Belinda did not take all the merit of this reformation to herself: she was most willing to share it, in her own imagination, not only with Dr. X----and Mr. Moreton, but with poor Clarence Hervey. She was pleased to observe that Lady Delacour never omitted any occasion of doing justice to his merit, and she loved her for that generosity, which sometimes passed the bounds of justice in her eulogiums. But Belinda was careful to preserve her consistency, and to guard her heart from the dangerous effect of these enthusiastic praises; and as Lady Delacour was now sufficiently re-established in her health, she announced her intention of returning immediately to Oakly-park, according to her promise to Lady Anne Percival and to Mr. Vincent. “But, my dear,” said Lady Delacour, “one week more is all I ask from you--may not friendship ask such a sacrifice from love?” “You expect, I know,” said Miss Portman, ingenuously, “that before the end of that time Mr. Hervey will be here.” “True. And have you no friendship for him?” said Lady Delacour with an arch smile, “or is friendship for every man in the creation, one Augustus Vincent always excepted, prohibited by the statutes of Oakly-park?” “By the statutes of Oakly-park nothing is forbidden,” said Belinda, “but what reason--” “Reason! Oh, I have done if you go to reason! You are invulnerable to the light shafts of wit, I know, when you are cased in this heavy armour of reason; Cupid himself may strain his bow, and exhaust his quiver upon you in vain. But have a care--you cannot live in armour all your life--lay it aside but for a moment, and the little bold urchin will make it his prize. Remember, in one of Raphael’s pictures, Cupid creeping into the armour of the conqueror of the world.” “I am sufficiently aware,” said Belinda, smiling, “of the power of Cupid, and of his wiles. I would not brave his malice, but I will fly from it.” “It is so cowardly to fly!” “Surely prudence, not courage, is the virtue of our sex; and seriously, my dear Lady Delacour, I entreat you not to use your influence over my mind, lest you should lessen my happiness, though you cannot alter my determination.” Moved by the earnest manner in which Belinda uttered these words, Lady Delacour rallied her no more, nor did she longer oppose her resolution of returning immediately to Oakly-park. “May I remind you,” said Miss Portman, “though it is seldom either politic or polite, to remind people of their promises,--but may I remind you of something like a promise you made, to accompany me to Mr. Percival’s?” “And would you have me behave so brutally to poor Lord Delacour, as to run away from him in this manner the moment I have strength to run?” “Lord Delacour is included in this invitation,” said Miss Portman, putting the last letter that she had received from Lady Anne Percival into her hands.