Page:Four interesting tales.pdf/15

15 temporary check to his love, by producing a fit of the spleen; ho then saw nothing through the mist of partiality, and Maria’s nose glowed with renovated redness.

By continually dwelling on the subject, we forget it ; it becomes familiar ; familiarity produces inattention ; and inattention sinks into indifference. So it happened to Conway ; he had a half consciousness that Maria had some defect—but of what denomination he endeavoured in vain to remember, and, as he sought what he had little inclination to find, it is not to be admired at that his enquiry was ineffectual. His visits at Mr Hargrave’s now began and ended with the day. He wondered why he did not marry, and, profoundly ignorant of his battles against himself, generously exclaimed, “Love should be unconstrained : that is not given, which is not given willingly.”

When a man once wonders that he is unmarried, he soon ceases to be a bachelor. The irrevocable knot was tied.

As the fond couple quitted the church, a young idler exclaimed, “Goodness, gracious! only see what a huge red nose!”—“ Red nose!” echoed Conway : “Red nose! said he, repeating the words a second time; “ what can the blockhead mean?”—

THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.

A favourite dog, belonging to an English nobleman, had fallen into disgrace, from an incorrigible habit of annoying the flocks of the neighbouring farmers. One of these having, in vain, driven the depredator from his premises, came at length to the offender’s master, with a dead lamb under his arm, the victim of the last nights plunder. The nobleman being extremely angry at the dog’s transgression, rang the bell for his servant, and, ordered him