his heart dictated, and though the young lady would have been ashamed and vexed by the repetition of the looks which she had received in the coach, she, perhaps, was not altogether pleased at what she, not certain as to the motive, considered as a change. A lady whose affections are perfectly unengaged, may be pleased with attentions, which are merely homage to her charms, and, though indifferent to the man who has bestowed them, may be piqued or mortified at their discontinuance, real or imagined. The mind of Maria, however, was too strong to be much affected by pique. She was less mortified than anxious. She recollected, however, that there was no motive, which she could avow, for coldness and distance to a gentleman who was her father’s guest, the intimate friend of her brother, and whose manners and deportment had a claim to every attention which the politeness of hospitality could exact from a younger and fair hostess: she, therefore, resolved to attempt a greater degree of care and frankness. At tea, the worthy host, in order to amuse the company with a joke, a pastime of which he was very fond, began to roast our hero about his fellow-traveller to the north. Hamilton, whose eyes were turned towards Miss Mortimer, observed her flush and suddenly look to him at this address, but on perceiving the direction of his eyes withdraw hers in confusion. Animated by these movements, which he flattered himself indicated, at least, a curiosity about his conduct, he very eagerly and briefly related her meeting with an officer, who appeared to be her husband; and having spoken very slightly of the appearance and accomplishments of the lady, he, for some reason, chose to descant on the grace, elegance, and manly beauty of the gentleman whom she had met. He did not, he said, know who they were, having parted with them at Morpeth, and having heard nothing, and indeed thought nothing of them from that time to the present. Maria in this account saw two circumstances, with neither of which she was displeased: first, that Hamilton had cultivated no acquaintance with the lady: secondly, that he was extremely desirous to make that known. One or two opportunities had occurred for his countenance speaking to Maria the energetic and impassioned language of love; and she did not misunderstand the expression.