Page:Affecting history of an inn-keeper in Normandy.pdf/15

(15) was the only daughter of a gentleman in the north country, poſſeſſed of ſeveral hundreds per annum. She had, in an eminent degree, a moſt beautiful "ſet of features," attended with thoſe nameleſs graces of perſon which inſenſibly attract the attention of the moſt ſuperficial obſerver; to which was added the greateſt good-nature; an uncommon affability; an humane and feeling heart, and an accompliſhed underſtanding. In fine, to ſum up her character in a few words, ſhe was, in fact, what the daughter of Cato was in deſcription, poſſeſt

It is, however, neceſſary to obſerve, that ſhe was unlucky in a father. He was a man in whoſe breaſt avarice had gained conſiderable ground, and whoſe heart was, in a great meaſure, callous to the tender feelings of paternal affection: as it is reported of him, that he would often, when ſpeaking on the ſubject of marriage, ridicule that famous ſaying of Themiſtocles, namely, "that he would much rather marry his daughter to a man of merit, though poor, than to one who was rich without it," by obſerving, that if he had his daughter married to a man of fortune, he did not care whether he had merit or not.