This act of heroic generosity, flattering as it might have been to the mind of Miss Henderson, admirable and beautiful as it may be considered in itself, was not by any means pleasant or agreeable to Clara. Could Miss Henderson have seen Clara's countenance while she was reading the letter, or could she have heard Clara's remarks when she had finished the letter, her vanity would not have been at all gratified. Clara was very much mortified and vexed when she read that part of the letter which referred to a communication addressed to Mr. Tippetson: for thus was she threatened with immediate and unavoidable persecution. The young gentleman had by habit become tolerable as an acquaintance, but on a sudden and with such circumstances to become a professed lover would be absolutely intolerable. For any thing that Clara knew to the contrary, Miss Henderson might have given Mr. Tippetson reason to suppose that his addresses had been all but invited; so that the poor girl was in a most awkward and distressing perplexity. There was, however, one piece of service which this letter did for her, and that was, that by abruptly presenting and proposing to her Mr. Tippetson as a lover, it prevented the young gentleman more effectually from insinuating himself gradually and successfully into her good graces. For as we have above observed that he had become gradually more tolerable as an acquaintance, it is not to be thought unlikely that he might make farther progress in her good opinion. But whatever effect Miss Henderson's letter might produce in the determinations and prospects of the young gentleman, it did not by any means prompt him to an immediate avowal of his affection for her, and that was some relief; but his attentions were continued and unremitting, and against these Clara was more effectually on her guard than she might have been, had she not received this fortunate intimation from her friend.