SUSAN GRAY. Ai

dows, 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 !” replied she ; “why,
who would net look at so fine a gentleman?
You cannot think how very handsome he is.”

‘‘ And do you think, Charlotte,” said I, ‘ be-
cause 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 dare
to find fault with me at this rate? What, must
I neither look nor speak? I suppose you would
have me walk about with my eyes shut.”

“I beg your pardon, Charlotte,” said I, “ if
I have spoken harshly to you; but you were
the friend of my early days, and although we
have been but little together of late, yet I can-
not but love you, and I wish, if possible, to
convince you that you allow yourself in liber-
ties, which you may think innocent, but for
* which I fear that you will be punished, per-
n3