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After we had danced together. a nobleman remarkable in the beau-monde. came up, and in the hearing of all present, honoured us with a very particular compliment upon our accomplishments and appearance: but this transport was soon checked when I perceived his lordship attach himself with great assiduity to my mistress. and say some warm things, which I thought favoured too much of passion. It was then I began to feel the pangs of jealousy. I was enraged at his presumption; I cursed him complaisance: at length he quitted her, and went to the other side of the room. Narcissa no sooner observed my emotion, than she changed colour, and asked what ailed me? But before I could made answer her brother, pulling me by the sleeve, bid me take notice of a young lady who sat fronting us, whom I immediately distinguished to be Melinda, accompanied by her mother and an elderly gentleman I did not know. Wounds! Random, cried the 'Squire, is she not a delicate piece of stuff? 'Sdeath! I have a good mind if I tho't she was a single person. Alarmed at these symptoms of the Squire's admiration, I for some time did not know what reply to make. At length I told him her name was Melinda; that she had a fortune of ten thousand pounds and was under promise of marriage to a certain lord, when he would be of age. He made light of her engagement,
