FIRST STEPS IX ( UTRTSHIP. 295 



the young lady's affections, with the view of making her his wife at no 

 distant period. Should he, after such a review of his affairs, feel satisfied 

 that he can proceed hononrably, he may then use fair opportunities to 

 ascertain the estimation in which the young lady, as well as her family, is 

 held by friends. It is perhaps needless to add, that all possible delicacy 

 and caution must be observed in making such enquiries, so as to avoid 

 compromising the lady herself in the slightest degree. When he has 

 satisfied himself on this head, and found no insurmountable impediment 

 in his way, his next endeavour will be, through the mediation of a com- 

 mon friend, to procure an introduction to the lady's family. Those who 

 undertake such an office incur no slight responsibility, and are, of course, 

 expected to be scrupulously careful in performing it, and to communicate 

 all they happen to know affecting the character and circumstances of the 

 individual they introduce. 



\\V will now reverse the picture, and see how matters stand on the 

 fair one's side. 



t, let us hope that the inclination is mutual ; at all events that the 

 lady views her admirer with preference, that she deems him not unworthy 

 of her favourable regard, and that his attentions are agreeable to her. 

 It is true her heart may not yet be won : she has to be wooed ; and what 

 fair daughter of Eve has not hailed with rapture that brightest day in 

 the springtide of her life ? She has probably first met the gentleman at 



til, or other festive occasion, where the excitement of the scene has 

 reflected on every object around a roseate tint. We are to suppose, of 

 course, that in looks, manners, and address, her incipient admirer is not 

 below her ideal standard in gentlemanly attributes. His respectful ap- 

 proaches to her in soliciting her hand as a partner in the dance, ete. 

 have first awakened on her part a slight feeling of interest towards him- 

 This mutual feeling of interest, once established, soon "grows by what it 



Is on." The exaltation of the whole scene favours its development, 

 and it can hardly be wondered at if both parties leave judgment "out in 

 tin- c<ld" while enjoying each other's society, and possibly already pleas- 

 antly ueeiij.'n-d in building "castles in the air." Whatever may eventu- 

 ally emm i,f it, the fair one is conscious for the nonce of )>ein^ unusually 



;>y. This .-motion is not likely to be diminished when she finds her- 



tli.- object of Lfii'-ral attention accompanied, it may be, by the dis- 

 play "f a Iittl- envy among rival beauties owing to theassidu<>u> homage 

 of IUT admirer. At length, prudence whi>pei-N t hat he i-> t. > her, as yet, a 



stranger; and with a modest reserve she endeavour t 

 from hi .n- m, so as not to seem t- a^e his attentions. The 



