Marriage

CHAPTER I.
"Love!—A word by superstition thought a God; by use turned to an humour; by self-will made a flattering madness."
Alexander and Campaspe.
"COME hither, child," said the old Earl of Courtland to his daughter, as, in obedience to his summons, she entered his study; "come hither, I say; I wish to have some serious conversation with you: so dismiss your dogs, shut the door, and sit down here."
"Lady Juliana rang for the footman to take Venus; bade Pluto be quiet, like a darling, under the sofa; and, taking Cupid in her arms, assured his Lordship he need fear no disturbance from the sweet creatures, and that she would be all attention to his commands—kissing her cherished pug as she spoke.
"You are now, I think, seventeen, Juliana," said his Lordship in a solemn important tone.
"And a half, papa."
"It is therefore time you should be thinking of establishing yourself in the world. Have you ever turned your thoughts that way?"
Lady Juliana cast down her beautiful eyes, and was silent.
"As I can give you no fortune," continued the Earl, swelling with ill-suppressed importance, as he proceeded, "you have perhaps no