lecture rather; and be assured, my dear, your monitorial lessons and advice shall be attended to.  I believe I shall never again resume those airs which you term coquettish, but which I think deserve a softer appellation, as they proceed from an innocent heart, and are the effusions of a youthful and cheerful mind.  We are all invited to spend the day to-morrow at Colonel Farington’s, who has an elegant seat in this neighborhood.  Both he and his lady are strangers to me; but the friends by whom I am introduced will procure me a welcome reception.  Adieu.

ELIZA WHARTON.

LETTER III.

TO THE SAME.

NEW HAVEN.

Is it time for me to talk again of conquests? or must I only enjoy them in silence?  I must write to you the impulses of my mind, or I must not write at all.  You are not so morose as to wish me to become a nun, would our country and religion allow it.  I ventured, yesterday, to throw aside the habiliments of mourning, and to array myself in those more adapted to my taste.  We arrived at Colonel Farington’s about one o’clock.  The colonel handed me out of the carriage, and introduced me to a large company assembled in the hall.

My name was pronounced with an emphasis, and I was received with the most flattering tokens of respect.  When we were summoned to dinner, a young gentleman in a clerical dress offered me his hand, and led me to a table furnished with an elegant and sumptuous repast, with more gallantry and address than commonly fall to the share of students.  He sat opposite me at table; and whenever I raised my eye, it caught his.  The ease and politeness of his manners, with his particular attention to me, raised my curiosity, and induced me to ask Mrs. Laiton who he was.  She told me that his name was Boyer; that he was descended from a worthy family; had passed with honor and applause through the university where he was educated; had since studied divinity with success; and now had a call to settle as a minister in one of the first parishes in a neighboring state.

The gates of a spacious garden were thrown open at this instant, and I accepted with avidity an invitation to walk in it.  Mirth and hilarity prevailed, and the moments fled on downy wings, while we traced the beauties of Art and Nature, so liberally displayed and so happily blended in this delightful retreat.  An enthusiastic admirer of scenes like these, I had rambled some way from the company, when I was followed by Mrs. Laiton to offer her condolence on the supposed loss which I had sustained in the death of Mr. Haly.  My heart rose against the woman, so ignorant of human nature as to think such conversation acceptable at such a time.  I made her little reply, and waved the subject, though I could not immediately dispel the gloom which it excited.

The absurdity of a custom authorizing people at a first interview to revive the idea of griefs which time has lulled, perhaps obliterated, is intolerable.  To have our enjoyments arrested by the empty compliments of unthinking persons for no other reason than a compliance with fashion, is to be treated in a manner which the laws of humanity forbid.