He had had, he told my cousins, a most uneasy time of it, ever since he saw me. He never saw a woman before whom he could love as he loved me. By his soul, he had no view but what was strictly honourable. He gloried in the happy prospects before him, and hoped, as none of my little _army_ of admirers had met encouragement from me, that _he_ might be the happy man. "I told you, Mr. Reeves," said he, "that I will give you _carte blanche_ as to settlements. I will lay before you, or before any of Miss Byron's friends, my rent-rolls. There never was a better conditioned estate. She shall live in town, or in the country, as she thinks fit." On a message that tea was near ready, I went down. "Charming Miss Byron," said he, addressing me with an air of kindness and freedom, "I hope you are all benignity and compassion." He then begged I would hear him relate the substance of what had passed between him and Mr. and Mrs. Reeves, referred to the declaration he had made, boasted of his violent passion, and besought my favour with the utmost earnestness. As I could not think of encouraging his addresses, I thought it best to answer him without reserve. "Sir Hargrave, you may expect nothing from me but the simplest truth. I thank you, sir, for your good opinion of me, but I cannot encourage your addresses." "You _cannot_, madam, _encourage my addresses!_" He stood silent a minute or two, looking upon me as if he said, "Foolish girl! Knows she whom she refuses?" "I have been assured, madam, that your affections are not engaged. But surely, it must be a mistake; some happy man----" "Is it," I interrupted, "a necessary consequence that the woman who cannot receive the addresses of Sir Hargrave Pollexfen must be engaged?" "Why, madam, as to that, I know not what to say, but a man of my fortune----" He paused. "What, madam, can be your objection? Be so good as to name it, that I may know whether I can be so happy as to get over it." "We do not, we _cannot_, all like the same person. There is _something_ that attracts or disgusts us." "_Disgusts!_ Madam--disgusts! Miss Byron!" "I spoke in general, sir; I dare say, nineteen women out of twenty would think themselves favoured in the addresses of Sir Hargrave Pollexfen." "But _you_, madam, are the twentieth that I must love; and be so good as to let me know----" "Pray, sir, ask me not a reason for a _peculiarity_. You may have more merit, perhaps, than the man I may happen to approve of better; but--_shall_ I say?--you do not--you do not hit my fancy, sir." "_Not hit your fancy_, madam! Give me leave to say" (and he reddened with anger) "that my fortune, my descent, and my ardent affection for you ought to avail with me. Perhaps, madam, you think me too airy a man. You have doubts of my sincerity. You question my honour." "That, sir, would be to injure myself," and making a low courtesy, I withdrew in haste. My sheet is ended. With a new one I will begin another letter.