Amelia stood abashed, and for some instants incapable of reply: but at last, approaching her mother, and hiding her face, as she hung over her shoulder, she said, in a low and timid voice, “It was only to my mother--I thought that could not be wrong--and when it was to prevent a greater wrong, the engaging myself to another person.” “Engaging yourself, my foolish child! but did I not tell you that you should have your own time?” “But no time, mother, will do.” “Try, my dear love; that is all I ask of you; and this you cannot, in duty, in kindness, in prudence, or with decency, refuse me.” “Cannot I?” “Indeed you cannot. So say not a word more that can lessen the high opinion I have of you; but show me that you have a becoming sense of your own and of female dignity, and that you are not the poor, mean-spirited creature, to pine for a man who disdains you.” “Disdain! I never saw any disdain. On the contrary, though he never gave me reason to think so, I cannot help fancying----” “That he likes you--and yet he never proposed for you! Do not believe it--a man may coquet as well as a woman, and often more; but till he makes his proposal, never, if you have any value for your own happiness or dignity, fancy for a moment that he loves you.” “But he cannot marry, because he is so poor.” “True--and if so, what stronger argument can be brought against your thinking of him?” “I do not think of him--I endeavour not to think of him.” “That is my own girl! Depend upon it, he thinks not of you. He is all in his profession--prefers it to every woman upon earth. I have heard him say he would not give it up for any consideration. All for glory, you see; nothing for love.” Amelia sighed. Her mother rose, and kissing her, said, as if she took every thing she wished for granted, “So, my Amelia, I am glad to see you reasonable, and ready to show a spirit that becomes you--Sir John Hunter breakfasts here to-morrow.” “But,” said Amelia, detaining her mother, who would have left the room, “I cannot encourage Sir John Hunter, for I do not esteem him; therefore I am sure I can never love him.” “You cannot encourage Sir John Hunter, Amelia?” replied Mrs. Beaumont. “It is extraordinary that this should appear to you an impossibility the very moment the gentleman proposes for you. It was not always so. Allow me to remind you of a ball last year, where you and I met both Sir John Hunter and Captain Walsingham; as I remember, you gave all your attention that evening to Sir John.”