Not a word did my brother speak of his intention, till he received that letter; and then he invited Lady L. and me, and our two honest men, to afternoon tea with him [O but I have not reckoned with you for your saucy rebukes in your last of the 7th: I owe you a spite for it; and, Harriet, depend on payment What was I writing? I have it ] And when tea was over, he, without a blush, without looking down, as a girl would do in this situation [But why so, Harriet? Is a woman, on these occa-. sioDs, to act a part as if she supposed herself to be the greatest gainer by matrimony; and therefore was ashamed of consenting to accept of an honourable offer? As if, in other words, she was to be the self — denying receiver rather than conferrer of an obliga — tion? Lord, how we rambling-headed creatures break in upon ourselves!] with a good grace he told us of his intention to marry; of his apparition to

Mrs. Shirley; of his sudden vanishing; and all that And then he produced Mrs. Shirley’s letter, but just received.

And do you think we were not overjoyed? In-deed wo were. We congratulated him: we con gratulated each other: Lord L. looked as he did when Caroline gave him his happy day: Lord G. could not keep his seat: he was tipsy, poor man, with his joy: aunt Nell pranked herself, stroked her ribbands of pink and yellow, and chuckled and mumped for joy, that her nephew at last would not go out of Old England for a wife. She was mightily pleased too with Mrs. Shirley’s letter. It was just such a one as she herself would have written upon the occasion.

I posted afterwards to Mrs. Reeves, to shew her, as you requested, your letter: and when we had read it, there was. Dear Madam, and. Dear Sir! and now this, and now that, and thank God three times in a breath; and we were cousins, and cou-sins, and cousins: and, O blessed! and, O be joyful: and, Hail the day! And, (iod grant it to be a short one! And, How will Harriet answer the question? Will not her frankness be tried? He despises affectation: so he thinks does she! Good Sirs! and, O dears! How things are brought about! O my Harriet, you never heard or saw such congratulations between three gossips, as were between our two cousin Reeves’s and me: and not a little did the good woman pride herself in her y;roi;- itoslics; for she explained that matter to me.

Dr. Rartlett is at (Tiaudison-hall, with our unhap-py cousin. How will the good man rejoice?

Now you will ask, what became of Emily P