It was in such a situation I found her one evening, after she had been for some time supporting a fictitious gayety.--'You now see, my child,' said I, 'that your confidence in Mr Thornhill's passion was all a dream: he permits the rivalry of another, every way his inferior, though he knows it lies in his power to secure you to himself by a candid declaration.'-- 'Yes, pappa,' returned she, 'but he has his reasons for this delay: I know he has.

The sincerity of his looks and words convince me of his real esteem.

A short time, I hope, will discover the generosity of his sentiments, 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 proposed and planned by yourself, nor can you in the least say that I have constrained you.

But you must not suppose, my dear, that I will ever be instrumental in suffering his honest rival to be the dupe of your ill-placed passion.

Whatever time you require to bring your fancied admirer to an explanation shall be granted; but at the expiration of that term, if he is still regardless, I must absolutely insist that honest Mr Williams shall be rewarded for his fidelity.