Family-piece. This would be cheaper, fince one frame would ferve for all, and it would be infinitely more genteel; for all families of any taste were now drawn in the fame manner. As we did not immediately recollect an historical subject to hit us, we were contented each with being drawn as independent hiftorical figures. My wife defired to be reprefented as Venus, and the painter was defired not to be too frugal of his diamonds in her ftomacher and hair. Her two little ones were to be as Cupids by her fide, while I, in my gown and band, was to prefent her with my books on the Whistonian controversy. Olivia would be drawn as an Amazon, fitting upon a bank of flowers, dreffed in a green Jofeph, richly laced with gold, and a whip in her hand. Sophia was to be a Thepherdess, with as many sheep as the painter could put in for nothing; and Mofes was to be dreffed out with a hat and white feather. Our tafte fo much pleafed the 'Squire, that he infifted on being put in as one of the family in the character of Alexander the Great, at Olivia's feet. This was confidered by us all as an indication of his defire to be introduced into the family, nor could we refufe his requeft. The painter was therefore fet to work, and as he wrought with affiduity and expedition, in lefs than four days the whole was completed. The piece was large, and it must be owned he did not spare his colours; for which my wife gave him great encomiums. We were all perfectly satisfied with his performance; but an unfortunate circumftance had not occurred till the picture was finished, which now ftruck us with dismay.' It was fo very large, that we had no place in the house to fix it. How we all came to disregard fo material a point is inconceivable; but certain it is, we had been all greatly remifs. This picture, therefore, inftead of gratifying our vanity, as we hoped, leaned in a moft mortifying manner against the kitchen wall, where the canvas was ftretched and painted, much too large to be got through any of the doors, and the jett of all our neighbours. One compared it to Robinson Crufoe's

Crufoe's long-boat, too large to be removed; another thought it more resembled a reel in a bottle; some wondered how it could be got out, but ftill more were amazed how it ever got in.

But though it excited the ridicule of fome, it effectually raised more malicious fuggeftions in many. The 'Squire's portrait being found united with ours, was an honour too great to escape envy. Scandalous whifpers began to circulate at our expence, and our tranquillity was continually disturbed by perfons who came as friends to tell us what was said of us by enemies. These reports were always refented with becoming fpirit; but fcandal ever improves by oppofition.

We once again therefore entered into a confultation upon obviating the malice of our enemies, and at last came to a refolution which had too much cunning to give me entire fatisfaction. It was this: as our principal object was to discover the honour of Mr. Thornhill's addreffes, my wife undertook to found him, by pretending to ask his advice in the choice of a husband for her eldest daughter. If this was not found fufficient to induce him to a declaration, it was then refolved to terrify him with a rival. To this laft ftep, however, I would by no means give my confent, till Olivia gave me the moft folemn affurances that she would marry the perfon provided to rival him upon this occafion, if he did not prevent it, by taking her himfelf. Such was the scheme laid, which though I did not ftrenuously oppofe, I did not entirely approve.

The next time, therefore, that Mr. Thornhill came to fee us, my girls took care to be out of the way, in order to give their mamma an opportunity of putting her scheme in execution; but they only retired to the next room, from whence they could overhear the whole converfation: my wife artfully introduced it, by obferving that one of the Mifs Flamboroughs was like to have a very good match of it in Mr. Spanker. To this the 'Squire affenting, fhe proceeded to remark, that they who had warm fortunes were always fure

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of getting good husbands; but heaven help,' continued fhe, the girls that have none ! What figni"fies beauty, Mr. Thornhill? or what fignifies all the virtue, and all the qualifications in the world, in ⚫ this age of felf-intereft? it is not, what is she? but what has fhe? is all the cry.'

"Madam,' returned he, I highly approve the justice, as well as the novelty, of your remarks, and if I were a king, it should be otherwife.

It should then, indeed, be fine times with the girls without 'fortunes: our two young ladies fhould be the first for ⚫ whom I would provide."

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Ah, Sir!' returned my wife, you are pleased to be facetious: but I wish I were a queen, and then I 'know where my eldest daughter fhould look for an "hufband. But now that have you it into my head, seriously, Mr. Thornhill, can't you recom"mend me a proper husband for her? fhe is now 'nineteen years old, well grown and well educated, and in my humble opinion, does not want for parts.'

