude spoke of a certain father, who for interested views obliged his daughter to marry at fifteen, when she was not only indifferent to the man, but had formed no right notions of the state.

And are they not unhappy? asked Sir Charles.

They are, replied she.

I knew such an instance, returned he.  The lady was handsome, and had her full share of vanity.  She believed every man who said civil things to her, was in love with her; and had she been single, that he would have made his addresses to her.  She supposed, that she might have had this great man, or that, had she not been precipitated:  And this brought her to slight the man who had, as she concluded, deprived her of better offers.  They were unhappy to the end of their lives.  Had the lady lived single long enough to find out the difference between compliment and sincerity, and that the man who flattered her vanity, meant no more than to take advantage of her folly, she would have thought herself not unhappy with the very man with whom she was so dissatisfied.

Lady L——­ speaking afterwards of a certain nobleman, who is continually railing against matrimony, and who makes a very indifferent husband to an obliging wife:  I have known more men than one, said Sir Charles, inveigh against matrimony, when the invective would have proceeded with a much better grace from their wives’ lips than from theirs.  But let us inquire, would this complainer have been, or deserved to be, happier in any state, than he now is?