Ah, Lucy!  Sir Charles Grandison then sighed.  He seemed to look more than he spoke.  I will not promise for my heart, if he treats me with more than the tenderness of friendship:  if he gives me room to think that he wishes—­But what can he wish?  He ought to be, he must be, Clementina’s:  and I will endeavour to make myself happy, if I can maintain the second place in his friendship:  and when he offers me this, shall I, Lucy, be so little as to be displeased with the man, who cannot be to me all that I had once hoped he could be?—­No!—­He shall be the same glorious creature in my eyes; I will admire his goodness of heart, and greatness of mind; and I will think him entitled to my utmost gratitude for the protection he gave me from a man of violence, and for the kindness he has already shewn me.  Is not friendship the basis of my love?  And does he not tender me that?

Nevertheless, at the time, do what I could, I found a tear ready to start.  My heart was very untoward, Lucy; and I was guilty of a little female turn.  When I found the twinkling of my eyes would not disperse the too ready drop, and felt it stealing down my cheek, I wiped it off—­ The poor Emily, said I—­She will be grieved at parting with you.  Emily loves her guardian.

And I love my ward.  I once had a thought, madam, of begging your protection of Emily:  but as I have two sisters, I think she will be happy under their wings, and in the protection of my good Lord L——­ and the rather, as I have no doubt of overcoming her unhappy mother, by making her husband’s interest a guaranty for her tolerable, if not good, behaviour to her child.

I was glad to carry my thoughts out of myself, as I may say, and from my own concerns.  We all, sir, said I, look upon Mr. Beauchamp as a future—­

Husband for Emily, madam, interrupted he?—­It must not be at my motion.  My friend shall be entitled to share with me my whole estate; but I will never seek to lead the choice of my ward.  Let Emily, some time hence, find out the husband she can be happy with; Beauchamp the wife he can love:  Emily, if I can help it, shall not be the wife of any man’s convenience.  Beauchamp is nice, and I will be as nice for my ward.  And the more so, as I hope she herself wants not delicacy.  There is a cruelty in persuasion, where the heart rejects the person proposed, whether the urger be parent or guardian.

Lord bless me, thought I, what a man is this!

Do you expect Mr. Beauchamp soon, sir?

Every day, madam.

And is it possible, sir, that you can bring all these things to bear before you leave England, and go so soon?

I fear nothing but Charlotte’s whimsies.  Have you, madam, any reason to apprehend that she is averse to an alliance with Lord G——?  His father and aunt are very importunate for an early celebration.

None at all, sir.

Then I shall depend much upon yours, and Lord and Lady L——­’s influence over her.