In their mild features, and then pass away. The beauty died, ere she could yield her hand In the high marriage by the mother plann’d: Who grieved indeed, but found a vast relief In a cold heart, that ever warr’d with grief. Lucy was present when her sister died, 180 Heiress to duties that she ill supplied: There were no mutual feelings, sister arts, No kindred taste, nor intercourse of hearts; When in the mirror play’d the matron’s smile, The maiden’s thoughts were travelling all the while; And, when desired to speak, she sigh’d to find Her pause offended:--“Envy made her blind; Tasteless she was, nor had a claim in life Above the station of a rector’s wife; Yet as an heiress, she must shun disgrace, 190 Although no heiress to her mother’s face: It is your duty,” said th’ imperious dame, } “(Advanced your fortune) to advance your name, } And with superior rank, superior offers claim. } Your sister’s lover, when his sorrows die, May look upon you, and for favour sigh; Nor can you offer a reluctant hand; His birth is noble, and his seat is grand.” Alarm’d was Lucy, was in tears--“A fool! Was she a child in love?--a miss at school? 200 Doubts any mortal, if a change of state Dissolves all claims and ties of earlier date?” The rector doubted, for he came to mourn A sister dead, and with a wife return. Lucy with heart unchanged received the youth, True in herself, confiding in his truth; But own’d her mother’s change: the haughty dame Pour’d strong contempt upon the youthful flame; She firmly vow’d her purpose to pursue, Judged her own cause, and bade the youth adieu! 210 The lover begg’d, insisted, urged his pain; His brother wrote to threaten and complain; Her sister, reasoning, proved the promise made, Lucy, appealing to a parent, pray’d; But all opposed th’ event that she design’d, And all in vain--she never changed her mind; But coldly answer’d in her wonted way, That she “would rule, and Lucy must obey.” With peevish fear, she saw her health decline, And cried, “Oh! monstrous, for a man to pine; 220 But if your foolish heart must yield to love, Let him possess it whom I now approve; This is my pleasure.”--Still the rector came With larger offers and with bolder claim; But the stern lady would attend no more-- She frown’d, and rudely pointed to the door; Whate’er he wrote, he saw unread return’d, And he, indignant, the dishonour spurn’d; Nay, fix’d suspicion where he might confide, And sacrificed his passion to his pride. 230 Lucy, meantime, though threaten’d and distress’d, Against her marriage made a strong protest. All was domestic war: the aunt rebell’d Against the sovereign will, and was expell’d;