The father’s reply to this appeal to his heart restored Miss Cowley to her usual cheerfulness. He good-humouredly rallies her on the needless rhetoric she employed to restrain the ardours of a lover, apparently as little disposed to be shackled as her herself. “From the little I have seen of this young philosopher,” adds Mr. Cowley, “I believe he left his heart behind him; for our notable mothers, who are nibbling at the prize, can make nothing of him, and the girls already call him the stoic. I was much amused the other day by Captain Vernon’s and Mr. Flamall’s debate, in which you were the subject of contention. The uncle insisted that his nephew had been engaged in taking a drawing from your picture whilst I was at Oliver’s with a gay party of ladies and gentlemen, and from which young Philip had contrived to absent himself for a long time. Vernon doubted of this employment of the youngster’s time; ‘but be this as it may,’ added he, with his usual bluntness, ‘I tell you that young Flint will never do for a suitor for Miss Cowley, whatever he may for her picture; she would laugh at him.’ Mr. Flamall was not much pleased by this frankness, and he coldly replied, that he presumed Miss Cowley had not made a confession of her faith to Captain Vernon. ‘There is no need she should,’ answered he; ‘her spirit and sense speak for themselves: and whilst all the world acknowledge her beauty, she shews them that she will not easily be won.’ I shall spare my pen the labour of writing the remainder of his rhapsodies; but he finished by telling Flamall that he could recommend a wife to his nephew, who would exactly suit him; and that was Miss Lucy Hardcastle. His description of the young lady satisfied Flamall that the honest captain did not think his nephew undeserving of _a good wife_, though disqualified to manage _a saucy one_. I have, however, reason to believe I shall hear no more of Mr. Philip Flint’s _passion_ for Miss Rachel Cowley; therefore she may take one feather from vanity’s plume.” Mr. Cowley finishes this letter by mentioning the steps he had taken preparatory to quitting the island; and, with much satisfaction, informs his daughter that he has retained Mr. Flamall as his agent: he enlarges on this gentleman’s talents and capacity for business, and concludes with the highest eulogium on his manners and agreeable qualities. It appears that the honourable veteran in the service of Neptune and Bacchus, delivered, as was usual, this packet and his sweetmeats, in person, at Heathcot, where he passed a few days with a young creature, who, from her birth, had shared in his warm heart an affection which he had carried to idolatry for her mother.