Guy Mannering.

228 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
French and Italian-thanks to the assiduity of Dominie
Sampson, whose labour had silently made him acquainted
with most modern as well as ancient languages. Of
music she knew little or nothing, but her new friend
undertook to give her lessons; in exchange for which,
she was to learn from Lucy the habit of walking, and the
art of riding, and the courage necessary to defy the
season. Aiannering, was careful to substitute for their
amusement in the evening such books as might convey
some solid instruction with entertainment, and as he read
aloud with great skill and taste, the winter nights passed
pleasantly away.
Society was quickly formed where there were so many
inducements. IMost of the families of the neighbourhood
visited Colonel MAannering, and he was soon able to select
from among them such as best suited his taste and habits.
Charles Hazlewood held a distinguished place in his
favour, and was a frequent visitor, not without the consent
and approbation of his parents; for there was no knowing, they thought, what assiduous attention might produce,
and the beautiful Miss Mannering, of high family, with
an Indian fortune, was a prize worth looking after. Dazzled with such a prospect, they never considered the risk
which had once been some object of their apprehension,
that his boyish and inconsiderate fancy might form an
attachment to the penniless Lucy Bertram, who had nothing on earth to recommend her, but a pretty face, good
birth, and a most amiable disposition. Mannering was
more prudent. He considered himself acting as Miss
Bertram's guardian, and while he did not think it incumbent upon him altogether to check her intercourse with a
young gentleman for whom, excepting in wealth, she was
a match in every respect, he laid it under such insensible