Madam,' replied he, if I were to chufe, I would find out a perfon poffeffed of every accomplishment ⚫ that can make an angel happy. One with prudence, 'fortune, tafte, and fincerity; fuch, madam, would be, in my opinion, the proper husband.'- Ay, Sir,' faid fhe, but do you know of any fuch perfon ? No, madam,' returned he, it is im

poffible to know any person that deferves to be her husband: fhe's too great a treasure for one man's 'poffeffion: fhe's a goddefs. Upon my foul, I fpeak what I think, fhe's an angel.' Ah, Mr. Thornhill, you only flatter my poor girl: but we have. been thinking of marrying her to one of your tenants, whofe mother is lately dead, and who wants a manager: you know whom I mean, farmer Williams; a warm man, Mr. Thornhill, able to give ⚫ her good bread; and who has feveral times made her proposals :'(which was actually the cafe :) but, Sir, concluded the, I fhould be glad to have your E

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approbation of our choice. How, madam,' replied he, my approbation! My approbation of fuch a choice! Never. What! facrifice fo much beauty, and fenfe, and goodness, to a creature infenfible of the bleffing! Excufe me, I can never approve of fuch a piece of injuftice! and I have my reafons! Indeed, Sir,' cried Deborah, if "you have your reafons,, that's another affair; but I fhould be glad to know those reasons.'-Excufe me, madam,' returned he, they lie too deep for discovery' (laying his hand upon his bofom :) they remain buried, rivetted here."

After he was gone, upon general confultation, we could not tell what to make of thefe fine fentiments. Olivia confidered them as inftances of the most exalted paffion; but I was not quite fo fanguine: it feemed to me pretty plain, that they had more of love than matrimony in them: yet, whatever they might portend, it was refolved to prosecute the scheme of farmer Williams, who, from my daughter's first appearance in the country, had paid her his addreffes.

CHAP. XVII.

Scarce any virtue found to refift the power of long and pleafing temptation.

S I only ftudied my child's real happiness, the affiduity of Mr. Williams pleased me, as he was in eafy circumftances, prudent, and fincere. It required but very little encouragement to revive his former paffion; fo that in an evening or two he and Mr. Thornhill met at our house, and furveyed each other for fome time with looks of anger: but Williams owed his landlord no rent, and little regarded his indignation. Olivia, on her fide, acted the coquet to perfection, if that might be called acting which was her real character, pretending to lavish all her tendernéfs on her new lover. Mr. Thornhill appeared quite dejected at this preference, and with a penfive

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air took leave, though I own it puzzled me to find him fo much in pain as he appeared to be, when he had it in his power fo eafily to remove the caufe, by declaring an honourable paffion. But whatever uneafinefs he feemed to endure, it could eafily be perceived that Olivia's anguish was ftill greater. After

any of these interviews between her lovers, of which there were feveral, fhe ufually retired to folitude, and there indulged her grief. It was in fuch a fituation I found her one evening, after she had been for fome time fupporting a fictitious gaiety-You now fee, 'my child,' faid I, that your confidence in Mr. • Thornhill's paffion was all a dream; he permits the rivalry of another, every way his inferior, though ⚫ he knows it lies in his power to fecure you to himfelf by a candid declaration.'— Yes, papa,' returned fhe, but he has his reafons for this delay: I know he has. The fincerity of his looks and 'words convinces me of his real esteem. A short time, I hope, will difcover the generofity of his fentiments, and convince you that my opinion of < him has been more just than yours.'- Olivia, my darling,' returned I, every scheme that has been hitherto pursued to compel him to a declaration, has been propofed and planned by yourself, nor can you in the leaft fay that I have conftrained you. But you must not fuppofe, my dear, that I will ever be inftrumental in fuffering his honeft rival to be the dupe of your ill-placed paffion. Whatever time you require to bring your fancied admirer to an explanation, fhall be granted: but at the expiration of that term, if he is ftill regardless,, I muft abfolutely 'infift that honeft Mr. Williams fhall be rewarded for his fidelity. The character which I have hitherto fupported in life demands this from me, and my tenderness as a parent fhall never influence my integrity as a man. Name then your day, let it be · as diftant as you think proper, and in the mean time take care to let Mr. Thornhill know the exact time ⚫ on which I defign delivering you up to another. If • he

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