Page:Original stories from real life 1796.pdf/133

Rh Her father, the honourable Mr. Lofty, was the youngeſt ſon of a noble family; his education had been liberal, though his fortune was ſmall. His relations, however, ſeemed determined to puſh him forward in life, before he diſobliged them by marrying the daughter of a country clergyman, an accompliſhed, ſenſible woman.

Some time after the birth of his daughter Anna, his elder brother, the Earl of Caermarthen, was reconciled to him; but this reconciliation only led him into expences, which his limited fortune could not bear. Mr. Lofty had a high ſenſe of honour, and rather a profuſe turn; he was beſide a very humane man, and gave away much more than he could afford to give, when his compaſſion was excited. He never did a mean action; but ſometimes an oſtentatious pride tarniſhed the luſtre of very ſplendid ones, made them appear to judicious eyes more like tinſel than gold. I will account for it. His firſt impulſe aroſe from ſenſibility, and the ſecond from an immoderate desire of human applauſe: for he ſeemed Rh