It may be thought George Mortimer was too particular, but be it remembered, it was a most honorable feeling that led to his deliberation; viz., the firm resolve not to win Helen’s, affections, and then leave her.  No, he nobly resolved first to learn the state of his own feelings; and well would it be if many others would act equally generous.  But no! however men decry beauty, they are all its slaves, and it ever wins a willing homage from them.  They are won by the attractions of a pretty face, and are in consequence, most particular in their attentions to its possessor; who is thus singled out, and in all probability, is subject to the jokes of her friends till from so constantly hearing, she is beloved, she believes it to be so, nor awakes from her dream, till she sees herself supplanted by a newer or prettier face.  This is a crying evil:  a bad state of things; and in regretting it, we must not lay the blame wholly on the opposite sex.  There is doubtless too much credulity in the ladies, but this credulity would be greatly diminished, were they more frequently met and treated as rational beings, and they would much sooner become so:  for they would have an object in it.  How much would the state of society be improved, could there be a little reform on the side of each sex.  Let the man, as the superior, commence; he will find his young female friends, beings capable of more than the small talk, with which they are too generally amused; and I think they will soon be better prepared for sensible conversation; and then let the ladies on their part be a little more sceptical in believing the flattery and adulation of the men, and not fancy every gentleman, who is friendly and attentive in perhaps merely a general way, in love with her.  As in everything else, there are exceptions, here I only speak of generalities, and I trust not with acerbity.  A very little of mutual effort, would bring about a great improvement in these matters.  The young have great influence on the young, particularly in the formation of character, and well for those who exercise it beneficially.

When Sir Horace Mortimer went into the cottage, he had hardly shaken hands than he asked Helen her mother’s maiden name.

“Brereton,” she replied.

“Brereton?” said he “not Anna Brereton, for she married a Lieutenant Bateson; am I wrong then, after all?”

“Papa changed his name,” said Helen, “on receiving some, property, which we afterwards found he had no claim to.”

“Then, my beloved girl, in me you behold your uncle William.  You have heard your mother speak of me.”

“Oh, yes, frequently! she always said, had you been at home, you would have brought about a reconciliation with grand-papa.”

“Do you ever see or hear of your Aunt Elinor; she was engaged when I went away, to a Mr. Selwyn, and it was thought to be a good match.”

Helen told him she had received two letters from Mrs. Selwyn.