does not look well to see young women walking in the fields so late.

Let us have none of your scruples, I pray, Susan, said she; you have lived with the old folks till you have got so starched and precise, that you are quite tiresome.

So saying, she went round to the door, and knocked very loudly at it till I unbolted it; for when I was alone, I always fastened it when night drew on.

When she came in, she took a chair beside my ironing board, and began to tell me of a very large merry-making and dancing at the Blue Bear Inn, at which she and her mother had been present the night before.

You cannot think, Susan, how merry we were; the room was so full we could scarcely move; and we heard such charming singing, and all the girls were so smart. I am sure you would have liked it: why don't you come more amongst us, and enjoy yourself a little? Here you shut yourself up, and mope, and are so dull.

Indeed, Charlotte, I said, I am so dull. But don't you think, said Charlotte, that Mrs. Bennet would now and then let you go to a wake or a dance?

. I dare say she would, I answered; but I shall never ask her leave: for to tell you the truth, Charlotte, I do not think that

modest women have any business at such merry-makings.

Lord bless me! and why not? cried Charlotte. Why, all the gentlefolks have their dances, and plays, and routs; and I do not see why we should not have them too. Do tell me where the harm of them lies?

I can scarcely tell you, Charlotte, I answered; for I never was at a dance, or a wake, or a fair, or a show in my life. But will you own to me whether you ever went to any of these places without hearing bad language, without meeting with bold or drunken men, who talk familiarly to you, who utter profane and wicked jests, and take God's name in vain? now do answer me this question, Charlotte.

I don't know, I can't tell why, why, why said Charlotte.

-

Answer me either yes or no, my dear Charlotte, I said. Surely if you do not meet with bad people in these places, you may say so; and if you do meet with them, you must agree with me, that they are not fit places for good young women.

Lord! how scrupulous! how over nice you are! said Charlotte.

How can we be too scrupulous, Charlotte! answered I. Can we love God too much; or serve him too well? Is it not said in the bible, "No man can serve two masters; for

either he will hate the one, and love the other or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other: ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matt. vi. 24.

Charlotte made no answer; and for some time she sat quite silent. At last she said, Susan, when were you in town last?

The day before yesterday I fetched this linen from Mrs. Nichols, I answered. Did you see the Captain then? she asked. What Captain? I said; I know no Captain.

Why, have you not heard of the Captain who is just come to town? Where can you have lived this last fortnight? He is come to lodge at Mr. Smith's the mercer; and he is the finest, handsomest, freest, pleasantest gentleman I ever saw in my life. He seems to regard his money no more than the stones in the streets; and you cannot think how condescending and obliging he is. He smiles and is so gracious when one meets him any where, and speaks so kindly.

And speaks so kindly! I repeated. Oh! Charlotte, what business could a gentleman, a stranger too, have to speak to a poor girl in your situation?

She coloured: a poor girl, indeed! she answered. I like that, Susan; a poor girl truly! I am no servant.

Perhaps not, I answered; but you must know that the gentlefolks do not look upon you as their equal? nor will a gentleman treat you as such. You may be assured, that when a gentleman speaks freely to a young woman in your state of life, he means no good.

Who says that the Captain spoke freely to me, I should wish to know? said Charlotte. Did you not say yourself, I asked, that he smiled, and spoke kindly when you met him?

Well, and suppose he did, answered she; and suppose he should think me handsome, and suppose he should think of making me his lady, where would be the wonder?

Oh! Charlotte, said I, gentlemen are not so ready to raise up poor girls to be their wives. Do you think, whatever they may say, that they could like low, ignorant women like ourselves, better than the fine ladies whom they see every day! How are we fit to appear in the company of gentlefolks? can we talk of the things which they talk of? are we fit, with our homely and countrified discourse, to converse with learned people? Do not let us expect that our betters will raise us to be their equals. If a decent young man in our own station offers himself, we may listen to him, but if we think of making ourselves greater than our

neighbours, we shall fall lower than we

now are.

I am sure I don't want to raise myself, said Charlotte. I did nothing to make the Captain notice me: I was walking very quietly down the narrow lane from the town towards the meadows, when he first thought proper to speak to me; I am sure I did not speak first.

But perhaps you looked at him, I said. Looked at him, truly; why, who would not look at so fine a gentleman? You cannot think how very bandsome he is.

And do you think, Charlotte, said I, because you did not speak, that this gentleman could not find out what passed in your mind? When we are angry, do not our looks shew our displeasure, although we open not our mouths? You suffered your mind to be full of this stranger; you looked at him and admired him : and he no doubt discovered these your thoughts by, your looks, although you supposed them hidden by your silence. If he, therefore, treated you with any freedom, it was your own fault; and you have as much reason to blame yourself, as if you had tempted him to do so by speaking boldly to him.

Upon my word, Susan, answered she, you take finely upon you indeed. Who made you ruler over me, that you should