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cried Moses, 'it is but just and
reasonable.'—'I hope,' cried the 'Squire, 'you will not deny, that
the two angles of a triangle are equal to two right ones.'—'Nothing
can be plainer,' returned t'other, and looked round with his usual
importance.—'Very well,' cried the 'Squire, speaking very quick,
'the premises being thus settled, I proceed to observe, that the
concatenation of self existences, proceeding in a reciprocal
duplicate ratio, naturally produce a problematical dialogism, which
in some measure proves that the essence of spirituality may be
referred to the second predicable'—'Hold, hold,' cried the other,
'I deny that: Do you think I can thus tamely submit to such
heterodox doctrines?'—'What,' replied the 'Squire, as if in a
passion, 'not submit! Answer me one plain question: Do you think
Aristotle right when he says, that relatives are related?'
'Undoubtedly,' replied the other.—'If so then,' cried the 'Squire,
'answer me directly to what I propose: Whether do you judge the
analytical investigation of the first part of my enthymem deficient
secundum quoad, or quoad minus, and give me your reasons: give me
your reasons, I say, directly.'—'I protest,' cried Moses, 'I don't
rightly comprehend the force of your reasoning; but if it be
reduced to one simple proposition, I fancy it may then have an
answer.'—'O sir,' cried the 'Squire, 'I am your most humble
servant, I find you want me to furnish you with argument and
intellects too. No, sir, there I protest you are too hard for me.'
This effectually raised the laugh against poor Moses, who sate the
only dismal figure in a groupe of merry faces: nor, did he offer a
single syllable more during the whole entertainment.
    But though all this gave me no pleasure, it had a very different
effect upon Olivia, who mistook it for humour, though but a mere
act of the memory. She thought him therefore a very fine gentleman;
and such as consider what powerful ingredients a good figure, fine
cloaths, and fortune, are in that character, will easily forgive
her. Mr Thornhill, notwithstanding his real ignorance, talked with
ease, and could expatiate upon the common topics of conversation
with fluency. It is not surprising then that such talents should
win the affections of a girl, who by education was taught to value
an appearance in herself, and consequently to set a value upon it
in another.
    Upon his departure, we again entered into a debate upon the
merits of our young landlord. As he directed his looks and
conversation to Olivia, it was no longer doubted but that she was
the object that induced him to be our visitor. Nor did she seem to
be much displeased at the innocent raillery of her brother and
sister upon this occasion. Even Deborah herself seemed to share the
glory of the day, and exulted in her daughter's victory as if it
were her own. 'And now, my dear,' cried she to me, 'I'll fairly
own, that it was I that instructed my girls to encourage our
landlord's addresses. I had always some ambition, and you now see
that I was right; for who knows how this may end?' 'Ay, who knows
that indeed,' answered I, with a groan: 'for my part I don't much
like it; and I could have been better pleased with one that was
poor and honest, than this fine gentleman with his fortune and
infidelity; for depend on't, if he be what I suspect him, no
free-thinker shall ever have a child of mine.' 'Sure, father,'
cried Moses, 'you are too severe in this; for heaven will never
arraign him for what he thinks, but for what he does. Every man has
a thousand vicious thoughts, which arise without his power to
suppress. Thinking freely of religion, may be involuntary with this
gentleman: so that allowing his sentiments to be wrong, yet as he
is purely passive in his assent, he is no more to be blamed for his
errors than the governor of a city without walls for the shelter he
is obliged to afford an invading enemy.'
    'True, my son,' cried I; 'but if the governor invites the enemy,
there he is