The countess took my hand--One word with you, my dear--and led me out into the next room, and sitting down, made me sit on the same settee with her. O that I could call you daughter! began she at once; and turning half round to me, put one arm about me, with her other hand taking one of mine, and earnestly looking in my downcast face. I was silent. Ah, Lucy! had Lady D---- been the mother of Sir Charles Grandison, with what pleasure could I have listened to her! You said, my dear, that Sir Charles Grandison will soon leave England: --and then you sighed--Will you be quite open-hearted?--May I ask you a question in hope that you will? I was silent: yet the word Yes was on my lips. You have caused it to be told me, that your affections are engaged. This has been a cruel blow upon us. My lord, nevertheless, has heard so much of you, [he is really a good young man, my dear,] that (against my advice, I own,) he would have me introduce him into your company. I see by his looks, that he could admire you above all women. He never was in love: I should be sorry if he were disappointed in his first love. I hope his promised prudence will be his guard, if there be no prospect of his succeeding with you--She paused--I was still silent-- It will be a mark of your frankness of heart, my dear, if, when you take my full meaning, you prevent me speaking more than I need.--I would not oppress you, my sweet love--Such a delicacy, and such a frankness mingled, have I never seen in young woman--But tell me, my dear, has Sir Charles Grandison made his addresses to you? It was a grievous question for me to answer--But why was it so, my Lucy, when all the hopes I ever had, proceeded from my own presumption, confirmed (that's true, of late!) by his sisters partiality in my favour; and when his unhappy Clementina has such a preferable claim? What says Miss Byron? She says, madam, that she reveres Lady D----, and will answer any questions that she puts to her, however affecting--Sir Charles Grandison has not. Once I thought, proceeded she, that I never would make a second motion, were the woman a princess, who had confessed a prior love, or even liking: but the man is Sir Charles Grandison, whom all women must esteem; and the woman is Miss Byron, whom all men must love. Let me ask you, my dear--Have you any expectation, that the first of men (I will call him so) and the loveliest and most amiable-minded of women, can come together?--You sighed, you know, when you mentioned, that Sir Charles was soon to leave England; and you own that he has not made addresses to you --Don't be uneasy, my love!--We women, in these tender cases, see into each other's hearts from small openings--Look upon me as your mother-- What say you, love?